Furnishings fall under the category of hard rubbish, items that are often not dealt with under recycling and can be too worn or deteriorated to donate or give away.
Most people are uncertain how to dispose of hard rubbish, particularly old furnishings, since these are oversized, bulky items that won’t fit in standard bins, and many Sydney homeowners can’t transport them. Other examples that fall under the hard rubbish category include:
- White goods
- Mattresses
- Construction and building materials
- Tyres
- E-waste
While furnishings often can’t be recycled, some hard waste like tyres can be. Follow these 5 Simple Tips on Sorting Rubbish for Recycling – Ridly’s Rubbish Removal
to learn more.
Recycling and donating as much as possible is an eco-conscious approach to rubbish disposal. Companies like Ridly strive to send as little to the landfills as possible. When you’re unsure what to do with your waste, reaching out to a rubbish removal service is the ideal solution.
Methods To Dispose of Old Furnishings
Furnishings deteriorate or wear down over time, and sometimes, people grow tired of them before that happens, leaving oversized rubbish to be disposed of. These items won’t fit in the standard bins, nor can most people transport them to the appropriate facility, nor can many lift or move the heavy pieces.
Sydney rubbish removal specialists have the knowledge and expertise to move bulky items safely and can dispose of these in a most eco-friendly way.
While not all can be recycled, some can, and others are in good condition, allowing for donation. The objective for removalists is to keep as much out of the landfills as possible.
When disposing of old furnishings, dismantling the pieces is a priority for easier transport. A couch is probably the most challenging to take apart. Here are steps to follow to make the process more straightforward.
- The cushions: The easiest step is to take the pillows/cushions and any other removables off the couch, as well as any other pieces that are easy to take off and set aside.
- The legs: The couch should be flipped onto its back for easy access to the legs, which you can then unscrew.
- The upholstery: The leather or fabric must be removed to reveal the frame so you can completely disassemble it to be hauled away. The arms must come off by removing the fasteners that are holding them to the base. When taking the fabric or leather off, flip the sofa over to remove the staples from the perimeter and then pull the upholstery back.
- The frame: The wooden frame will be time-consuming to take apart, but all the hardware holding it together should be removed and the frame broken down. Recyclables and rubbish should be separated for proper disposal.
Old furnishings need to be disposed of properly to avoid repercussions not only for the environment but also an eyesore for the community. In most locations, you can receive penalties and fines for having furnishings sitting around abandoned.
Lightweight or flame-resistant pieces are usually constructed of treated wood or materials that are difficult to naturally breakdown, a primary reason to keep them out of the landfill. Couch cushions are toxic for the environment, making it crucial to find the best disposal method, as is true for composite wood and particle board.
These materials should not be used for compost due to chemicals in the material that will create a toxic garden.
When you’re uncertain how waste will affect your community or the environment, you should reach out to your local Council for guidance or contact a rubbish removal company to properly dispose of the materials to avoid improper dumping.
You can also contact the landfill to find out how furnishings are accepted, if they take them at all, and the fees they charge. Rules vary from one location to the next.
Most people find disposing of furnishings in the landfill to be the easiest and cheapest option; however, rubbish removal services can help recycle these pieces. More people need to become eco-conscious about waste management.
Much of the material used for furnishings, including wood and upholstery, is valuable.
Selling Your Old Furnishings
While you might not have use for tables, chairs, a couch, or an old bed, someone else could put it to good use. It needs to be in decent shape with no problems that someone wouldn’t be able to handle relatively easily.
Many Sydney online marketplaces allow posting virtually anything for sale, and a lot of people take advantage of these sites. When posting an ad, it should be explicitly detailed, with a reasonable price to entice competitive shopping and high-quality pictures pointing out any flaws that buyers should be made aware of.
While you want to price competitively, you also want the buyer to understand that the piece has value if that is, in fact, the case. When taking photos, supply plenty of high-quality shots from different angles with disclosure in the description of the items’ flaws.
This will give you credibility and entice a greater audience. No one will respond to your ads if you don’t include photos. Many people favour buying used over new with the high costs of things today. Still, these buyers are particularly choosy when looking at the items they’re about to purchase.
When describing the item, try to offer as much detail as possible including when and where you purchased it, how old it is, the colour since photos can be deceiving, the brand, and on. Details like these will influence a sale.
Pickup and delivery can be at your discretion but if you have any way to deliver the item to the buyer, this will increase the chances for a sale.
Donating Your Old Furnishings
Many charity organizations in Sydney are available to take donations and are often looking for good donations since many are short on these. While you might believe your couch is worn to its limits, someone in need will be able to put it to good use, welcome it, in fact, if the structure is in good shape and it’s functional.
Some rubbish removal companies in Sydney will take items for donation centres; you’ll need to check with them before scheduling a pickup. Otherwise, you can call the organizations directly to see if they will come to pick up the items.
Some thrift shops will buy worn items to fix or reupholster and resell for a low price to families in need. Homeless shelters are also good places to contact with old furniture, along with women’s shelters, theatre groups, and community centres.
Research to find a place that would be the most meaningful for you. Contact them to see if they can use the items, and then make arrangements for the pieces to be picked up and hauled to their facility.
When you donate or sell, instead of contributing to the problem, you become part of the solution with environmental issues. The priority is to reduce the waste you generate. How can you do this?
- Purchase from thrift or second-hand shops or buy from marketplaces. The items are usually in good condition, budget-friendly, and are functional and strong.
- Maintain your appliances, furnishings, and other hard rubbish in good condition. This means keeping items repaired and serviced as necessary. Then, when it comes time to buy new, you can sell or donate them easily.
- If you don’t use items often, borrow from a close friend or loved one instead of purchasing them and having them sit idle. You can even lease or rent pieces that can be readily sent back when they are no longer needed.
Choose Furniture Removal Companies
A professional Sydney furniture removal company will do all the heavy lifting so that you can avoid a possible injury by moving or lifting something bulky and oversized. Trained experts have the skills and qualifications to lift safely and load properly to prevent injuries.
They also have specialized tools and equipment to ensure a fast, efficient process. The teams are careful to avoid scuffing walls and doorframes. The experts plan and handle everything, so you have nothing to do.
The removal process saves you time, effort, and expense from having to load and haul your old furnishings. Click here for guidance on choosing the right removalist for your needs. The removal team will:
- Disassemble items
- Lift, move, load
- Transport for disposal
- Avoid injuries and personal property damages
- Furnishings are disposed of in an eco-friendly manner, with removalists taking waste to recycling and donation facilities
- Appointments can be made for the same day or at your convenience
Rubbish removal teams commit to safe, efficient, and eco-friendly furnishings disposal. As a home or business owner, you can save time and effort in trying to find a place to take the furniture and disassembling the pieces, as well as saving the expense of transporting them to various facilities.
Old and worn furnishings contribute significantly to landfill debris. By hiring rubbish removal specialists, you can help reduce that environmental hazard.
