Home » Articles » How to Dispose of Your Old Office Furniture in a Sustainable & Cost-Effective Way

An office redesign is excellent for improving employee productivity and making the workspace a much nicer place to be. However, the process is very complex, with a considerable amount of planning required to make it a success. Unsurprisingly, there are many pitfalls along the way that can impact the budget and overall success of the project.

One common mistake is not having a plan for how to manage old office furniture, which can lead to many headaches. Therefore, we have put together a quick guide on how to dispose of your old office furniture.

How to Dispose of Your Old Office Furniture

Make Use of What You Have

Just because you are remodeling or decorating the office doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy completely new furniture, especially if the furniture is still in good condition. Instead, you can recycle, reupholster, or upcycle existing furniture. If chairs are still in good condition, new padding, new fabrics, and upholstery can result in the chairs feeling like new.

Old desks and storage units can also be repurposed for other functions in the office. Tabletops and dividers can be varnished or replaced at a fraction of the cost of replacing the entire desk system. Some companies have got really creative with old furniture, repurposing storage units as a plant pot or legs for workbenches.

Find an Office Furniture Reseller

There is a big market for used office furniture in the USA, and there is a steady demand for high-quality furniture. This is an excellent way to recoup some of your original investment while being a much more eco-friendly option than sending it to a landfill.

Many companies specialize in used office furniture, while others may be interested in the materials so they can upcycle them. Some furniture companies will even take care of the removal of any unwanted furniture. In all cases, you will need to allow some time to research the available options to see if they collect furniture in your area, and if they don’t, what will the additional shipping charges be?

Donate Your Furniture 

One eco-friendly and sustainable option is to donate furniture to charities or start-ups. It is a great way to support the local community while minimizing waste going into landfills. Many charities throughout the country will arrange for the collection of used furniture, which is one less thing to worry about.

Whether you decide to sell or donate your furniture, you will need to take the time to do a full inventory with accurate valuations of the furniture. That will enable the resellers and charities to have a clear idea of the amount and quality of the furniture you are looking to dispose of.

Get Creative

Some companies may even offer old pieces furniture to employees in exchange for removing them from the property. There are many options available that may involve a little creativity but are significantly better for the local community and environment, and may even recoup some of your costs.