Are you redoing your office decor, downsizing, moving, or shutting down an office? Every office change comes with office furniture left by the wayside. Often, companies will just call a junk collector to get it out of their hair quick and easy. Unfortunately this causes more harm than good. There are a variety of ways to get old office furniture out of your work space without putting it in the trash.

Why recycle?

The United States produces around 250 million tons of waste per year. Much of what we throw away can, in fact, be reused, recycled, or disposed of in a more responsible manner. Did you know that 80% of what America puts in the trash could actually be recycled? By reusing and recycling, we can preserve the ecosystem for further generations, reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are causing global warming, and save money and energy. Consider the following options before you throw all your old chairs away.

Where to recycle old office furniture

Donate to a church, school, or non-profit if the items are still usable. These organizations are often in need of new supplies and furniture but don’t have the funds. They may also serve a community that is impoverished or underserved. These organizations can help facilitate the transfer of your old office furniture to families and organizations that need it. They get what they need, you get rid of your old furniture, and nothing is thrown into landfills!

Recycling services companies can take your used furniture and reintroduce the materials into the manufacturing cycle. This is a good option for damaged goods, as they cannot be reintroduced into the consumer market.

How a commercial moving company can help

Liquidation services can help you sell your used or old office furniture. This puts the items back into the market, rather than dumping them in a landfill.

Hire logistics providers and commercial moving companies to manage your office furniture donation, liquidation, or recycling process. This ensures that the process is managed in a responsible and charitable way.

Check out Green Standards for more general education about the topic. Over the course of their company’s lifetime, they have diverted 40,000 tons of office furniture waste from landfills across both the US and Canada.

• For donation in Massachusetts, check out this list of places provided by the state government.
• To donate old office furniture in Austin and the DC area, start your search with the local Habitat for Humanity.
• In Pennsylvania, explore the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s page on the topic.

When you’re ready to get the old office furniture out of your space, give Olympia a call a  800.222.4744 or fill out our form to schedule your commercial move or hire us for logistics.