Can You Leave Old Furniture On The Curb?

Getting rid of old furniture is easier said than done. Many people don’t have vehicles that make it easy to haul and dispose of furniture. So, can you leave old furniture on the curb?

You can leave old furniture on the curb if you schedule a large item pickup service. Otherwise, it’s illegal to put furniture on the curb and street, and you can face fines. List your old furniture online and have someone pick it up from your curb or donate it to the Salvation Army if you have no other options.

Many cities also provide free large item collection days a few times throughout the day. Make sure to clean your furniture before you sell or donate it. Follow along as we explore alternatives to leaving your old furniture on the curb and highlight its legality.

Can I Leave Furniture On The Street?

You cannot legally leave your old furniture on the curb. It’s considered a hazard to put furniture on the street, and you can receive fines in some states and municipalities. There are exceptions to the rule if you call your trash collection service and request a large item pickup.

You cannot simply leave furniture outside and hope that someone will pick it up. That is considered illegal dumping in many areas, and you can face fines. You can also sour your relationship with your neighbors, and they won’t appreciate it.

Luckily, there is no shortage of ways to legally get rid of old furniture, such as:

1. Donate Your Furniture

There’s no better way to get rid of your old furniture than to donate. Organizations like the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and Goodwill often accept old furniture. Keep in mind that they can’t always take your furniture depending on their inventory.

Some locations may have too many large items at the moment, so they may direct you to go somewhere else. They must also evaluate the condition of your old furniture to see if it’s worth accepting. For example, Habitat for Humanity won’t accept furniture with stains, pet hair, and rips.

Make sure to look up the donation guidelines before you bring your old furniture in. They will happily take your old furniture off your hands if it’s in good condition.

2. Sell It Online

Today, it’s easier than ever to sell your items, whether it be old vinyl records or old furniture. Modern resources like Facebook Marketplace are especially suited for selling furniture. You have the option to deliver the furniture or have the buyer pick it up.

Other options, like Craigslist, are also viable, but Facebook Marketplace is ideal for local pickups. You can simply leave your furniture on the curb at the edge of your lawn and let the buyer grab it. This puts money in your pocket and takes the furniture off your hands.

3. Recycle It

You can even recycle your old furniture, but not all facilities accept furniture. That said, you cannot simply put furniture on the street the day that you get your recycling picked up. They simply won’t take it, and you must bring it to them.

Many furniture items, like couches and chairs, can damage recycling trucks. The large machinery that crushes recycling items on the truck cannot withstand large items. Luckily, you can bring your old furniture to many recycling centers to take care of.

Call the recycling center before you show up to see if they will accept it. After all, you don’t want to haul your old furniture out there only to find out they won’t take it.

4. Ask The City

Some cities provide free large item collection days, and they may accept your old furniture. This typically takes place at one location in the city. It’s up to you to bring the old furniture to the collection location in most cases.

Cities typically only do this a few times per year, but it’s a monthly occurrence in some municipalities. This is a great option if your furniture isn’t in good enough condition to sell or donate.

5. Call Your Trash Collection Service

Many trash collection services can pick up large items, such as old furniture. However, they only typically accept large items if you arrange for pickup in advance. They usually provide a day that they will pick up your old furniture.

Until then, you should wait to put your old furniture on the street. It could be days or even a week before the service can pick up the furniture. You are still vulnerable to fines in the meantime if you put the furniture on the curb too soon.

Some services let you dispose of large items a few times per year free of charge. After that, you must pay extra for them to pick up your old furniture, but every company is different.

6. Pay For Junk Removal

Junk removal services aren’t too picky when it comes to what they will accept. Whether it be a mattress, chair, couch, or kitchen table, they are usually willing to take old furniture. You can leave it on the curb for them, but some services will take it from inside your home.

Junk removal services charge you based on the weight and volume of items they pick up. You may spend as little as $100 if they pick up an old chair. However, you can expect to spend up to $1,000 if you hire a junk removal service to pick up a household's worth of furniture.

What Should I Do If My Neighbor Has Furniture On The Street?

Call the city if your neighbor has had furniture on the street for over a week. Be patient, as they may be waiting for a trash collection service to pick it up. However, they cannot simply leave furniture on the curb and wait for any random person to collect it.

In that case, you are justified in calling the city if the furniture obscures the street and affects drivers. You can call your landlord if they also manage your neighbor’s property. That way, you can leave the decision up to them, so you don’t get directly involved.

Can You Throw A Chair In The Trash?

You cannot throw a chair in the trash without repercussions in most cases. It could damage the trash collection truck, and they will know it was you. Trash collection services also won’t let you put items that measure over 8 feet long in dumpsters.

Summing It Up

You can only temporarily leave old furniture on the curb if a pickup is scheduled. For example, you won’t face fines if you have a large-item collection scheduled. Your best option is to sell, donate, or recycle your old furniture so it doesn’t go to waste.

Related Guides:

• Tips For Storing Patio Furniture During The Winter
• How To Arrange Patio Furniture
• How To Get Rid Of A Couch