You know that beloved couch that sits comfortably in your living room? The one where the cushions have permanent sitting marks and the fabric is peeling off? I know it holds many of your cherished memories, but we all have to detach at some point. After sifting through multiple furniture websites and Facebook Marketplace, you finally settle on the perfect replacement. This new couch will fit the space perfectly, gets great reviews, and best of all it matches the rest of your décor. You press ‘confirm order’ and mark the delivery date in your calendar. Then you look back at your cherished baby and sigh. Not only will you have to let go, but now you have to get rid of it. How do you go about this? You can’t just throw it in the hallway in hopes it will disappear. Not in New York City at least.
Department of Sanitation Disposal Policies
The Department of Sanitation of New York is very strict about the items that are tossed. They have cracked down on landlords and property management companies to ensure proper disposal of large items. Especially mattresses because the standing possibility that it may spread bed bugs. If you do not follow the proper protocol of mattress removal, you could be facing a fine of $100. Even though the streets of New York City are not the cleanest, the city still effortlessly tries to reduce mess. This includes suggesting that all non-recyclable larger than 4×3 be scheduled for pick-up by the Department of Sanitation. To request an appointment, you can call 311 and they will guide you through the appropriate steps of removal. There is a maximum of 10 items per-day for removal and you can call up to four weeks in advance. The team will come by Monday through Saturday, excluding City holidays.
New York City Regulations Regarding Item Disposal
There are certain regulations that New York City requires you to follow depending on the item that you are getting rid of. As stated before, mattresses and box springs must be removed in a certain manner. You must bag them in plastic before setting them out on the curb. If you have leftovers from a home-improvement project the city will collect up to six items for one and two-family homes. If you have debris, it must be collected by a private carter or dumpster service. For the disposal of carpets, rugs, and or lumber you must tie them together in bundles up to 2 x 4 feet.
How to Donate or Sell Furniture in Good Condition
However, what if the furniture item is in great condition. Wouldn’t it be a waste to let it go in a garbage dump? That gorgeous chopping block you have from IKEA has not a scratch on it, you just don’t have room for it anymore.
First off, consider donating your furniture! There are many donation sites in and around New York City in which you can conveniently get rid of your items and pass it on to someone who will happily use it. For example, the DonateNYC site is a great resource of where you can donate your furniture conveniently. All you need to do is input the type of item you want to give away and they will list vendors within the address you provide. This ensures that you are placing the items in places that are specifically seeking it. Some donation sites do not accept certain things, so ensure that you call ahead and double check before you make the trip.
What if you want to make some money off of your furniture that is still in good condition? In this case, you can consider either selling it on an online marketplace (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.).
When I moved out of my final college apartment, I had a ton of furniture that I could not bring back to my hometown. Only so much was going to fit in my father’s tiny Nissan and none of my friends were interested in any of it. This is when Facebook Marketplace became my best friend and savior. Not only did I make good money selling my pre-loved items but were I able to hand them off to people that would give them just as good of a home. Websites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are incredibly easy to navigate. If you think no one is going to want your bedside table with peeling paint, you are in for a surprise. People will buy anything as long as it is listed for a good price. Repurposing furniture is a hobby of many, so don’t be shy in what you are willing to list. Go crazy with it, get rid of whatever you want! The likelihood of it selling is almost certain. Take pictures of the item in good lighting, write a brief description, price it accurately and I can almost promise it will be gone in the next couple of days. This is also a good option if you are unable to travel to a donation center in order to drop furniture off. As long as you state whether the item is pick-up only or not, you should not run into any issues.
Stooping – An Alternative Way to Dispose of Furniture
Stooping is also a very popular activity in major cities, especially New York City. Essentially, you can just leave an item on the sidewalk (as long as it is package properly) and a random person can spot it and retrieve it. People will scavenge the streets for free furniture all the time. There are even social media pages dedicated to items that can be grabbed. It takes little to no work from you aside from carrying the furniture outside and leaving it there. Make sure it is in a place where it does not disturb others as that could create an entirely new issue that you do not want to deal with. You could even then search #stoopingnyc and Instagram and find a page that promotes free items. There are also Facebook groups and Twitter hashtags in which you can follow. Simply reach out to any of these outlets and let them know what you have available and the location. It will be gone in hours, even minutes. Trust me.
