If you’ve ever tried to figure out how to get rid of an old sofa, you’ll know it isn’t as simple as dragging it to the kerb. A sofa is bulky, heavy, and often not accepted in standard household waste collections. That leaves many people wondering: what’s the best way to dispose of unwanted furniture without it costing the earth financially or environmentally?
The good news is, you have more options than you might think. From council sofa collections to creative ways to refurbish a sofa, here are some greener and more practical ways to part with your old settee.
While this option is convenient, it isn’t always the greenest. In many cases, items collected by councils are sent straight to landfill.
According to the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce (RSA), the UK throws away around 672,000 tonnes of furniture annually. Of this waste, the society advises that over half could be re-used.
Only 17% of unwanted sofas are re-purposed, with the other 83% going to landfill (read our blog post on why recovering your sofa is better for the environment for more statistics on this).
It is, however, possible to arrange collection of large items with your local council. The collection must be arranged and confirmed in advance. Then the item must be left out on your allocated bin day and collected with your bins. You can use this link to enter your postcode and find out more about large collections with your council.
Most local councils in the UK offer a large item or bulky waste collection service. You’ll usually need to:
Book the collection in advance.
Pay a small fee (the price varies depending on the council).
Leave the item outside on your scheduled collection day.
The cost and conditions for council collection vary from council to council.
For example, in Norfolk, you can’t just leave your sofa out for recycling. You can take upholstered seating to one of Norfolk’s larger recycling centres, just be aware: due to new environmental regulations, these items are treated separately and incinerated for energy, rather than being recycled traditionally.
And while local councils offer bulky waste collections, these services typically don’t salvage or recycle sofas; they’re generally sent for standard disposal. If keeping your sofa out of landfill is a priority, you’ll want to explore reuse options like donations, resale, or refurbishment instead.
With that in mind, below are some alternative methods to think about first.
Some greener ways to get rid of your sofa include:
Donation networks – The Furniture Re-use Network connects unwanted furniture with families and charities in need.
Charity shops – Many charities accept sofas, especially if the fire labels are still attached. Some even offer free collection.
Local reuse projects – Smaller independent charities often welcome furniture donations.
If it is still in fairly good nick, don’t get rid of your old sofa donate it to charity. Many charities are grateful for furniture donations to stock and sell. There are several charities who accept furniture donations, some of which even assess and collect the items. Some of those which offer collection are the British Heart Foundation, Sue Ryder, YMCA, Age UK and more. If there is a charity in particular you feel strongly towards and wish to support, it’s always worth contacting your local charity shop directly to organise a drop off or possible collection. There may also be some smaller, independent charities local to your area who would gladly receive donations.
Similarly, many families are in need of furniture items and would be grateful for a second hand one. There are schemes in place which make it possible to pair those in need with second hand furniture items. These include the Furniture Re-Use Network. More information on both of these schemes can be found via the links but both are free and offer collection services.
If your sofa is still in decent condition, you could sell it or give it away online. Popular platforms include:
Facebook Marketplace – Quick and local, often with same-day collection. This has quickly become one of the most popular marketplaces for second hand furniture.
eBay or Gumtree – Good for reaching a wider audience if your sofa has resale value.
Freecycle / Freegle – Great for gifting unwanted furniture to someone who can collect it directly.
Think of this as the digital equivalent of leaving it outside with a “free to a good home” sign - but more reliable.
When it comes to selling or giving away an old sofa online, presentation makes all the difference. Listings with clear, well-lit photos (ideally from multiple angles) tend to attract far more interest than grainy shots taken in a dark room. Including accurate measurements is also essential - many buyers will skip straight past a sofa listing if they can’t quickly tell whether it will fit their space.
In my experience, sofas described as ‘pet-free’ or ‘smoke-free’ usually get faster responses, since people are reassured about cleanliness. Adding small details like fabric type, brand, and condition (‘lightly used,’ ‘professionally cleaned,’ etc.) can also help your sofa stand out in busy marketplaces.
We’re almost certain you saw this one coming… If you invested in a quality sofa such as a Multiyork it is highly likely your sofa still has a lot more life left in it.
In this case, the greenest option is not dispose of it at all, but to refurbish your sofa.
With replacement cushion interiors and a fresh set of sofa covers your old sofa can literally be transformed to be as good as new, for a fraction of the cost of a brand new sofa. Contact us via our quote request form to find out more.
At My Sofa Covers, we regularly take on refurbishment and upcycling projects. This not only saves customers money, but also keeps perfectly good furniture out of landfill. If you have a Multiyork sofa or chair which you no longer want and are happy to part ways with, send us an email with details and photos – we may come and collect it to take on as our next project.
When it comes to getting rid of unwanted furniture, the best choice depends on:
The condition of your sofa.
Whether you want convenience, sustainability, or to make a little extra money.
How quickly you need it gone.
Where possible, choosing a greener way to get rid of a sofa - such as donation, resale, or refurbishment - reduces waste and gives your furniture a second life.
If you’d like to explore the refurbishment route, we’d love to help - request a quote today.