The Importance of Properly Disposing of Office Furniture

Each year a staggering amount of office furniture is sent haphazardly to the landfill, even pieces that are in fine condition. Fortunately, there are a great number of businesses that are committed to eco-friendliness and have thus adopted green methods of furniture disposal.

If you think your only way of getting rid of old office furniture is by sending it to the junkyard, think again. Learn about decommissioning office furniture, the benefits of recycling, upselling, and repurposing, and more in our comprehensive guide.

What is Office Furniture Decommissioning?

Office furniture decommissioning is another name for cycling out old office furniture in an eco-conscious way. There’s a common misperception that the easiest way to get rid of old furniture that isn’t serving its purpose anymore is to send it off to the dump. That way, you don’t have to pay for movers, spend your time revamping it, or looking for a donation center that will take it.

Looking at the disposal and redecoration process as one of “decommissioning” shows us that the landfill is far from our only option. In fact, it should be viewed as a last resort.

This essential process is no more time-consuming or expensive when done in an eco-conscious way. There are plenty of folks out there who specialize in recycling, reselling, and repurposing and who can help you every step along the way.

What Are the Benefits of Office Furniture Decommissioning?

There are innumerable benefits to office furniture decommissioning. From the environmental to the financial, here are the top five:

Business cost savings

All the furniture we buy for professional or personal use will eventually need to be disposed of. But we have control over how we dispose.

Whether you’re laser-focused on conservation and recycling everything you consume, or you don’t see the need and send most things to the landfill, we can all agree on one thing: buying new furniture is majorly expensive.

Every business is looking for ways to cut costs, and one is to recycle, repurpose, and resell old furniture, rather than junking it and buying a whole new set. Ask around the office to see if anyone’s experienced with reupholstery and DIY renovation projects. Also, ask if anyone knows a local company or contractor who can spearhead a renovation job on your old furniture to save money.

Improved CSR ranking

CSR, or Corporate Social Responsibility, evaluates how well a company has addressed pressing social and environmental issues in its business practices and supply chain.

Consumers, clients, and customers everywhere are becoming more and more savvy with green business practices, and increasingly intolerant of businesses that pay no mind to the environment. Boost your credibility with your client base and put your money where your mouth is by boosting your CSR ranking.

Diverting your old furniture from the landfill is a socially responsible disposal method that will surely boost your CSR ranking overnight.

Work toward LEED certification

LEED certification, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the leading metric by which companies assess their environmental impact. While LEED mostly has to do with the actual construction of buildings, furniture plays a role too.

There are many benefits to working toward LEED certification, from increasing your business space’s resale and rental value, to offering a healthier workplace for employees, to reducing reliance on non-renewable resources.

You can work your way even closer to LEED certification by finding an alternative to the dump for your old or unwanted office furniture. Call the local donation center and ask for their expertise: the folks that work at donation centers know what organizations could use a charitable donation. They may also have good ideas for your old furniture.

Thin the landfill

One of the leading contributors to climate change is the production of methane, and landfills are the largest source of methane production in the country. A 2021 report from the U.N. found that reducing methane emissions is the best way to fight climate change. That means reducing the amount of waste we send to the landfill.

Furniture is often made from wood, leather, and fabric treated with sealing spray and other finishing chemicals that can turn toxic when broken down in a landfill. Keep our groundwater clean by finding a new home for your old office furniture, rather than junking it.

Rally employees around a good cause

The old saying goes that nothing bonds people together like a common enemy. But it isn’t true. Promoting a socially conscious mission will bring the employees of any company together like nothing else can.

People like to feel good about their place in the world, and reducing your carbon footprint has immediate and tangible effects. Boost your employees’ morale by enlisting them in the project of disposing of old office furniture in an eco-conscious way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is Recycling Furniture Important?

Recycling furniture is important because it saves you money, it saves the environment, and it boosts morale in the workplace. There is virtually no downside to recycling old office furniture. Only saved money, saved time, and a happier workforce.

What are the Best Methods of Office Furniture Removal?

The best way to find out how to sustainably dispose of your office furniture is to call a local furniture removal service. They will have a comprehensive breakdown of methods you can employ to recycle responsibly, and can even help you in that task.

Need Help Doing an Office Cleanout? We Can Help!

Nixxit Junk Removal is a leader in environmentally friendly furniture disposal. You can read up on Nixxit’s Office Furniture Removal Service if you’re ready for a furniture swap.

No furniture set lasts forever. When it’s time to trade out the old to bring in the new, call Nixxit. We will take care of your old office furniture sustainably, so you can feel good about bringing in a whole new aesthetic.