7 ways to get rid of your old sofa

If your sofa is looking tired and saggy, it may be time to replace it. But how do you get rid of your old one?

Leaving your old sofa on the doorstep with a 'take me' sign may seem appealing, but the truth is that too many sofas end up in landfill.

According to mattress recycling specialist TFR Group, the space taken up by sofas in landfill each year amounts to filling Wembley Stadium four times over. And only 17% of sofas are reused, says the Royal Society of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (RSA) Action and Research Centre.

The good news is, there are many ways you can dispose of your old couch, including helping out others in need.

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1. Donate your sofa to charity

Consider the condition of your sofa before doing this and only donate it if it's in a genuinely resalable condition – not falling apart.

Many charities are part of the Reuse Network. Charities in this network give items a second life, reducing waste and helping those in poverty. Some charities, such as the British Heart Foundation, will even come and collect your sofa for free, but its condition will be inspected. If it doesn't meet the criteria, the charity, understandably, may not accept it.

Your sofa will also need to have its fire label still attached. Without this, a charity won't be able to sell it. This is critical as, even if the sofa is in perfect condition, it will likely end up in landfill.

Find out more about the Reuse Network. Or, if you live near a charity shop that sells furniture, you could try contacting them directly to find out if they're interested.

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2. Request a bulky waste collection service from your council

Another option, if you live in England or Wales, is seeing if your local council will take it away. Often known as 'bulky waste collection', these council services can usually be booked online.

Services vary between councils, with some charging a fee for the collection. All you'll generally need to do is leave your sofa outside your door the night before collection.

If you live in England or Wales, you can find out how much your council will charge for bulky waste disposal by typing your postcode into the gov.uk website. If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, go to your council’s website and search for bulky waste disposal.

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3. Take your sofa to a recycling centre at a tip

Many – but not all – local tips will take an old fridge freezer, so check before you head off.

Check if you'll need to book a visit: you may not be able to just turn up, especially if you're using a van. Some will also need proof of residency (such as a utility bill).

Find out how to dispose of or recycle a fridge freezer and how to dispose of a mattress.

4. Pay for a private removal service

This is an option if the others don't work for you. Do your research, though, and check their credentials.

If the company you've hired fly-tips your sofa, you could end up facing a fine. 

Find out how to recycle in the UK.

5. Check if your new sofa retailer has a collection scheme

Many sofa retailers nowadays will collect your old sofa when delivering your new one. Some, such as DFS and John Lewis, will charge you a fee for this service, but it means your old sofa won't end up in a landfill.

Some retailers, such as Sofology, work with Clearabee, a clearance company that will recycle your sofa.

You can also use Clearabee privately. While this service can be one of the priciest options (there is a charge per item and a £59.99 call out charge), collection timings are shorter than other options and they will collect the sofa from inside your home. The sofa should then be taken to local Waste Transfer Stations and, in major cities, Clearbee claims 100% of sofas collected are saved from landfill.

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6. Give your sofa away for free online

There are plenty of websites where people will pick up items from your home if you give them away for free. All you need to do is write a good description, upload plenty of pictures and wait for someone to get in touch.

Some websites will match you with someone, whereas with others, such as Trash Nothing, you get to choose who you'll gift your sofa to.

Website options include:

• Facebook marketplace
• Freecycle
• Freegle
• Olio
• Trash Nothing
• Upcycle

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7. Sell it second-hand

If your sofa is in a reasonable condition, you could sell it.

Taking it to a car boot sale could work if you have a smaller couch that will fit in your vehicle. If that's not an option, these are some of the most popular websites for selling preloved items.

• Facebook Marketplace
• eBay
• Gumtree
• Preloved
• Shpock
• Wallapop

Read our guide to the best and worst places to shop second hand online.

Popular ways to get rid of a sofa

In May 2021, we asked 2,932 members of the Which? Connect panel how they'd disposed of their last sofa. One in five respondents donated their old couch to a charity shop. Nearly the same number gave it to a family member or friend.