Can You Throw Furniture in a Dumpster?

Not sure what furniture you can throw in a dumpster? Just because you can physically throw your furniture in a dumpster, it doesn’t always mean you’re allowed to or should.

Read our helpful guide before you throw furniture in a random dumpster up the street.

No matter where you live, it is usually illegal to throw furniture or other items in someone else’s dumpster. The dumpster may even be located on private property you can’t enter without permission or knowing the apartment dumpster rules.

Private property is simply that which isn’t owned by a state entity or a group of non-governmental entities. Dumpsters located at office buildings, apartment complexes and within shopping centers are technically considered to be on private property, and using them to throw away old furniture items is illegal.

🚮 If you get caught using a dumpster illegally, you’re in for a hefty fine. Although they vary on a state-by-state basis, fines for illegal dumping are generally upwards of $500.

That’s a lot to pay for getting rid of your old couch or mattress or kitchen table.

Can you leave furniture by a dumpster?

Although you may not be physically placing an old piece of furniture in a dumpster, it’s likely the dumpster you’ve scoped out is located on private property.

Even if you aren’t throwing the furniture away in the dumpster, leaving it next to the dumpster will get you in trouble for trespassing and littering and of course, potentially a fine.

Even when you are allowed to throw something in a dumpster, that still doesn’t mean you need to or that you should. Many furniture items are made of hazardous or toxic materials that have to be disposed of properly.

When you throw furniture in a dumpster, it eventually ends up in a landfill. There are better ways to get rid of used furniture than by filling up landfills and polluting the environment.

In fact, there are a lot of eco-friendly, cheap, quick, and easy ways to get rid of that old, unwanted furniture. So, let’s talk about whether or not you can throw your old furniture in a dumpster and how you can find an even easier option for furniture disposal.

Furniture and Other Items You Can’t Throw in a Dumpster

There are several types of junk and waste items that you can’t dispose of by throwing in a dumpster, due to safety concerns and local waste ordinances.

Even though every city and municipality’s disposal regulations are each a little different, there are certain things that are almost universally not allowed to be disposed of in a dumpster.

These prohibited items are generally considered hazardous or even have a potential to damage the dumpster.

Here are a few things that you CAN’T throw away in a dumpster:

If there’s ever something you’re just not sure about in terms of whether you can toss it in a dumpster, contact your local public works department or office of solid waste for a list of items you can’t throw away in a dumpster.

☎️ Call LoadUp for a tested and trusted dumpster rental alternative and get junk removed today.

Although these items can’t be thrown away in a dumpster, they often can be disposed of by dropping them off at your local recycling center, transfer station, or landfill.

Some neighborhoods even sponsor annual cleanup events that allow you to drop your junk off at a central location, for a fee, to be disposed of properly.

Can you take a mattress to the dump?

While yes, you can dump your old mattress in a landfill but it’s a really poor decision for the environment. You should first consider cleaner, more convenient options before simply resorting to dumping your mattress or other furniture in the trash.

As we’ve mentioned, furniture has to be disposed of in a particular way, so your used furniture items, including your old mattress, are on the list of things you can’t throw in a dumpster.

This means that if you want to handle furniture disposal on your own, you’ll have to haul your old recliner or unwanted bed frame and headboard to the landfill or recycling center yourself.

Or, you could have your old furniture picked up and disposed of properly by a junk removal company, which is actually the fastest and easiest way to get rid of furniture.

A junk removal company uses junk haulers that are trained in properly disposing of bulky junk items like furniture, mattresses, appliances, and electronics.

If you don’t have the time for “on-site estimates” or strength to haul your unwanted sectional or sleeper sofa to the dump, you’ll want to book a modern removal company like LoadUp.

Through easy online booking, you can get local professionals to quickly pick up your furniture and dispose of it for you through donation, recycling, or another eco-friendly method.

Now, for furniture and other items that you are allowed to throw in dumpsters. Before you get into it, double-check your county’s regulations to avoid receiving fines when it gets picked up.

Here is a list of things that can generally be thrown away in most dumpsters:

Demolition and construction waste including things like tiles, wallpaper, asphalt, roofing, wood scraps, and other are also usually allowed.

Some areas have local waste ordinances that can prevent junk removal companies or dumpster rental services from disposing of certain items that they usually take.

To learn the official disposal regulations in your neighborhood, you’ll need to contact your local Public Works Department or Office of Solid Waste.

LoadUp is Your Roll Off Dumpster Rental Alternative

Book a more convenient disposal with LoadUp! If you’re stuck with a bunch of junk and are interested in renting a dumpster, we can help! LoadUp’s professionals can handle everything that a roll off dumpster rental can with the added bonus that you don’t have to do the work. From basement cleanouts to entire storage unit haul away, our Loaders make it easy for you.

Is junk removal better for your furniture removal & disposal needs?

Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to get rid of old furniture, no matter where you live. Many garbage removal services will haul away certain bulky waste items when you request and schedule a special pickup, but they won’t pick up furniture that’s been left on the curb.

You may be thinking about doing some good and helping others by donating your unwanted furniture to a local charity. Organizations such as the Salvation Army, Goodwill, and similar charities usually accept donations of gently used household items.

Where can I donate a mattress near me?

However, you can’t donate a used mattress to charity. Charities can’t legally accept a used mattress donation, even if it’s in the original packaging. You also want to make sure when donating any other used furniture items that they are still in excellent, working condition.

The truth is, you’ll probably have to haul your unwanted furniture to the landfill or recycling center yourself if you want to have it disposed of responsibly.

This means having to rent a truck, pay high disposal fees, and get someone to help you haul everything. Especially if you aren’t physically able to carry a sofa or mattress around, disposing of old furniture on your own probably isn’t your best option.

Avoid the hassle and frustration of furniture disposal by calling a trusted furniture removal service like LoadUp to haul away and responsibly dispose of your old furniture for you.

When you book a pickup with LoadUp to haul away and dispose of your old furniture, you save yourself tons of time and energy.

LoadUp provides excellent furniture and junk removal service at an honest, affordable price while using eco-friendly disposal methods, all across the United States.

LoadUp disposes of the junk they pick up by donating items to local charities or taking them to the local transfer station to be recycled, so they have less overhead disposal fees and are able to charge customers an average of 20-30% less than most other junk haulers.

Because you get your upfront, transparent price before you book your pickup, you don’t have to worry about experiencing sticker shock when the Loaders arrive to haul away your old furniture. This is rarely the case with most other junk removal companies.

Still have some questions about whether or not you can toss your furniture, mattress, chair, or other items in the dumpster? Take a look at our guides to getting rid of your bulky junk.

Whenever you need to get rid of old furniture, appliances, electronics, exercise equipment, or just about any other junk you can think of, calling LoadUp can make furniture disposal the easiest part of decluttering or moving.

You can also call our customer service team or chat with us through our website to let us know you want to book a pickup and take the guesswork out of old furniture disposal.

Related Articles from the Trash Talk Blog:

• The Real Cost of Dumpster Rental
• Home Improvements to Increase Value
• When to Hire a Professional Junk Removal Company
• Junk Removal vs. Dumpster Rental: Which Service Do I Need?