Old furniture is bulky, awkward and often not worth much. The right path depends on its condition and on where you live. This guide goes through the options in order: reuse, your city's program, a drop off site, and a bin. It covers disposal and donation only. For the household side, see our household garbage page and residential services page.
Step 1: Can it be reused?
If the piece is sturdy, clean and in good shape, someone may want it. Offer it to friends, neighbours or a community group, or donate it. Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver runs ReStore locations in Burnaby, Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack, and its site has a donation request and a pickup or drop off scheduling option. Confirm what a store accepts before you bring anything. Burnaby's own Large Item Pickup page also suggests donating gently used items to a thrift store or charity.
Items that are broken, soiled or ripped are better handled as waste.
Step 2: Your city's large item program
Several cities offer a program for furniture, and each has its own rules.
| City | What the city says |
|---|---|
| Vancouver | If large items like mattresses, furniture and appliances are not reusable, take them to the Zero Waste Centre, transfer station or landfill. Fees may apply. |
| Burnaby | Large Item Pickup for households with City curbside collection. Houses and duplexes can schedule up to 3 items per pickup. Request online or call 604-294-7972. |
| Surrey | Free Large Item Pickup, up to 6 items per year for households with City collection. Call 604-590-7289, option 3. |
| New Westminster | A paid Special Pick Up Service. Staff quote the fee. Scheduled Thursdays. |
| Delta | Up to four large items per year for households with curbside garbage collection, scheduled through Remple Disposal at 604-835-1792. |
Each program has rules about wrapping, size and placement. Delta's, for example, says items must be handled by two people and must not be cut or broken into pieces. Surrey's does not accept large glass, so remove glass tabletops first. Read your city's page before you book.
Step 3: A drop off site
If your city has no pickup, or you want to go right away, you can take furniture to a facility. The City of Vancouver names the Zero Waste Centre, the Vancouver South Transfer Station and the Vancouver Landfill. At the City's transfer station, finished wood (painted, stained or treated other than with creosote) is disposed of as garbage, and fees apply. Check each site's page for current fees and hours. You need a vehicle that can carry the load, and a way to unload.
Note that the City of Vancouver's pop up recycling events do not accept furniture or large and bulky items, and the Burnaby Eco-Centre lists furniture and mattresses as not accepted at its recycling drop off.
Step 4: A bin
A bin is the practical choice when:
- You have more pieces than your city's program allows
- The pieces are not on the accepted list
- You are clearing out a whole room, home or estate
- You do not have a vehicle
Trash King delivers the bin and hauls it away, and you load it.
Begin with the 20-yard for junk, cleanouts and renos, since it is the common starting size. A 15-yard junk bin is at times available, though it is commonly sold out, so plan around the 20-yard. Other smaller sizes? Ask when you book. If the job sounds bigger when you call, we may suggest a larger bin. Our 20-yard bin page lists the details.
Break down what you can. Take legs off tables, doors off wardrobes and cushions off sofas, and stack pieces flat. Load the biggest items first.
Putting the bin on private property, like your driveway or yard, takes no permit. Some cities ask for a permit when a bin sits on the street, boulevard or lane, so check with yours before delivery. Your strata or HOA can still set rules of its own. If yours does, apply with the City, and we set delivery for any permit dates.
A Trash King bin never takes paint, propane, tires, fuel or electronics. The full list is on our what not to put in a bin page.
A mattress or box spring can go in as an add on for an extra fee, so mention it when you book.
Choosing between them
| Situation | Best fit |
|---|---|
| A good dresser in good shape | Donate |
| One or two items, you live in Burnaby, Surrey or Delta | City program |
| A full living room | A bin |
| A broken sofa and a lot of other junk | A bin |
FAQ
Can I leave furniture at the curb? Not without a scheduled pickup where the city has a program. Surrey warns that items placed at the curb without a scheduled pickup may be considered illegally dumped.
Does the City of Vancouver pick up furniture? The City's guide says to take non reusable large items to a facility. Fees may apply.
What size bin do I need? A 20-yard is the common start for cleanouts, and you can ask about other sizes when booking.