Getting rid of old furniture in Philadelphia isn’t always as easy as just leaving it on the curb for the trash company. There are many rules and regulations based on your city or township’s trash collection that, if not followed, will result in having your large furniture items left on the curb or sometimes fines.

Whether you’re moving, renovating, or upgrading your home, here are some of the top ways to get rid of furniture in Philadelphia.

Option #1: Leave Your Old Furniture On The Curb

As you drive around Philadelphia, you may see large furniture items like sofas, dining tables, old chairs, dressers, and old appliances sitting on the curb for weeks or months. That is because the Philadelphia Streets Department is very selective about what it will collect on the regular curbside pick-up schedule.

According to the Philadelphia Streets department oversized items and dumping guidelines, they will not accept metal oversized items or tires as part of the regular curbside collection, including:

They will, however, accept large furniture items that can be easily compacted by the trash truck.

Disposal Options by Furniture Size

When deciding how to get rid of furniture, size matters. The Philadelphia Streets Department has a limit of two large items per week per household for regular curbside pickup, but how they handle those items depends on how manageable they are for the crew.

Small Furniture Items

Items like dining chairs, end tables, lamps, and nightstands are generally the easiest to dispose of. If they are broken, they can usually go out with your regular trash collection. If they are in good condition, these items fit easily in most standard cars, making them perfect candidates for dropping off at a donation center rather than waiting for a pickup.

Medium Furniture and Mattresses

Loveseats, standard dressers, and mattresses are eligible for curbside pickup, but they require preparation. It is vital to remember that in Philadelphia, mattresses must be bagged in a plastic mattress bag (available at most hardware stores) to be collected curbside. If a mattress is unbagged, the sanitation crew will leave it behind, and you may be fined.

Oversized and Heavy Items

This is where disposal gets tricky. Items like large sectionals, pianos, solid wood wardrobes, or sleeper sofas are often refused by regular sanitation crews. If the crew cannot safely lift the item into the compactor, or if the item is too large to be crushed by the truck’s mechanics, they will likely leave it on the curb. For these specific items, you will almost certainly need to rent a truck to take them to a Convenience Center yourself or hire a private junk removal service to handle the heavy lifting

If you’re unsure about your item, it’s always safest to call the Philadelphia Streets Department and ask.

For items not eligible for curbside collection, one of the ways to get rid of furniture in Philadelphia is by dropping it off at a local sanitary convenience center. These centers are mostly organized when you go to them. They have sections for different categories, including household trash, recyclable items, electronics, appliances, large items like furniture, yard waste, and more.

If you have a truck or vehicle to transport the items yourself, there is no charge for Philadelphia residents. You will be required to show proof of residency.

Philadelphia Streets Convenience Center locations are:

  • Port Richmond 3901 Delaware Ave. 215-685-1358
  • West Philadelphia 5100 Grays Ave. 215-685-2600
  • Strawberry Mansion 2601 W. Glenwood Ave. 215-685-3955
  • Southwest Philadelphia 3033 S. 63rd St., near Passyunk Ave. 215-685-4290
  • Northwest Philadelphia 300 block Domino Lane, near Umbria St. 215-685-2502
  • Northeast Philadelphia State Rd. & Ashburner St.  215-685-8072

Most of these centers are open from Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 6 PM. Dropping off furniture is free in Sanitation Convenience Centers as long as you are a Philadelphia resident. They are also willing to accept anything as long as it is not a hazardous material.

Curbside Pickup Do’s and Don’ts

Just because an item is eligible for pickup doesn’t mean you can place it on the sidewalk whenever you want. The City of Philadelphia issues fines through SWEEP (Streets and Walkways Education and Enforcement Program) for improper trash set-out. Follow these specific rules to ensure your items are taken and you avoid a ticket.

DO: Follow Set Out Times

Only place furniture on the curb between 7 PM the night before collection and 7 AM on collection day. Leaving furniture out on the curb for days at a time signals to the city that you are dumping illegally, which can result in a fine.

DO: Keep the Sidewalk Clear

When placing large items out, you must ensure that pedestrians and wheelchairs can still pass safely on the sidewalk. Do not block fire hydrants and try not to park cars directly in front of the pile, or the trash truck may skip your house entirely.

DO: Secure Doors and Drawers

If you are disposing of cabinets, armoires, or tall dressers, you should remove the doors or tape them shut securely. This prevents children or pets from getting trapped inside or injured while the item sits on the curb.

DO: Watch the Weather

If heavy rain is in the forecast, try to cover fabric sofas or upholstered chairs with a tarp. Wet furniture becomes incredibly heavy, and sanitation workers may refuse to take it if it is waterlogged and too difficult to lift.

DO: Bed Bug Protocols

If you are throwing furniture away specifically due to bed bugs, you are required to wrap the item fully in plastic and label it clearly as “infested.” This protects your neighbors as well as the sanitation workers handling the debris.

Option #2: Coordinate a Furniture Donation

Donating is always a great option for getting rid of old furniture! Reusing is the most environmentally friendly option.

If your furniture item is still in decent shape, don’t throw it away when it can still serve another family or someone else in need. 

There are many worthy charities and non-profit organizations that can pick up furniture for donations in Philadelphia. In order for them to pick up the furniture, you must schedule it in advance. Before you schedule a free junk removal pick up with the best junk removal company, you should also see what kind of furniture items they are willing to accept.

Philadelphia Furniture Donation Options

Goodwill

Goodwill is a well-known nonprofit organization in Philadelphia that accepts donations ranging from used clothing and accessories to large furniture items. With Goodwill’s pickup service, you can easily help local residents in need of furniture and more. 

Goodwill Drop-Off Locations:

  • The Goodwill Store, South Philadelphia East 330 W Oregon Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
  • Goodwill, Queen Village – Pennsport 2601 S Front St, Philadelphia, PA 19148
  • Goodwill, 7061 Lincoln Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19119, (856) 439-0200

Habitat for Humanity  

Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia ReStore is widely known as the largest non-profit homebuilder worldwide. Their mission is to provide aid to people who can’t afford to meet financial obligations, such as repairing or building homes. 

If you want to support Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia ReStore in building and repairing homes, you can donate your unused, old, or gently used furniture through their pick-up service and drop-off locations. 

Keep also in mind that when donating furniture, there are also selected items that they cannot accept. Such as mattresses, bed frames, box springs, china cabinets, clothing, kitchenware, paint, random hardware, or any unsellable items.

Drop off location:

2318 Washington Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19146

Tuesday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM

215-739-9300

Philadelphia Furniture Bank

Philadelphia Furniture Bank is the centralized resource for furniture for human service organizations from across Philadelphia. They help people out of homelessness with the help of the furniture donations they receive. They rely on furniture donations from individuals and businesses in order to operate, and since late 2014, Philadelphia Furniture Bank has furnished more than 4,500 homes. 

If you have decided to donate furniture to Philadelphia Furniture Bank, you can schedule a furniture pickup through their website, or you can also directly drop it off at one of their local centers. 

Drop off location:

3650 St, Philadelphia, PA 19134

(215) 291-9830

Uhuru Furniture & Collectibles

The goal of Uhuru Furniture is to see genuine change and support sustainable economic development and in the community. 

 If you want to donate to Uhuru Furniture, they also provide free pick-up service as you schedule in advance, and also drop-offs.

Drop off location:

Uhuru Furniture & Collectibles

832 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130

(215) 546-9616

These are just a few of the Philadelphia furniture donation options. No matter which you choose, ask for a receipt so you can claim a charitable donation on your taxes!

Option #3: Sell Your Old Furniture

Selling your old furniture item is always an option if it is in decent condition. 

When listing your furniture for sale, be realistic when setting the price. Pricing it high just because it has sentimental value to you won’t work because it doesn’t have the same value to the customer. 

When pricing, you should take into account any defects or faults, and just the same, when you should take note of a well-kept or good condition item. Make sure to take accurate pictures and write a good description.

Here are some options to sell online

  • Facebook Marketplace
  • Craigslist 
  • Bonanza 
  • Bookoo 
  • Chairish 
  • 1st Dibs 
  • eBay 
  • Etsy 
  • OfferUp 
  • Shopify
  • Furniture Finders
  • LetGo

If your goal is to sell something quickly, these sites are the most popular furniture marketplaces. Most of them allow you to list and sell your item for free, while some will take a percentage of the sale price

How to Time Furniture Disposal When Moving

If you are getting rid of furniture because you are moving out of Philadelphia or downsizing to a new apartment, timing is everything. Leaving trash behind for the new owners or tenants can result in losing your security deposit or delaying your closing.

One Month Before Moving

This is the sorting phase. Walk through your home and tag items with sticky notes to decide what you will keep, sell, donate, or trash. This gives you a clear inventory of what needs to be moved and what needs to go.

Three Weeks Out

If you plan to sell items, list them online during this week. Large furniture takes time to sell, and you don’t want to be haggling on moving day. Simultaneously, call charities to schedule a pickup. Many Philadelphia non-profits are booked out weeks in advance for their trucks, so do not wait until the last minute to call them.

One Week Out

If items haven’t sold or the charity couldn’t take them, plan your curbside set-out. You must remember the “two items per week” limit enforced by the city. If you have eight pieces of furniture left to get rid of, you cannot put them all out on your final trash day. You will need to spread them out over several weeks or find an alternative solution.

Moving Day

If you are down to the wire and still have a house full of unwanted items, you cannot leave them on the curb without risking a fine after you move. This is the best time to call a professional junk removal service to perform a clean-out so you can hand over the keys stress-free.

Option #4: Hire A Junk Removal Service

Hiring the best junk removal company to get rid of your large furniture items is going to be the easiest option for you. Junk removal companies provide the labor, trucks, hauling, disposal, and recycling for all of your unwanted items. 

Our Philadelphia full-service furniture removal is simple and stress-free. All you have to do is call us or schedule your free estimate online. One of our junk removal technicians will evaluate the items you want to be removed and provide a no-obligation quote. Once you agree, we will haul it away, and you can sit back and enjoy your junk-free space!

As a locally-owned small business, we provide honest and fair pricing. Our disposal process is eco-friendly, using specific stations that will recycle eligible items. Items that cannot be recycled will be incinerated. Waste-to-energy incineration is the most sustainable alternative to landfills. You can feel good knowing your unwanted items are being disposed of in the most environmentally friendly way possible!

Ready to Clear Out Your Space?

Don’t let old furniture clutter your home or stress you out during a move. Skip the hassle of rental trucks, strict curb rules, and heavy lifting. Let We Love Junk handle the hard work for you!

Whether you have a single sofa or a whole house of furniture to remove, our friendly, local Philadelphia team is standing by to help. We are committed to eco-friendly disposal and providing the best customer service in the city.

Call We Love Junk today for your free estimate!