Household recycling
How to Recycle Furniture
Wooden, metal, and upholstered furniture around the home. See the full furniture guides for the details that differ by material.
Special handlingLast reviewed July 28, 2026
Quick answer
Furniture is a reuse category, not a recycling one: EPA measured 0.3 percent of it recycled and 80 percent landfilled. Sell, donate, or repair whatever still works, calling the specific charity first because acceptance is set store by store. All-metal pieces go to a scrap yard. Everything else, including finished wood and flat-pack panel, is disposal-only.
- Recycling route
- Special handling
How to Prepare
- 1Call the donation location before loading anything, since policies vary by store
- 2Photograph and measure the piece for donation or resale
- 3Unscrew hardware and metal frames so the metal can be scrapped
- 4