How to Dispose of an Old Couch or Sofa

Couches are one of the most commonly removed household items, and for good reason. They are too big for regular trash, too awkward to move alone, and eventually every couch reaches the point where it needs to go. Whether it is sagging, stained beyond saving, torn, or simply being replaced by something better, the old sofa has to leave.

The challenge is that a standard couch weighs 100 to 200 pounds, does not fit in most passenger vehicles, and may not even fit back through the doorway it came in through. Here are your options for getting it gone.

Option 1: Professional Junk Removal

The simplest way to make a couch disappear is to call a professional junk removal service. A crew shows up, carries the couch out of your home regardless of stairs, tight hallways, or awkward doorways, loads it in their truck, and takes it away.

What to Expect

• Cost: $75 to $175 for a standard couch. Sectionals, sofa beds, and oversized pieces may run $125 to $225 due to extra weight and complexity.
• Timeline: Same-day or next-day service across Oregon's I-5 corridor
• The crew handles everything: No need to move the couch to the curb or driveway. They take it from wherever it currently sits.
• Disposal: Good companies donate couches in usable condition and properly dispose of damaged ones

This option is worth every penny when the couch is in a second-floor apartment, a basement rec room, or anywhere that requires navigating stairs and tight corners. Couch removal is physical, awkward work that creates a real injury risk for amateurs.

Option 2: Donate It

If your couch is in genuinely good condition with no structural damage, major stains, tears, pet odor, or pest issues, donation gives it a second life and provides a tax deduction for you.

Oregon Donation Options

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore — Portland and Eugene locations accept furniture in good condition. They offer free pickup for large items in some cases. Proceeds fund Habitat's home-building mission.
• St. Vincent de Paul — Locations throughout the Willamette Valley (Eugene, Springfield, Corvallis, Albany, Salem). Accepts couches in decent condition and often provides free pickup service.
• Furniture Share (Eugene) — This nonprofit provides furniture to families transitioning out of homelessness. They accept clean, functional couches and offer pickup in the Eugene-Springfield area.
• Salvation Army — Some locations offer furniture pickup. Call ahead to confirm availability and scheduling.
• Goodwill — Most locations accept small to medium furniture items for drop-off. Large couch drop-offs may need to be coordinated in advance.

Donation honesty matters: Nonprofits spend money disposing of items they cannot use. If your couch has bedbugs, smells like pet urine, has broken springs, or is missing cushions, it is not donation quality. Respect the organization's resources and choose a different disposal method.

Option 3: Curbside Bulky Item Pickup

Most Oregon waste haulers offer scheduled pickup of bulky items like couches for an additional fee:

• Waste Management: Serves Portland metro. Schedule a bulky item pickup for $25 to $50 per item.
• Republic Services: Serves portions of Portland, Salem, and Eugene. Similar pricing and scheduling.
• Sanipac: Serves Eugene-Springfield. On-call bulky waste collection available.

The catch with curbside pickup is that you need to get the couch to the curb yourself. For a ground-floor home with a front door near the street, this is manageable with a helper. For an upstairs apartment or a couch in the basement, this can be a significant challenge. You may also need to wait one to two weeks for a scheduled pickup slot.

Option 4: Sell or Give Away

A functional couch in decent condition can find a new home through online marketplaces:

• Facebook Marketplace: The most active platform for furniture in Oregon. A free couch listing in Portland, Eugene, or Salem will typically get responses within hours.
• Craigslist: Still active in Oregon, especially the "free" section. Include clear photos and dimensions.
• OfferUp: Growing in popularity for local furniture sales.
• Buy Nothing groups: Facebook-based neighborhood sharing groups are active in many Oregon communities. Post your couch and a neighbor may claim it.

Tips for selling or giving away:

• Take good photos in natural light showing the overall couch and any wear
• Include exact dimensions (people need to know if it fits their space and vehicle)
• Be honest about condition, pet exposure, and smoke exposure
• If listing for free, specify "must pick up" and give a deadline
• Have the couch accessible for easy pickup (garage, porch, or near the front door)

Option 5: Self-Haul to a Transfer Station

With a truck or SUV and a helper, you can haul the couch to a transfer station yourself. Strap it securely since an unsecured couch flying off a truck bed on I-5 is both dangerous and embarrassing.

Transfer station fees for a single couch typically run $15 to $40 based on weight. You will spend one to two hours on the round trip including loading and unloading time.

Can You Recycle a Couch?

Couch recycling is limited but improving. A standard couch contains:

• Wood frame: Can be recycled or used as biomass fuel if not treated
• Metal springs and fasteners: Recyclable as scrap metal
• Foam cushions: Some specialty recyclers accept polyurethane foam for repurposing
• Fabric upholstery: Limited recycling options for mixed-fiber upholstery

Full couch recycling requires disassembly and material separation, which is labor-intensive. Most couches that go through junk removal services end up at transfer stations, though reputable companies will separate metal and wood for recycling when practical.

Tips for Moving a Heavy Couch

If you are moving the couch yourself (to the curb, to a truck, or through a doorway):

• Remove cushions and legs first. This reduces weight and bulk significantly.
• Stand it on end. A couch standing vertically fits through doorways and stairwells that it would not fit through horizontally.
• Use furniture sliders. Plastic sliders under the legs let you push the couch across floors without scratching.
• Tilt and pivot through doorways. Most couches need to go through doorways at an angle. Tilt and rotate rather than forcing straight through.
• Have at least one helper. A full-size couch is a two-person minimum job. Sofa beds and sectionals may need three people.
• Protect your back. Lift with your legs, not your back. Use a furniture strap or dolly for stair carries.

Cost Comparison: Couch Disposal Options