Where to Donate Furniture in Australia
What do you usually do with your old furniture once you upgrade? The most obvious answer would be to get rid of it. But how do you do that in a way that is environmentally and socially acceptable?
As much as it sounds easy to dispose of pre-owned items, it’s more challenging if you intend to follow the right channel. You have to ensure the pre-loved goods do not end up in a landfill, even if they are damaged irreparably. So, read further to know where to donate furniture to keep it away from landfills.
Where Does Furniture Go When It’s Thrown Away?
Depending on your chosen disposal method, your furniture will likely end up anywhere from landfills to recycling facilities. But if you donate the furniture properly, it will end up with a family that needs it, reducing landfill waste. You must make disposal plans for your furniture rather than leaving it on the street. For one, it’s illegal, and the city will fine you; not to mention how it contributes to making the street untidy.
So, if someone has indicated an interest in the furniture in the past, reach out to see if they are interested in taking it off your hands. That aside, many local councils set up collection services for unwanted bulky household items that can’t go in waste or recyclable bins.
The rules for this policy differ from council to council, specifically on the quantity and type of household items they will collect. Also, there’s no guarantee the council will show up in time to pick up the furniture. So check for other ways to dispose of furniture to keep your options open.
Where To Donate Furniture in Australia
Consider these not-for-profit organisations when you’re seeking places that accept second-hand furniture to enrich someone’s life:
● Vinnies
Vinnies is a charity organisation that accepts unwanted household items in Australia. You can donate everything from quality furniture like beds, dining tables, sofas, and a side table to toys, children’s items, books, clothing, etc. Vinnies operate OP shops, donating every profit to those less fortunate, and are part of the St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Organization.
They are situated all over Australia, which adds to their convenience. All you need to do is check for Vinnies shops in your locale and drop your donation with them. Some of their outlets offer free collection service, so check if the closest one does the same to save time.
● The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre
The Bower is a credible charity organisation you can donate used furniture to and be sure it gets a second life with a family that needs it. It’s an award-winning environmental charity organisation that furnishes homes for survivors of domestic violence, asylum seekers, and homeless people. They have case workers from service organisations who refer people in need to them.
All they need to do is provide a gift certificate from the service organisation, and they can pick any item they need at no cost. It goes without saying that their service is vital for people’s survival. Also, the Bower offers repair, recycling, and reuse services. So if your furniture wood is still in great shape, you can recycle it for other purposes. The Bower offers furniture pick-up services to select locations within their participating councils.
If you wish for a pick-up service, check if your locality is part of the areas they visit for such. That aside, give them a call before heading to their store with your used furniture to know if they have space for it. They do not accept furniture made from cupboards/MDF or soft and office furniture.
● The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is an international charitable Christian institution with a mission to meet human needs without discrimination. They help people of all cultures, sexual orientations, intersex status, etc., with home items they need. They resell donated goods in Salvos Stores and op shops to finance their assistance programs.
Their Salvos Stores or op shops differ in size and capacity. Some can accept large items, and others can’t. Also, government regulations sometimes stop them from receiving some items. So, call your local Salvos op shop to discuss your donation. They will promptly notify you if they can’t collect the item or need more space.
Gifts of $2 or more are tax deductible with the organisation. You can donate furniture items, accessories, toys, books, homewares, and children’s items. Drop your donations during business hours, so you do not litter the environment. You can schedule an appointment with them if you cannot drop off bulky items.
● Brotherhood of St Laurence
The Brotherhood of St Laurence is committed to improving the quality of life of disadvantaged individuals. The charitable organisation was renowned and established during the Great Depression Era of the 1930s. Donating old furniture is pretty simple. Visit their closest store with your donation during trading hours, and they will accept it provided the quality is great.
● Facebook Marketplace
If you’re on Facebook, you can list your furniture on the Facebook marketplace to connect with an interested party. It’s another sure way to donate or sell furniture to families. Any interested buyer will send you a message to discuss. To start, you have to create a public listing anyone can easily see from anywhere on and off Facebook.
Upload the image of the furniture you want to donate and mark the item as free by entering 0 as the price. Remember to check back to mark the item as sold, so you will stop receiving inquiries regarding the furniture.
● Ziilch
You can also send unwanted furniture to a good home through Ziilch. A team of passionate volunteers seeking to divert household goods from landfills manages the company. It’s a community-driven online platform that promotes environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
The platform is hassle-free, user-friendly, and free to register and list items. You can donate furniture from the comfort of your living room. All you need to do is take a picture of the furniture and upload it to the platform to connect with an interested party. You can send the furniture to the person or have them pick it up from your porch.
What Kind of Furniture Can I Donate?
The general rule of thumb is to donate any furniture you can use comfortably if the shoe were reversed. The idea behind this is to protect the dignity of the individuals picking up the furniture. That aside, organisations need a lot of time, energy, and money to sort through donations. Any good you hoped to accomplish is negated if they can’t sell it and end up dumping it. So the better the furniture quality, the faster the workers/volunteers will get to others.
What To Do With Worn-out Furniture That You Can’t Donate
If the furniture is worn out and damaged considerably, engaging a junk removal specialist is the next best thing. But before that, consider if you’re better off sending the furniture to a recycling shop so that they can put the wood or timbre to better use. Removal specialists tend to know the best way and place to dispose of bulky furniture without it ending in the tip. They will also figure out the best way to move the furniture from your abode to its next home.
How To Donate Furniture in Australia
There are no easy ways to declutter or pack your items into a box while moving unless you hire the service of experts to do it for you while you observe the process. The same goes for donating furniture in Australia. Depending on the furniture’s size, bulk, and quantity, it might be a hassle to move if you’re doing it yourself.
Do not be deterred by the stress of moving the furniture to its new home. The end justifies the means. And there are people out there who will use the furniture with the same care and love you used. So, here are ways to go about donating furniture.
Find a Charity Organisation in Your Locality That Offers Furniture Donation Pickups.
Before moving the furniture yourself, check with the charity organisation to determine if they offer a pick-up service. Most of them do but limit their services to certain locations. If their answer is yes, it saves you great stress. Now all you have to do is ensure the furniture is in great shape and prepare it for moving.
Ensure the Organisation Accepts Furniture Donations
Every charity organisation has different requirements for items they do and don’t accept. It helps keep them in check without accepting specific items they will not dispose of properly. Most times, they do not accept donating furniture because they need the right space and capability to house furniture. And the majority do not accept worn-out furniture. So, call your local store ahead of time and describe the situation of the furniture to confirm its qualification.
Schedule an Appointment
Don’t assume the charity organisation will always be open to donations. Or that they will remain open beyond closing hours to receive your donation. You would be left in the dark if you visited when they closed and leaving the furniture items outside their shop is out of the question. It’s littering and illegal.
That aside, you have to know if they have space for your unwanted items. They might be rolling in furniture donations, and yours might not fit into their space. So call and find out if they have space and schedule a pick-up. This way, you can go about your day and head home when the appointed time draws near.
Another thing to consider is the weather. If your furniture pickup happens in the rain, it might compromise the integrity of its quality. So, schedule your appointment weeks before your moving day so the organisation will fit you into their schedule. They might have other donations to pick up from other people.
Are Donations Tax Deductible?
Yes, donations are tax-deductible, but you must donate to an organisation the government endorses as a deductible gift recipient. Check the ACNC Charity Register for charities with deductible gift recipients if you seek tax deductions. However, ensure the donation is genuine and not profit oriented. You will not get any returns for any gift you make profits from. Moreover, you can also donate clothing and other basics.
Ensure the furniture is in good condition before sending it off to avoid wasting your time. Most charities and Not for Profit Organisations only accept donations that have good quality and will turn down the rest.
Conclusion
Donate furniture to charity organisations to reduce the environmental impact of landfills. They are many organisations whose primary aim is to provide families and individuals seeking asylum a second lease on life.
There are benefits to donating items to charity to help improve someone’s life. For one, it gets a new life elsewhere and lessens the moving expenses as most charities offer furniture pick-up services, depending on your location. Or you could pay professional moving services to send bulky items to the tip.
If you do decide to sell the furniture, remember it’s a pre-loved good, so the price shouldn’t be on the higher end. If the price is the same or close to what one would get if they go for something new, they will likely opt for new furniture. So, reduce the price to get rid of the furniture faster.