With the rise in people's living standards, the demand for furniture has evolved beyond mere functionality. Today, consumers seek a balance between practicality and aesthetics, and even consider personal preferences. As a result, many outdated pieces of furniture have been replaced or discarded. However, these old items now face a serious problem: they are difficult to get rid of, hard to sell, and often end up as unwanted waste, causing frustration among residents.
Citizen: "I can't give it away, I can't sell it, and throwing it out is a hassle."
Ms. Li, a resident of Jinfuyuan Community in Shazhouwei, shared her experience with reporters. After purchasing new solid wood sofas, she tried to get rid of her old fabric ones. She contacted five second-hand furniture dealers, but all refused due to high transportation costs, which made it unprofitable. She also tried giving them to friends and family, but was met with rejection. Now, she had to pay to have the old sofas removed, even though they were still in good condition. “It cost me 4,000 yuan when I bought them,†she said, feeling helpless.
This issue is not isolated. Many people moving into new homes or upgrading their furniture face the same challenge—how to deal with old furniture that no one wants. Xiaolin, who lives on Heping Road, posted online to sell unused furniture after moving. Small items like tables and chairs sold quickly, but larger ones such as beds and wardrobes remained unsold. He reduced the price several times, but still couldn’t find buyers. In the end, he paid 200 yuan to have the furniture taken away by a company.
During the visit, the reporter found that while some small furniture could be reused through the second-hand market, large items like beds, sofas, and wardrobes faced significant challenges. They are costly to transport, have low resale value, and are hard to get rid of, creating a real burden for homeowners.
Merchants: Low profit, few interested
When asked about the potential for recycling old furniture, several furniture store owners said they only sell new products and do not engage in recycling. A market owner in Nanjiao explained that recycling old furniture used to be common, but it’s no longer profitable. The cost of transportation is high, and the value of most old furniture is low. Only valuable pieces like mahogany may be worth recycling, but even then, it's not always worth the effort.
In Wuzu Road's second-hand furniture street, many merchants sell used furniture. One long-time seller mentioned that he prefers smaller items like chairs and tables, as big furniture like beds and sofas are too cumbersome and rarely purchased. “The freight costs often exceed the selling price, so we don’t buy them,†he said.
Can material recycling companies take old furniture?
A recycling company on Shengping Road told the reporter that they don’t accept wooden furniture, focusing instead on metal and plastic. They also don’t come to pick up items; customers must bring them in themselves.
Sanitation: A growing problem
Some citizens try to hand over old furniture to community committees or leave it in public areas, hoping it might find a new purpose. However, this approach is limited. More often, people simply throw the furniture away, adding to the city's waste. During the visit, the reporter found several discarded pieces of furniture in the streets.
Once cherished household items, these pieces now lie abandoned on the roadside, creating additional work for sanitation workers. According to Peng, a captain at the Qianjiang District Environmental Protection Institute, old furniture thrown on the road is a major inconvenience. It’s heavy and hard to move, making it difficult for garbage trucks to handle. Sometimes, workers have to use their own vehicles to transport the items.
“Because these items are noticeable and often discarded at random, we have to monitor the area closely and clean them up as soon as we spot them,†Peng said.
Finding ways to turn old furniture into treasure
Some residents now use online platforms to sell second-hand furniture, but the process isn't smooth. With many websites available and issues like false listings, there's no centralized, trusted platform for buying and selling. Some suggest organizing regular second-hand markets to boost the circulation of old furniture.
Wu Zulu, a second-hand furniture dealer, suggested that government subsidies for transportation costs could help reduce the barriers to reusing old furniture. “If the government could cover part of the cost, it would allow more people to reuse and recycle, improving resource efficiency,†he said.
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