With the rise in people's living standards, the demand for furniture has evolved beyond mere functionality. Consumers now seek a balance between practicality and aesthetics, often considering personal preferences as well. As a result, many outdated and worn-out pieces of furniture have been replaced, leaving them with no clear path for disposal. This growing issue has become a source of frustration for many households.
Citizen: "I can't get rid of it, I can't sell it, and throwing it away is too much work."
Ms. Li, a resident of Jinfuyuan Community in Shazhouwei, shared her experience with the reporter. After purchasing new solid wood sofas, she tried to get rid of her old fabric ones. She contacted five second-hand furniture dealers, but they all refused due to high transportation costs, which made it unprofitable. She also tried giving the furniture to friends and family, but they were hesitant. Eventually, she had to pay to have the old sofas removed. “It cost 4,000 yuan when we bought it, but now it’s just garbage,†she said, expressing her helplessness.
This situation isn’t unique. Many people who are moving into new homes or upgrading their furniture face the same dilemma—how to deal with unwanted items that are difficult to sell, hard to transport, and even harder to dispose of.
Xiaolin, from Heping Road, tried selling unused furniture online after moving. While small items like tables and chairs sold quickly, larger pieces such as a bed and wardrobe remained unsold. He lowered the price multiple times, but still found no buyers. In the end, he paid 200 yuan to have the furniture taken by a colleague.
During the investigation, it was observed that while some small furniture could find a second life through resale, large items like beds, sofas, and wardrobes faced significant challenges. Their low market value and high transportation costs make them difficult to handle.
Merchants: Low profit, few interested.
When asked about recycling old furniture, most furniture dealers said they only sell new products and don’t engage in recycling. A market owner in Nanjiao mentioned that trade-in programs were common in the past, but not anymore. “The value of old furniture is low, and the transportation cost is high. It’s not worth the effort,†he explained. Some rare pieces, like mahogany furniture, might be more valuable, but general household furniture is rarely refurbished.
On Wuzu Road’s second-hand furniture street, merchants mostly deal in smaller items like tables and chairs. Large furniture like sofas and beds are rarely acquired due to high transportation costs and low profits. “We don’t buy big furniture because the freight cost is higher than what we can sell it for,†said Wu Boss, a long-time second-hand furniture dealer.
Can material recycling companies take old furniture?
A recycling company on Shengping Road stated that they mainly recycle metal and plastic, not wooden furniture. They do not come to pick up items; customers have to bring them in themselves.
Sanitation: Garbage that’s hard to manage.
Some citizens try to give old furniture to community committees or leave it in public areas, hoping it can be reused. However, this approach is limited. Many still choose to throw it out, adding to the city’s waste problem.
During the visit, the reporter saw discarded furniture scattered around. These once-valued items now lie neglected, causing trouble for sanitation workers. According to Peng, a sanitation team leader, large furniture is difficult to move and load, often requiring special vehicles. In communities without property management, the furniture ends up on the roadside, creating an eyesore.
“Because these items are noticeable and thrown out randomly, we have to monitor them closely and clean them up as soon as we find them,†he said.
Finding ways to turn old furniture into treasure.
Some residents now use online platforms to sell second-hand furniture, but the lack of a centralized, trusted platform makes the process inefficient. False listings and unclear communication between buyers and sellers remain issues.
Experts suggest organizing regular second-hand markets to promote the circulation of old furniture. Wu Zulu, a second-hand merchant, proposed that government subsidies for transportation costs could encourage wider reuse of old furniture, leading to better resource allocation.
In conclusion, the problem of disposing of old furniture is complex, involving economic, logistical, and environmental challenges. Finding sustainable solutions will require cooperation between individuals, businesses, and local authorities.
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