How To Recycle Mattresses On A Budget

Sometimes an affordable way to join the recycling movement is all we really need.

Recycling can get expensive fast, especially if you’re hauling away an entire-truck load of junk or driving to multiple recycling depots. Rising cost of fuel and standards of living can make recycling seem out of reach for the average Canadian. However, here are some tips we have to help you recycle your old mattress on a budget. Together, we can reduce illegal dumping in our neighbourhoods!

1. Transport the mattress by yourself

A cost-effective way, transporting your own mattress to a recycling facility can save you money on a pickup service. If you have a truck, or know someone who has one, use it to transport your old mattress to a nearby recycler. Even if you don’t have a truck, consider renting a U-Haul for a few hours.

2. Ask a friend or family member for a favour

Transporting a mattress (or two) can be difficult, especially considering how heavy they are! Also, if you don’t have a reliable vehicle, we recommend asking a friend or family member for help. Treat them out to a drink or two, or a lunch or dinner, as a way of saying thanks. Altogether, you’ll be saving a lot of money on vehicle rentals, gas, and labor costs that would normally come with hiring a pickup service.

3. Compare mattress disposal service prices

Most junk removal companies offer mattress disposal services. These services include at-home pickups where they send professionals to haul your mattress away. They also include recycling services, making sure your item gets sent to the recycler instead of a landfill. However, pricing can be complicated. Some companies charge by weight of the load or by item only. Depending on what you want recycled, and the quantity, certain services may be more suitable for your needs.

4. Look into producer take-back programs

Did you know about IKEA’s mattress take-back program?

If you buy a new mattress from IKEA and have it delivered to your house, you can also off-load your old mattress onto them. Their professional crew will take your old mattress out and swap it with the new one. Then, IKEA will send the used mattresses to the appropriate recycler in your area.

5. Check your city’s large item pickup program

Cities like Surrey and Langley have special large item pickup programs. Each year, residents can get the city staff to haul away up to 4 large items for free. Mattresses and furniture are popular items that get taken away by these programs. Rest assured, most cities will dispose of your old beds at a recycler.

Remember to check your city’s specific large item pickup program, or inquire if they have one.

Bonus: Drop off your mattress at a junk drop-off event

Cities may hold free junk drop-off events throughout the year to encourage recycling of larger, harder-to-recycle items.

For example, the City of Surrey’s annual Pop-Up Junk Drop-Off days occur in the summer. These events attract hundreds of residents who have an old bed or two that need disposing of. Simply make sure you qualify to attend events like these, bring necessary ID, and come prepared with your junk.

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Commonly Asked Questions

Can I just donate my old mattress to a second-hand store?

We get this question a lot – and unfortunately, we have to say ‘no’. Due to sanitary reasons, and the difficulties in cleaning an old mattress for reselling, many organizations and reuse stores do not accept mattresses. Even if they do collect them, they throw the mattresses into landfills or arrange a pickup with a mattress recycler.

Old mattresses can be unsanitary, mouldy, and/or contain bed bugs and other pests that these businesses and charities do not want to deal with.

Can I donate my furniture to a store?

Yes, furniture is a different story compared to mattresses. There are organizations around that take furniture donations, and refinish them to sell in their restores. Habitat for Humanity comes to mind. These furniture end up in someone’s home, instead of the landfill.

Can I just leave a mattress on the side of the road / in an alley? Someone put one there before and the next day it was gone!

We do not recommend dumping mattresses in this manner! This is considered illegal dumping and you can be fined, if caught. Even if you’re not caught, randomly dumping mattresses can attract pests or cause the spread of pests, if your mattress has bed bugs. This is a massive sanitary issue, therefore we recommend you follow the correct procedures to dispose of your mattress.

A common thought is that, if you see someone illegally dump a mattress, and it disappears the next day, that someone must have taken it to use, right?

On the contrary to popular belief, these mattresses are rarely “picked up” by someone looking for them. Most people do not pick up mattresses or furniture off the streets due to concerns of pests. Similarly, if it rains overnight, then the mattress cannot be used anymore.

In reality, when illegally dumped mattresses are spotted by residents, city staff are called in to haul them away to the landfill. So if you illegally dump a mattress, and it vanishes the next day, it’s not because someone has taken it to use. It’s because the city has come by to clean up your mess.

 

Conclusion

We hope that this blog post is helpful in your spring cleaning efforts this year. When we all do our part to dispose of our junk responsibly, it keeps our city streets clean, and our environment greener. We end up reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, and diverting waste from landfills. Sometimes recycling mattresses can seem a daunting task, especially if you’re on a budget. We hope that this blog gives you ideas on how to recycle them. From taking advantage of city drop-off events to using their large item disposal program, there are many ways to keep costs down while you go about your cleaning!

 

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Canadian Mattress Recycling Inc. is Metro Vancouver’s only mattress recycling facility, located on Annacis Island. We work with cities and community partners to divert mattresses from landfills. We recycle over 95% of every mattress we receive through our doors. Since 2011, we’ve recycled over 25 million lbs of mattresses and supported over 90+ community organizations around the world.  Join in our conversation on Twitter and Facebook!

 

It’s that time of year again – spring cleaning. As we Vancouverites put our snow shovels away we can finally begin to think about clearing the junk from our homes. We can once again freshen our homes after a long winter. This year, we propose a challenge: to make your spring cleaning efforts zero-waste.

You might be scratching your head: how do I do that? Is it even possible?

We’re here to say yes, that it’s possible to avoid throwing your old junk in the garbage. We think it’s possible to tackle your waste differently, to find a new use for them or find someone else who can take it off your hands.

Why we should make our spring-cleaning zero waste?

As news about landfill waste, plastics pollution, and packaging waste become publicized, and we move towards reducing our environmental footprint, why not do the same for spring cleaning? Most people throw away their junk, like old chairs, furniture, mattresses, and odds-and-ends, into landfills, but what if there are cheap, fun ways to recycle or repurpose your items? After all, a trip to the local landfill can be quite expensive. So take advantage of these five tips to turn your spring cleaning into a zero-waste activity:

Tip 1: Ask your friends, families, or neighbours.

Before you throw away your chairs, sofas, tables, or home decor, why not ask people you know if they have a use for them? With the ease of social media these days, simply posting a photo of your furniture or item in local buy and sell groups can lead to a successful connection. You never know who may be looking for an item that you are looking to throw away! As the saying goes: one person’s trash is another one’s treasure.

Many times people are looking for cheap furniture or used furniture that adds character to their existing decor.

Additional suggestion: take a creative photo of your item to show how people can use it. This can help increase the interest in your item. If you have a lawnmower to throw away, maybe place it on your lawn and take a photo. This will look better than a grainy photo of a lawnmower taken inside a cluttered garage.

Tip 2: Host a zero-waste repurposing party with your friends.

This is a fun activity for adults or even for families with young children. Host a zero waste party or an upcycling crafts night where you turn empty containers, tea tins, and jars into new, stylish stationary holders.

Repurpose old jars with a fresh coat of paint instead of throwing them in the garbage. (Source)

Maybe even turn old fabrics and bedsheets into a tote bag. Make bandanas, head scarfs, or even beach towels using old fabrics, or tie-dye them to create brilliant colour schemes.

Save old t-shirts and jeans and turn them into stylish tote bags. (Source)

Other ideas include stripping down wood from mattress boards and cut-offs to repaint them into home decor signs. The benefit of finding out how you can upcycle your own items is learning a new skill or technique. Sometimes simply refitting or brushing up an old item will make it last longer, and brighten up your home. This way, you can keep your items out of landfills and find another use for them, while having fun!

Recommended Article:  How to introduce recycling to your children

Tip 3: Drop-off items at the Vancouver Zero Waste Centre.

Take your old items to the Vancouver Zero Waste Centre. (Image Credit)

Formerly the Recycling Centre, the City of Vancouver unveiled a new zero-waste facility last year. The facility encourages people to recycle items instead of dumping them in landfills. The best thing about this facility is that it’s free of charge for Vancouver residents. So come by and drop off old electronics, glass bottles, jars, household batteries and more. They hand the items off to a recycler or a repurposer, so that your item stays out of the landfill.

Unfortunately, the centre does not accept mattresses, propane tanks, and general garbage. Their website has more information on what they accept – and how you can get there.

Additional tip: if you make a trip out, ask your neighbours if they have things to recycle you can bring along. Saving a trip reduces air pollution and traffic conjestion.

Tip 4: Donate items to charity.

Donations tend to decrease after the Christmas season, so check your local charities to see if they’re running low on specific items. Toiletries, blankets, pillows, and clothes can be useful for these organizations. Think about donating items to a thrift store run by a charity. These organizations rely on sales through their stores for much of their work, so you’ll be contributing to a good cause.

Give your items a quick wash so they’re in good condition before you donate. Donating larger items such as mattresses and furniture may be difficult as most organizations reject them due to sanitary concerns. It may be easier to take your furniture and mattresses to a recycler instead.  Doing your part to recycle helps keep the environment healthy and our society sustainable.

Tip 5: Host a community yard sale.

Hosting a yard sale can help keep your old furniture away from the landfill. 

If you live in a condo or townhome with a strata, approach them or your neighbours to see if they are interested in hosting a community yard sale. If you have a detached home, you can also host a yard sale too and get your street involved. This can get more people attending the yard sale, especially when they know there are more than one household is hosting. You can even sell reusable bags, mason jars, and glass Tupperware so that people can get their hands on zero-waste items. A good tip when having a yard sale is to provide details about the product, as well as inspiration how shoppers can use them in their homes.

Before you put your items up for the yard sale, think about cleaning them and making them look nice and presentable. If you have items like extra jars or boxes, think about decorating them for an extra charming look. Selling an old piece of furniture or accent cabinet can be as easy as giving it a fresh coat of paint or a wipe-down with a warm, soapy cloth.

Recommended Article: Top 5 Environmentally Friendly Changes You Can Make

Bonus tip: Dump wood scraps or boards into your compost.

If you have clean wood lying around after a home renovation or a woodworking project, you can break the scraps down into smaller pieces and compost them. Many people don’t realize that clean, dry wood can be composted. So instead of leaving them on your lawn or taking them to the landfill, compost your wood scraps. If you don’t have a compost bin, this can be a great time to start one. Be sure to know what kinds of wood are compostable. Pressure-treated or painted wood cannot decompose easily and should be taken to an appropriate facility instead.

Do you have any other helpful zero-waste tips on spring cleaning? We covered items that are commonly thrown away, like large furniture, bedsheets, wood scraps, and jars and glasses, but there are countless of activities and ways to think about turning your activities into a zero-waste one. Share your ideas and tips with us on our Facebook Page and Twitter.

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Canadian Mattress Recycling is a 100% locally-owned BC company with a team of employees dedicated to customer service and environmental preservation through recycling. We are located in the middle of Metro Vancouver on Annacis Island on Delta, BC and serve the entire Lower Mainland region and beyond. We are winners of the Green Business of the Year in 2016 by the Delta Chamber of Commerce.

This year, Global Recycling Day is on Monday, March 18th.

First launched in 2018, this annual global event aims to promote recycling and the recycling industry across the world. Raising awareness, the event showcases recycling’s vital role in preserving the future of the planet.

With the amount of waste that still aren’t recycled around the world, youths, teachers, and families are encouraged to think differently about recycling. By thinking of recycling as a valuable resource, people would recycle more in their lives.

Recycling as a Resource

Global Recycling Day wants people to realize that recycling is an important resource. It is as important, if not more, than water, air, oil, natural gas, coal, and minerals. These other resources risk being used up since they’re finite.

But recycling is infinite.

A renewable resource like recycling supports local jobs and combats climate change. And as its name suggests, recycled materials can be recycled over and over again.

Because of the value recycling brings, the event wants to recognize recycling as an important resource that needs investing by countries around the world.

Ending Wastefulness

Even as we practice recycling, there is still so much waste being produced that aren’t recycled. You’d be surprised to see how many cities or countries that don’t commit to three-stream garbage collection. How many cities don’t take organics and convert them into biofuel. How many landfills that produce biogas that aren’t converted into energy.

Ending waste requires thinking creatively and critically about recycling. What can we recycle? Or we ask ourselves: what can we do about plastic waste that are destroying our ocean and natural habitats?

What can we do with hard to recycle items like large furniture and mattresses? Again the question is there, but not enough people are taking the effort to reduce these kinds of waste.

Therefore Global Recycling Day wants to address recycling as a resource to help businesses, institutions, and people invest in recycling.

Global Recycling Day 2019

So what can you expect for Global Recycling Day 2019?

This year, the event focuses on educating youths about the power of the Seventh Resource. The event provides information for teachers and educators to use in classrooms.

What else will happen on March 18th?

You’ll see the hashtag #recyclinggoals trend online. The second part of the Global Recycling Day campaign revolves around using the sport of football (soccer) a global sport, to communicate recycling.

The challenge is fun — it encourages youths and adults alike to place a recycling bin by a football (soccer ball) net on the field.

Then it encourages the challenger to take a video of them reciting their recycling goal pledge, nominate a friend or family member, and then take a shot with their football (soccer ball).

After that, the challenge suggests sharing the video online. Challenge friends and family to set their own #recyclinggoal and take the pledge.

How To Take Part

If pledging to a social media challenge is not your thing, that’s okay!

The Global Recycling Day event also gives several activities for educators to do at school.

From organizing a litter pickup around the school to getting them to wear green in solidarity — the Global Recycling Day website has a lot of interesting event ideas to incorporate into your classroom.

They also have lesson plans. Their recycling citizen graphics shows hot topics in the recycling industry. From single-use plastics to climate change and the circular economy, teachers can use the information to teach their students about recycling. Topics on their website include cool items made out of recycled materials and more.

Conclusion

We hope you find this blog post helpful! Global Recycling Day takes place all day March 18th, 2019. It is an annual event that aims to educate and spread awareness about the importance of recycling as a resource. Now that you’re in the know, take to social media or in your class and join in on this important event!

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Canadian Mattress Recycling Inc. is Metro Vancouver’s leading mattress and furniture recycler. Since 2011, we have diverted over 25 million lbs of waste that comes through our doors. Recycling everything we receive, we work with the local community to help divert waste and improve the environment. We also enjoy supporting organizations and charities working nationally and globally to improve the world we live in.

Out with the old, in with the new.

Whether you’re spring cleaning or moving, sometimes it’s time to part ways with an old couch. You might be eyeing a new sectional, or want to change the entire look of your home. Regardless of the reason, many people struggle finding a way to dispose of their couches. They’re big, bulky, and hard to carry. So how are you supposed to recycle a couch?

Easy – couch recycling is possible for many Vancouverites. A local recycling facility takes upholstered furniture for recycling. Their Furniture Destroyers will dismantle all upholstered furniture, sorting the materials for reuse. All you need to do is drop off your couch at their recycling centre located on Annacis Island, Delta BC.

Metro Vancouver residents can also hire professionals to take the couch from their home. Both junk removal services and furniture recyclers offer these pickups.

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How to prepare a couch for recycling

One. Keep your couch in good condition.

Whether you book a pickup service or transport it yourself, keeping your upholstered furniture dry is the first step. Many recyclers reject wet couches for recycling. To avoid having to go to the landfill, keep your couch indoors, and dry.

Two. Give your couch a good wipe or vacuum.

Recyclers try to set aside cushions and fabric for reuse by local animal shelters, but they only take clean materials. Therefore, to increase the probability of your couch to be reused, give it a wipe. Else, dirtied fabrics are sent as-is to textile recyclers.

Three. Dismantle it as much as possible.

Consider dismantling the couch as much as you can before a pickup crew arrives. Even setting cushions aside on the day of a pickup can make it easier for the crew to lift the couch down the stairs. If the couch comes in two parts – such as a chaise and couch – separating them will make the process go smoother. It’ll be easier for the crew to squeeze the item through tight doors, narrow hallways, or even fit in elevators.

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When you’re ready, you have two options:

One – Transport the couch to a recycling facility

For option one, simply load up your couch in a pick up truck, strap it down, and take it to a recycling facility near you. For Metro Vancouverites, it will be Canadian Mattress Recycling, located on Annacis Island, Delta BC. In addition to mattresses, CMR dismantles upholstered furniture including couches and sectionals. Be sure to check their hours and recycling rates before you go.

Two – Let a pickup crew take the couch away

Metro Vancouverites have the option of letting their city, or a private company, haul away their couch. Large item pickups can be arranged through your city’s waste disposal department. Otherwise, pickup crews from junk removal companies can take the couch off your hands. Be sure to choose a company that will recycle your couch. Recycling a couch is good for the environment.

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Couch Recycling – Why It Matters

These days, couches and sofas last more than a decade, but when it’s time to dispose of your old couch, recycling is an option for Metro Vancouver residents.

But you may be wondering, why should I bother recycling a couch?

Couches are made out of high quality materials from exotic wood and high-end fabrics. Even cushions and the foam inside of them may be of high quality. It’s a shame to just throw these away in the landfill when a more sustainable option is available.

1. Landfilled couches take over 80 years to decompose.

Depending on the fabrics and construction, a couch can take decades to decompose fully. Metal springs or wooden frames take time to wear out in the natural elements. Some couches have been reported to take up to 60 – 80 years to decompose. This is roughly eight times the time the couch has been in use in your home!

2. Couches occupy a lot of space in landfills.

Couches, due to their size and bulkiness, take up a lot of landfill space. And because they also take a long time to decompose, these pieces of furniture clog up landfills. This makes it harder for landfills to accept additional couches, or items, if they’re almost at full capacity. And these days, expanding a landfill site may damage local ecosystems and natural habitats.

3. Recycling couches avoids illegal dumping

When  more companies offer couch pickup and recycling services, it reduces the likelihood of the couch ending up on the side of the road. Couches are often dumped illegally in back alleys when people move or spring clean. This costs cities hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to clean up. Therefore, when couch recycling is affordable and convenient, it helps the environment and the city.

4. Decomposing couches can be toxic.

The materials used to make a couch can be toxic when it starts to decompose. This occurs for all couches whether they are in landfills or dumped illegally on the side of a road. Many couch fabrics have been chemically treated. The wood and metal too, when they decompose, can cause a variety of problems. For example, wood could attract pests and bugs. Deteriorating metals could react with rain and sun. The entire couch, when decomposing, would turn into toxic sludge that seeps into our soils, and into our groundwater.

5. Couch recyclers support local economies. 

Because most specialized recyclers are locally operated, they support local economies. A city and its residents become more self-sufficient if a specialized recycler can thrive. For example, taking a couch to a recycler supports local jobs when you pay for the recycling. Instead of having the couch sent to a landfill, where it either sits there, or gets shipped overseas for dismantling, a local couch recycler would keep valuable materials, reduce emissions, and support the local economy.

 

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Canadian Mattress Recycling Inc. is a recycling centre located on Annacis Island, Delta BC. Since 2011, we have helped Metro Vancouver residents recycle over 25 million lbs of mattresses and furniture. We have also supported over 90+ organizations through donations and our blogging efforts. Read about the other organizations we have supported in the past.

These days, couches and sofas can last for about 10 years, but when it’s time to dispose of your old couch, why should you bother recycling it? In some cities such as Vancouver and Surrey, residents can recycle their sofas and couches with a local recycler. But you may be wondering, what’s the point? If I’ve used a sofa for a decade, it shouldn’t matter how I get rid of it, right?

Wrong – in fact, what happens to your couch at the end of its lifespan can be just as important as how you take care of it during use. Couches can be made out of high quality materials from exotic wood to high-end fabrics. Even cushions and the foam inside of them may be of high quality. It’s a shame to just throw these away in the landfill when a more sustainable option is available.

But if we haven’t convinced you yet, here are some other reasons you should recycle your couch:

 

1. When landfilled, couches take decades to decompose.

Depending on the fabrics and construction, a couch can take decades to decompose fully. Metal springs or wooden frames take time to wear out in the natural elements. Some couches have been reported to take up to 60 – 80 years to decompose. This is roughly eight times the time the couch has been in use in your home!

2. Couches take up a lot of landfill space.

Couches, due to their size and bulkiness, take up a lot of landfill space. And because they also take a long time to decompose, these pieces of furniture clog up landfills. This makes it harder for landfills to accept additional couches, or items, if they’re almost at full capacity. The only way more couches would be accepted at these sites is if they expand. And these days, expanding a landfill site may damage local ecosystems and natural habitats. When sites get expanded, valuable land is turned into garbage dumps. This is not sustainable, especially for all the couches that get dumped in landfills these days.

3. Couch recycling reduces illegal dumping.

Recycling your couch reduces the number of couches dumped illegally on the side of the road. Couches can also be found in parks or behind alleyways, or in forested areas. People would dump them there, instead of disposing of them properly. Being able to recycle couches provide an additional option for local residents if landfilling them is impossible.

4. Materials in a couch can be toxic when it decomposes.

The materials used to make a couch can be toxic when it starts to decompose. This occurs for all couches whether they are in landfills or dumped illegally on the side of a road. Many couch fabrics have been chemically treated. The wood and metal too, when they decompose, can cause a variety of problems. For example, wood could attract pests and bugs. Deteriorating metals could react with rain and sun. The entire couch, when decomposing, would turn into toxic sludge that seeps into our soils, and into our groundwater.

5. Couch recyclers support local economies.

Because most specialized recyclers are locally owned and operated, they support local economies. A city and its residents become more self-sufficient if a specialized recycler can thrive. For example, taking a couch to a recycler supports local jobs when you pay for the recycling. Instead of having the couch sent to a landfill, where it either sits there, or gets shipped overseas for dismantling, a local couch recycler would keep valuable materials, reduce emissions, and support the local economy.

Conclusion

We have given these five reasons to recycle your couch. We hope this has been a helpful blog post. If you are wondering – how do I recycle my couch? Check with your local municipality if they know a recycler that takes your old couch for recycling.

Or, if you live in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, consider booking a residential pickup for a team to haul away your old couch for recycling. You can also bring your couch to Canadian Mattress Recycling Inc. for recycling. We’re located on Annacis Island, Delta BC., conveniently located by Cliveden and Eaton Way.

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Canadian Mattress Recycling Inc. is a recycling centre located on Annacis Island, Delta BC. Since 2011, we have helped Metro Vancouver residents recycle over 25 million lbs of mattresses and furniture. We have also supported over 90+ organizations through donations and our blogging efforts. Read about the other organizations we have supported in the past.

Where To Buy Cheap Furniture in Richmond BC

Plenty of cheap furniture stores exist around the Lower Mainland. For Richmond BC, it’s the place to go if you’re in the area and are looking for affordable furniture such as coffee tables and dining table sets. Whether you’re on a budget or an avid thrifter, there’s something for everyone. From build-it-yourself furniture from Ikea to modern fixtures from Mobler Furniture, Richmond is the place to go for furniture shopping. You never know what you may come across!

The best thing about shopping for cheap furniture is that you can find great deals on quality products. Expensive furniture isn’t for everyone’s budget, especially if you’re trying to stay within a certain price-tag.

Check out the furniture stores below:

Furniture Land

Furniture Land carries an array of furniture at affordable prices. A variety of products are always marked down, and others are available at reasonable rates. From new mattresses to sofas, you can find a wide selection of furniture at the Richmond location.

Some other items they carry include sofas, sectionals, and cabinets. Their website shows they have a clearance centre, where they add items to from time to time.

Their two locations in Surrey and Richmond have been open business for the last ten years. Over the years, they’ve amassed an impressive collection of brands they carry, including Ashley Furniture, Cosmos Furniture, Somerton Furniture, and more.

Whether you’re looking at replacing an old mattress or changing up the decor in your office or kid’s rooms, be sure to check out Furniture Land.

Address: 12180 Bridgeport Road, Richmond, BC V6V 1J3

Mobler Furniture

Mobler Furniture – a modern furniture store with a massive showroom and inventory. No doubt that’s why many people venture to the Richmond Mobler Furniture location, located conveniently a few streets down from Richmond IKEA.

Mobler is known for its sleek, modern furniture, perfectly sized for full houses or even apartment suites. Depending on what you’re looking for, they have deals on couches, tables, and side table decor. Also, they sometimes sell gently used floor models and mark down prices for clearance items.

Did you know that Mobler Furniture was founded in 1984? Over the past decades, Mobler Furniture have provided quality modern furniture for people looking for contemporary furnishings. Their roots were humble as a Danish furniture import store — now they bring fantastic, affordable modern furniture into a showroom for you to browse. Their collections are from all over the world.

Address: 3351 Sweden Way, Richmond, BC V6V 2B1

ReStore

Habitat for Humanity is an organization that runs home decor and furniture supply stores selling new and gently-used items. ReStore is the organization’s retail arm, taking people’s unwanted furniture and reselling them at an affordable rate to people who need them. You can find deals at up to 80% off the retail price on furnishing items like tables, ottomans, lamps, couches and more. Because they run on donations, you may find something new every time you visit!

The closest location to Richmond is either their Burnaby Douglas ReStore or their Burnaby Enterprise Restore.

Douglas Address: 2475 Douglas Road, Burnaby, BC V5C 5A9
Burnaby Enterprise Address: 7977 Enterprise Street, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1V5

Liquidation Furniture & More

Liquidation Furniture & More has a fantastic selection of furniture for all budgets. Their prices are reasonable for the quality of furniture they stock. They recently changed their name to QLiving, but they are still in the business of finding quality furniture and selling them at an affordable price. You’ll be surprised to see what is available at this location in Richmond BC!

Address: 2771 Simpson Rd, Richmond, BC V6X 2R2

 

How To Choose The Right Furniture

Now that you know the different stores to check out for affordable furniture, you may be wondering: how would I know what to get? You may be asking, do I shop by brand name? Crawl through every listing on a furniture store’s website? Or do I search by colour?

Aside from the information you need to base your purchase off – such as dimensions, price, and whether you need a delivery made or not, here are some considerations to make when adding a new piece of furniture into your space:

1. Figure out the theme of your room.

Having a good understanding of your space on a micro room level and a macro “house” level can create cohesiveness between pieces of existing furniture and those that you plan to buy.

We are fans of taking the time to observe the room and figure out how we can make it lively, or organized. Perhaps new shelves are a good idea, or cabinets or media centers with storage compartments are a good idea. Or, are you planning on adding plants later? Perhaps you should look at how your current decor and future decor would exist in your space.

2. Decide on a colour scheme.

You may already have an idea about the colours you want to work with for your space. If you live in a smaller space, bright walls and furniture will make your space seem less restrictive. Alternatively. if you have a larger space to fill and have a darker wall colour, going completely dark with your furniture may not be the best idea. It may seem like it – but consider creating contrast in your space. For example, dark blue walls and white dressers, or light coloured walls and dark mahogany cabinets.

3. Decide on what impression your room should have.

Sometimes finding the right furniture can come down to the trims, accents, patterns, and make of the furniture itself. For example, are most of your existing furniture rigid and modular? Perhaps you can add some ‘curves’ to your furniture with a rounded side table to even out all the rough edges. Or, if you have a lot of glass furniture, perhaps rounding the surfaces out with wood cabinets could keep your place from looking sterile.

Furniture Shopping: A Checklist

1. List all the rooms in your apartment suite or house and what furniture is missing
2. Order the missing pieces from high importance to low. You can rank the furniture by importance to guests if you have guests over often, utility, or just for aesthetic appeal.
3. Write beside your list the approximate prices you’d like to spend on each furniture.
4. Alternatively, look through your list and decide on a budget for each furniture category – such as cabinets, beds, shelves, etc.
5. On the same sheet, measure the maximum dimensions you can have

Now, armed with the list, you can easily remember what you are trying to buy at a furniture store, the dimensions of the ideal furniture, its importance to you, and the price you’re willing to pay.

 

Conclusion

We hope this article helps you find the right furniture for you at an affordable price. Furniture shopping does not have to be an expensive or time-consuming ordeal. Several quality furniture stores exist in Richmond BC, a short drive from Vancouver, Surrey, or Burnaby. Additionally, we hope that our additional tips on choosing the right furniture is helpful too!

 

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The companies mentioned in this post are not sponsored by Canadian Mattress Recycling. Often, we like to share information to help our readers navigate furniture and mattress shopping and recycling. We are a local Delta BC company that takes pride in supporting the community around us.

Selling old furniture shouldn’t have to be a hassle in Vancouver. In fact, read our guide to learn how you can sell old furniture. Some options available include selling through consignment, auctions, and online marketplaces. If these options don’t work for you, you can also recycle your old furniture.

Consignment

Consignment furniture stores are a fantastic way to make extra money for your old furniture. Instead of taking your old table or couch to the dump, consider phoning up a local used furniture consignment store. They will check the quality of your item and inform whether they can sell your items.

Auctions

You can also search for events auctioning off furniture. If your item is in good or decent condition, they may be interested in seeing them. Alternatively, if your item is antique or passed down as a heirloom, they will be more than interested in them.

Online Buy and Sell

Facebook Marketplace is not the only online platform out there! In fact, you can try Used.ca, and filter for your city such as Vancouver. You can list items for sale there. You can also list items for sale on Craigslist or Kijiji, depending on what furniture you are trying to get rid of. As always – buyer and seller beware.

IKEA

Have you heard about the buy-back program at IKEA? IKEA launched its buy back program. Like the name suggests, you can “sell” your new or gentlly used IKEA furniture back to the store. Then, they will display them as used models for customers to browse. If someone is interested in buying the used item, all they have to do is let the staff know. There is a very specific process to participate in this program, so please check out their website.

Word of Mouth

One tactic many people don’t realise can be effective is word of mouth! Spread the word to your family, friends, colleagues, or neighbours that you want to sell off a gently used piece of furniture. Consider talking to families with children heading off to college or university. They may be interested in a good deal for furnishings. But don’t limit yourself to that, however. When people relocate for work or school, they may all be in the market for used furniture at a good price.

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If these options do not work for you – have no fear! Your old furniture can still go somewhere. Instead of dumping your furniture on the side of the road, hoping someone picks it up, consider taking it to a furniture recycler near you. In Metro Vancouver, Canadian Mattress Recycling processes and recycles upholstered furniture such as couches and sofas. Their pickup crew can also take chairs and other items off your hands for a price. For more information, visit our Recycling Rates page.

We can make a number of changes in our lives to be more sustainable. Being more sustainable lets us have a greater impact on our environment. So let’s take a look at the top changes we can make.

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What We Can Do For the Environment

1. Making smarter purchases

Smarter purchases may not just mean making ones that are more effective money-wise. As consumers, we have the opportunity to decide what we buy and what companies we support.

For example, we can support B-corp companies, or source goods from local businesses that produce less carbon dioxide. We can also support companies that are eco-friendly, reduce their plastic use, or those that commit to producer take-back programs. Anything we can do to reduce our carbon footprint would go far for the environment.

2. Avoid purchasing items with too much packaging

These days, too many items are packaged in plastic. Layers of plastic are wasteful – and we need to do something about it. The best way we can avoid this is by choosing items with fewer packaging or opting for plastic-free products.

Buying from local farmer markets are another option, too. So is simply bringing cotton produce bags to the grocery store, and filling up your vegetables with them. Reducing our use of plastic packaging will limit the amount of plastics cluttering up our landfills.

3. Conserve water usage

When brushing teeth or washing dishes or showering, we use more water than we think. Even just by reducing a minute of water usage will save a lot of water.

In other areas, consider how much water you use for watering your lawn. Lawn watering is one of the biggest wastes of water in North America, after agriculture. Find ways to water your lawn more sparingly, or stop all together.

We cannot survive without water, so making sure we use it responsibly is crucial.

4. Change our travelling habits

Did you know taking an airplane or going on a cruise emits a lot of carbon dioxide? Planes and cruise ships are known to be big emitters of carbon dioxide. Cruise ships too, are known to pollute the waters by dumping waste directly into the sea. As oceans become clogged with waste, we should think twice about supporting such an unsustainable industry.

Even for shorter trips locally, there may be better alternatives to using a car. Biking, commuting, or even walking can reduce air pollution. Carpooling or ride sharing may be options for you too, depending on where you live. Or, if you must use a car, consider planning out your trip so that you can hit multiple locations at once, rather than make several trips.

5. Support local products

Locally-sourced products have smaller carbon footprints than those sourced from other countries. Buying local and eating local will help reduce pollution. With how much energy and fuel is used to transport products from country to country, it’s almost just worth it to buy local. Besides, supporting local products often mean supporting local businesses. If we support local businesses, it also means as a whole, we are more self-sustained.

Another great way to reduce your environmental impact is to simply grow your own vegetables and herbs. Instead of transporting produce from another country to your kitchen, simply learn to garden and grow your own. You’ll be surprised at how much money you can save by growing your own vegetables. Even if you live in an apartment with a patio instead of a garden, there are still herbs and vegetables you can grow!

6. Buy less, or fix more of your items

Another way to lessen our impact on the environment is by buying less – which require better care of our possessions to begin with. But when an item breaks down, don’t just throw it away. Consider repurposing it, or fixing it. Many times there are ways to get an item working again. So don’t just rush out to the store to grab a replacement; see what you can do with what you have first. This will go a long way to reducing unnecessary consumption.

7. Support eco-tourism operators

Whether you’re on vacation or working in tourism, consider supporting companies that do their part for the environment. When vacationing, thinking about sustainability and the environment may be the last thing on your mind. However, we urge you to research your trips and destinations, and make sure your money is being spent on sustainable tourism operators instead of ones that abuse wildlife or the environment.

8. Like hiking? Go zero-waste.

The mentality “leave nothing behind” makes sense when hiking or camping. As it becomes more popular to hike or travel the unbeaten paths, consider making your trip zero waste. This may come from using reusable lunch boxes to pack your camping food, or taking the BBQ propane tank home with you for recycling instead of leaving it at the park.

Being mindful while camping or hiking can mean prepping ahead of time, like bringing a reusable water bottle instead of bottled water. Spending an extra five to ten minutes to find a way to leave nothing behind at a campsite or hiking trail will do much for the environment.

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Canadian Mattress Recycling is Metro Vancouver’s leading mattress recycler. Since 2011, we have recycled over 25 million lbs of mattresses and furniture. Keep up to date with our community blog – we always post new topics about recycling and the environment. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for engaging conversations!

As we welcome in a new year, there’s no better time to adopt new habits and kick old ones to the curb. January is often the month for making bold resolutions, whether it’s to go to the gym, eat healthier, or even adopt a better work-life balance. But why stop there? Why not set a resolution to reduce your own environmental footprint in 2019?

Back in 2018…

There were many developments in the environmental community at both a local and global scale. National Geographic published shocking research about plastic pollution in our oceans. As a result, people became more aware of the effects of plastic in our oceans. People began to shift to a more plastic-free lifestyle.

Similarly, organizations like the Giraffe Conservation Fund made further headway into protecting and conserving these endangered wildlife.

Back in Canada, there was a growing momentum to phase out single use plastics, adopt a zero-waste lifestyle, and to support local businesses that put the environment and community first, including those that are B-Corp certified.

As it’s becoming easier to adopt a zero waste lifestyle, or make changes to one’s habits, we believe that 2019 will be a perfect year to commit to a ‘green’ resolution. In other words, why not make your sustainable lifestyles a core part of your New Year Resolutions?

Here are some ideas to get you thinking about ‘greening’ your New Year resolutions for 2019!

We divided our tips into two categories: 1) residents, and 2) for businesses.

Residents

Resolution 1: Reduce food waste.

As people set goals to eat healthier and cook more, why not think about how you can reduce food waste at home?

Your resolutions can be as simple as putting an effort into sorting your organics from your garbage and recycling bins. Or, you could even set a goal to meal plan more, so that less food goes to waste.

Another goal could even be finding out new ways of cooking leftovers or turning close-to-expiring food into jams and other preservatives.

The new year is a great time to learn new recipes, so why not make reducing food waste and eating healthier a part of it?

Resolution 2: Reduce single-use plastics and disposable styrofoam containers.

This could be a good resolution to commit to if you’re a busy worker or student.

Pack a lunch, or even an empty lunch box, and bring it to work if you’re planning on buying lunch. Similarly, toss a reusable travel mug into your work bag to reduce the disposable coffee cups and drinks you’d buy during the day. Depending on the restaurant, cafe, or even fast food drive through, you could also try to request using your own mug for drinks, or hand them your empty lunch box to pack in your left overs.

Not all places allow this, but why not experiment with becoming more assertive about your zero-waste habits?

Resolution 3: Fix up, restore, or repurpose something from your home in 2019!

This can help you not only learn new skills, like sewing, woodworking, or other handy skills, but also reduce the amount of waste going into your garbage and recycling. It’s true that it’s better to reduce your consumption in the first place, as opposed to relying on recycling your waste.

One way to achieve this is by taking the time to fix your belongs instead of throwing them out. You’d be surprised how much longer you can extend your belongings’ life span.

Think about setting a new years resolution to fix one piece of clothing instead of buying something new; to learn to sew buttons, reshine or fit your shoes, or even turn an old pair of jeans into a tote bag. Think about resanding and repolishing wooden furniture to bring antique aesthetics into the modern age. Look into removing stains on your belongings instead of throwing out the item.

If you’re feeling creative, think about the different artistic pieces you could create with electronic waste, or even paper scraps from your drawing and paper crafting hobbies. These don’t have to be exhibition-ready pieces. Keeping these pieces around your home can become conversation-starters when friends and family visit!

Businesses

New Year Resolutions can be a good way to usher in changes to an office or store. Many people tend to find drastic changes difficult to adopt, but those aren’t the only resolutions available.

Similarly, many business-related environmental efforts are dependent on the type of business they’re in.

Restaurants, retail shops, industrial businesses, or even offices have different needs that should still be met when phasing in an sustainability change. It is always important to keep in mind that sustainability changes in the workplace are gradual. Still, gradual changes are better than no changes at all.

Here are some of our suggestions to incorporate environmental sustainability into your workplace:

Idea 1: For retail shops and restaurants, look into reducing your reliance on single use plastics.

Take-out food can be one of the biggest contributors to single use plastic waste. As consumers shift to ban these kinds of plastic, it’ll be beneficial for your store or restaurant to adopt similar practices. However, instead of a complete ban, which may not be possible, consider sourcing recyclable, recycled, or compostable take out boxes and utensils. This way, your customers can recycle or compost these items at home, instead of throwing out in the garbage.

Independent stores may also have a better chance to adopt a plastics-less model. Swap out plastic bags for reusable ones, or even provide a monetary benefit when people bring in their own reusable bags. Incentives foster zero waste habits.

More and more people are choosing where to shop and eat based on the business’s environmental impact. Word travels fast about what businesses are eco-friendly, and what businesses aren’t. Not all businesses can adopt complete zero-waste initiatives, but businesses should do their best.

Idea 2: Offer sustainable alternatives to shipments to reduce packaging waste.

Even though this may depend on what is being shipped, one possible business-related resolution is to reduce packaging waste. Packaging can also be expensive, so reducing packaging costs can be beneficial to your company’s bottom line. From reusing packaging or saying no to styrofoam pellets, there are many ways to minimize waste and improve your bottom line. Sustainable fulfillment can be even as simple as using sustainable packaging, like FSC certified mailing slips. More and more it’s becoming easier to source mailing slips and packaging made from recycled paper.

Even though some local BC depots accept soft plastics for recycling, it is important to reduce waste before it is even generated. This way, consumers are able to reduce their own trips to the depots, or to the recycling centers. Ultimately, fewer packaging waste means fewer environmental impacts like air pollution.

Idea 3: If you’re looking for a bold resolution for 2019, look no further.

Think about converting your office, warehouse, or even your washroom facilities into zero waste rooms. This can be as simple as placing garbage, recycling, and organics recycling bins in convenient locations on-site, or providing office mugs, drink condiments, and more, in the break room. Instead of stocking the breakroom with packs of drink condiments like sugar and milk, think about buying a bulk container with these condiments instead. Encourage your staff to reuse cups and mugs.

Alternatively, host competitions and challenge your staff into bringing lunch using reusable containers instead of grabbing take-out. Or if you’re catering for an event or a office meeting, look into turning the event into a zero-waste one by working with the catering company of your choice. The best way to encourage sustainable efforts at work is by making the changes as accessible as possible.