How to Dispose of Furniture the Right Way

Tips on Getting Rid of Unwanted Furniture in Milwaukee

Below is a list of ways to dispose of furniture in the Milwaukee area. Specifics for each option depend on your local municipality, but some general expectations are listed below. Please note that we do our best to keep this information up to date, but checking with your municipality is the best way to get the most up-to-date information! Thus, this page should be treated as a good reference to get you started.

Ways to Dispose of Furniture in Milwaukee

Request a special pickup through your municipality
Junk Removal Service
Renting a Dumpster
Donate the furniture
Sell online
Yardsale

1. Request a Special Pickup Through your Municipality

Many municipalities offer a special pick-up service for large items in addition to standard garbage collection. Some offer the service for free once per year, some contract through the local garbage collection provider, some have simple requirements and restrictions, and others are very picky. See your local Milwaukee area municipality for more information.

Pros	Cons
Convenience of scheduled pickup	Limited availability
Proper Disposal ensured	Potential required scheduling challeneges to coordinate pickup

Questions I would ask your municipality

When in the month does the special pickup happen? Does the service run all year?
What items are not allowed?
Is there a size and/or weight limit on items?
Is there a maximum cubic yardage the service will pick up?
Are there any fees? Are fees based on the number of items, time on site, or something else?
Where should the items be placed for pick-up and when are the items allowed to be placed there
How much notice is required to set up a special pick-up?

The website for the municipalities all differ, but the common search terms to find what you are looking for would be “Special Pick-up”, “Bulk Items”, and “Furniture”.

2. Junk Removal Service

A junk removal service is a crew of people showing up with a means to load and dispose of your items. There are many local Junk hauling companies in the Milwaukee area. Pricing is usually based on the type and quantity of items. Here at Milwaukee Dumpster Rental, we offer this service as well as a flat rate. Give us a call or text to discuss the details.

Pros	Cons
Convenience and efficiency	Cost
Flexible to multiple types of furniture	Potential scheduling conflicts

3. Renting a Dumpster

A roll-off dumpster can provide plenty of space for furniture. They have a gate at the rear that allows for the items to be walked in and can be on-site for multiple days allowing for larger projects. The rates for dumpsters revolve around the dumpster’s size (12 yards, 20 yards, 30 yards, etc.), the ton cap (2, 3, 4, etc.), and the rental days (7, 15, 30, etc.). When shopping around, it’s best to ask about these three items. Additionally, ask if any other fees might apply, such as trip fees, cancellation fees, or fuel fees. We are experts at dumpster rentals in Milwaukee, give us a call if you have any questions.

Pros	Cons
Convenience and flexibility	Space and placement considerations
Cost-effective bulk disposal	Physical labor of loading the dumpster yourself

4. Donate the Furniture

Places like Habitat for Humanity ReStore, The Salvation Army, and Goodwill are common options for donating. Please check what entities exist in your local community. Be sure to call ahead of arriving to confirm what items of yours they’ll take.

Pros	Cons
Opportunity to help others in need	Potential limitation on acceptable items
Positive environment effect	Logistics of transporting the furniture

5. Sell the Furniture Online

Sites like FaceBook Marketplace, Craigslist, and eBay can be an easy way to get rid of furniture. These platforms provide the opportunity to reach a vast audience of potential buyers, allowing you to sell your unwanted furniture and earn extra cash in the process.

Pros	Cons
Can reach audiences from far away	Shipping can be difficult and costly
Control over pricing and negotiation	Potential scams or unreliable buyers

6. Have a Yard Sale

Putting together a yard sale can also be an easy way for people to pay you to take your items. Make sure to check if you need any permission or permits from your local municipality before you conduct the yard sale. Be sure to check the forecast before setting up your furniture outside.

Pros	Cons
Potential for quick sales	Weather permitting
Satisfaction of helping local neighbors	Limited buyer reach and exposure

Municipality	Website	Notes
Bayside	https://www.baysidewi.gov/collection-guide/	$80 Minimum fee, must be arranged and paid for ahead of time, allows 20 minutes of work to load items, runs on the first and third Thursday of each month, notice must be given at least 24 hours in advance.
Brown Deer	https://www.browndeerwi.org/301/Bulk-Collection	Must call GFL to arrange (262)679-0860, service is free.
Cudahy	https://www.cudahy-wi.gov/departments/public_works/garbage___recycling/curbside_pick-up.php	Called a Curbside pick-up. One is allowed per year between April 1st and December 1st, and must be arranged ahead of time; multiple items are accepted, but there is a total size restriction of 7 cubic yards.
Fox Point	https://www.villageoffoxpoint.com/682/Garbage-Recycling-Yard-Waste-and-Other	Special Pick-ups, $150 dollar fee, For items/ garbage exceeding 1 cubic yard, Must setup ahead of time.
Franklin	https://www.franklinwi.gov/Departments/Engineering-Public-Works/Solid-Waste-Collection--Recycling/FAQs.htm	Call John’s disposal service (the contractor that manages all the waste collection for Franklin), rates depend on the items.
Glendale	http://www.glendale-wi.org/355/Disposal-of-Large-Bulky-or-Non-Houshold-	Call GFL to arrange pick-up, pick-ups are on Mondays only and must be scheduled one week ahead of time.
Greendale	https://www.greendale.org/departments/public_works/special_pick-ups.php	$35 for the first item, $25 for additional items after that; pick-ups are on Tuesday, and payment must be made the day before prior to Noon.

Return to Dumpster Rental News