Every year, U.S. businesses discard an estimated 8.5 million tons of office furniture, with the vast majority ending up in landfills. Whether due to downsizing, relocation, or renovation, most of these items (ex: desks, chairs, filing cabinets) are still functional. Yet without a convenient reuse option, they’re treated as waste.
Why Office Furniture Disposal Matters
The environmental toll of disposing of office furniture can be significant. Manufacturing new office furniture consumes massive energy and raw materials, while landfilling releases harmful emissions. According to Business Moves Group, the estimated average carbon footprint of an office chair is 72 kgCO2e, 48 kgCO2e for a wooden filing cabinet, 35 kgCO2e for a rectangular office desk and 228 kgCO2e for a six-person bench desk, where kgCO2e stands for kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Financially, businesses pay hefty hauling fees, lose potential tax deductions, and miss the chance to support their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) commitments.
The Hidden Costs of Traditional Furniture Disposal
- Landfill Fees and Transport Waste: Hiring junk haulers might seem simple but between landfill tipping fees and labor costs, it quickly becomes expensive. Worse, the environmental impact of transporting and dumping furniture far outweighs the cost of reuse.
- Missed Tax Deductions and Reuse Opportunities: When you donate furniture to vetted nonprofits, your business may qualify for tax deductions—but standard junk removal services don’t offer that option. Instead of writing off usable assets, businesses inadvertently waste them.
Responsible Offloading: What It Really Means
Responsible offloading isn’t just about “getting rid of stuff”—it’s about ensuring usable assets reach the hands that truly need them. Across the U.S., a whopping 17 billion pounds of office furniture are thrown away each year—an immense environmental and resource loss.
When companies choose reuse, they’re not just clearing space—they’re supporting communities, slashing waste, and building a future where every office asset gets a purpose-packed second life.
Incorporating reuse into your offloading strategy is a win for both planet and profit. It reduces your environmental footprint, cuts disposal costs, and demonstrates corporate social responsibility—all while supporting a growing reuse economy.
Benefits of Responsible Offloading for Your Business
Responsible offloading is more than a nice gesture—it’s a smart business strategy. In a PWC report they found that 76% of consumers say they would stop doing business with a company that neglected ESG principles. Data points such as these have driven 9/10 business executives to believe that ESG principles are critical to good business. Donating furniture during an office move isn’t just a good ethical practice, it’s a good business strategy.
Donating office furniture can:
- Lower your waste disposal costs
- Qualify your business for IRS tax deductions
- Help meet ESG and sustainability goals
- Strengthen your brand’s community impact
Whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, adopting responsible reuse practices shows foresight, fiscal prudence, and a commitment to doing good.
Donations don’t just benefit external communities and business—they also inspire your internal team. 71% of surveyed employees say it is imperative or very important to work where culture is supportive of giving and volunteering, according to America’s Charities Snapshot Employee Donor Research. Employees value companies that reflect their personal values. By including staff in donation initiatives, a company can build morale, drive team engagement, and reinforce a culture of purpose.
What Office Furniture Can You Donate?
There are many items within an office that can be donated, including:
- Desks, chairs, and cabinets: Most standard office furniture qualifies for donation—especially if it’s clean and functional. Modular desks, rolling chairs, file cabinets, and conference tables are in high demand.
- Electronics and breakroom items: Laptops, monitors, printers, and small appliances (like microwaves or fridges) can often be reused by nonprofits or refurbished for schools.
- Surplus office supplies: Got boxes of unopened pens, paper, or toner? These can also be donated and distributed to nonprofits, youth centers, or shelters in need of administrative support.
By donating these useful items, you not only divert them from landfill, but also provide them to those in need while supporting local nonprofits and their missions.
How to Donate Office Furniture
ReSupply, a veteran-founded donation logistics organization, is the perfect partner for donating furniture and surplus supplies from your office. ReSupply offers full-service removal and donation pickups within 24-48 hours for all items in any condition. Our team of professional movers will bring your donated furniture and office items to charities in your community.
What is ReSupply’s Process?
- Schedule a pickup: Booking a donation pickup and item removal with ReSupply is easy. Simply call (617) 917-9625 or book online, and we can be there to complete your pickup the very next day.
- Full-service item disassembly: Our team of insured, professional movers will carefully disassemble and remove your items, no matter what floor they are on. No preparation or hassle required.
- Delivery to local nonprofits: Once your items are collected, ReSupply ensures they’re routed directly to local charities within our nationwide network of thousands of nonprofits.
When you book an office cleanout with ReSupply, rest assured that we will handle everything, so you can focus on what your organization does best.
FAQ
Can I donate office furniture in bulk or during a company move?
Absolutely. ReSupply regularly handles full-office clear-outs and relocations. Their logistics team will work with you to coordinate large-scale pickups, no matter how many floors or departments are involved.
What types of office items are most useful to nonprofits?
Desks, chairs, filing cabinets, computer monitors, laptops, office supplies, and breakroom items (like mini fridges and microwaves) are all in demand. If it’s functional and safe, it’s likely needed somewhere.
Is my business eligible for a tax deduction if we donate?
Yes—most donations to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are tax-deductible. ReSupply provides tax receipts with every donation.
Do I need to disassemble items before pickup?
No. If needed, ReSupply can handle disassembly as part of the service. Just note this when scheduling to ensure proper equipment and crew are assigned.
Schedule an Office Cleanout with ReSupply
Offloading old office furniture doesn’t have to be wasteful or expensive. With the right partner, it can be efficient, ethical, and impactful. By working with ReSupply, your business can turn every desk, chair, or box of paperclips into an act of giving.
Ready to responsibly offload your office furniture? Schedule your donation pickup with ReSupply and give your items a second life where they’re needed most. Call (617) 917-9625 or book online by clicking below.
