The easiest way to get rid of old furniture, I'd say, is to send it out on the truck that brings the new piece in. Merit Home Furniture's delivery and setup page says we "can take away your old furniture when we deliver". From Duncan that is "usually $25 to $50 a piece, and sometimes included", and our other stores set their own charge.
Furniture disposal means any route that moves a piece out of your home for good: resale, donation, recycling or the landfill. On the Island, each regional district sets its own rules and fees, and they don't match. The Cowichan Valley charges $32 per unit for a mattress at its recycling centres. Nanaimo's landfill adds a surcharge per mattress, and Hartland near Victoria weighs your load and charges by the tonne.
When nothing new is coming, the choices on Vancouver Island are to sell it, give it away, donate it, or drive it to your regional district's depot. My own order would be this. If the piece is clean and sound, someone can use it, so try a sale, a neighbour or a charity first. If it's worn out, stained or broken, pay the depot fee or the take-away charge and be done with it. The sections below give the numbers for each route, read at their sources this week.
What is the cheapest way to get rid of furniture?
The cheapest way to get rid of furniture is to give it away or sell it, since both cost nothing but time. The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) suggests a local Buy Nothing group for lending, sharing or giving household items to neighbours. A Habitat for Humanity ReStore will also take sound furniture for free, and some will pick it up. Merit's take-away comes with a delivery. Once a piece is past using, the depot fee is usually the lowest paid route, provided you have a truck and a strong back.
Here is how the routes compare for a household in the Cowichan Valley. The fees are the ones published on November 1, 2026.
| Route | What it costs | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Merit take-away at delivery | From Duncan, usually $25 to $50 a piece, sometimes included | A new piece is replacing the old one |
| Habitat ReStore donation | Free; Duncan picks up on Tuesdays | Clean pieces in good condition |
| Selling or giving it away | Free | Sound pieces, and time to wait for a buyer |
| CVRD couch or armchair | $825 a tonne, which the CVRD puts at about $50 to $63 a couch | Worn upholstery you can haul yourself |
| CVRD mattress or box spring | $32 per unit | A mattress that has reached the end |
| Junk removal company | Quoted by the job | A whole room, house or estate |
The depot fees in that table are only the Cowichan Valley's. Nanaimo, Victoria, Campbell River and Port Alberni each charge differently, and those numbers are set out further down.
How to get rid of old furniture when a new piece is coming
Old furniture removal is simplest when it rides along with a delivery. The crew from any of our Island stores can take the old piece away on the same visit, so nothing waits in the carport for a free weekend. From Merit's Duncan store, delivery across the Island is $150 and includes assembly. The take-away is a separate charge, usually $25 to $50 a piece, and sometimes it's included. Nanaimo, Campbell River and Port Alberni set their own removal charges, so ask that store when you call for your price.
The take-away runs like this from Duncan:
- Count the pieces. When you call about the new sofa or mattress, tell us how many old pieces are going. Mention sofa beds and recliners, because they're heavy.
- Get the full price on one call. We give you the delivery charge, the take-away charge and the lead time together.
- Clear the way out. I'd empty drawers, strip the bed and pull cushions off before the truck comes. The old piece leaves by the same door the new one comes in.
- Let the crew swap them. The new piece goes in and is set up, and the old one goes out on the same visit.
As one example, the Ashley Olten sofa is listed for Merit's Duncan store at $549.00 to $972.00 before applicable taxes, depending on the cover. The Restonic Minto mattress is listed at $698.00 to $1,188.00 depending on size. Either can come with the old one going out the door. The rest of the range is in our sofas and the mattresses we list.
The delivery itself, from measuring the doorways to what happens if something arrives damaged, has its own guide on getting ready for delivery day. If you live in Victoria or on the Saanich Peninsula, delivery to the South Island covers how a Duncan truck reaches you.
If the old sofa is clean and solid, I'd phone the ReStore before booking our take-away. A sofa someone can still use does more good in another living room than on a depot scale. If it sags, smells or has a torn arm, the take-away is the easier route. You'll know what it costs before you order.
Furniture disposal fees at Island depots, district by district
Furniture disposal fees on Vancouver Island depend on which regional district runs the depot. Each one publishes its own rates, and mattresses carry a flat fee almost everywhere. Here are the rates as each district lists them today. All of them weigh or count the load at the gate.
| District and depot | Mattress or box spring | Garbage and furniture |
|---|---|---|
| Cowichan Valley: Bings Creek (Duncan), Peerless Road (Ladysmith), Meade Creek (Lake Cowichan) | $32 per unit | Garbage $242 a tonne, $7 minimum; couches $825 a tonne |
| Capital Regional District: Hartland, Victoria | $160 a tonne plus the bin fee, weighed with the load | General refuse $160 a tonne plus a $10 bin fee; bulky items $254 a tonne |
| Nanaimo: Regional Landfill (Cedar Road) and Church Road Transfer Station (Parksville) | $25 per unit surcharge | $8 flat up to 50 kg, then $160 a tonne |
| Comox Strathcona: Campbell River and Comox Valley waste management centres | $20 per piece | $170 a tonne, $10 minimum up to 100 kg |
| Alberni-Clayoquot: Alberni Valley Landfill | $23 each | $150 a tonne from 83 kg, $15 minimum |
The CVRD's Bings Creek centre is at 3900 Drinkwater Road in Duncan, open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Peerless Road and Meade Creek go to winter hours from November 1: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday only. The Nanaimo rates took effect on April 1, 2026, and the Alberni Valley ones on January 1, 2026. Hartland's guide gives a worked case: 250 kg of general refuse comes to $50.00, the weight charge plus the bin fee.
Can you recycle old furniture?
Old furniture can be recycled at most Island depots, as long as it's sorted by what it's made of. The CVRD takes painted wood furniture, such as bookcases and desks, in its painted and treated wood stream at $242 a tonne. Clean, unpainted wood is $165 a tonne. Metal is free if the item is at least 80% metal, so a steel bed frame costs nothing to drop off.
Hartland bans wood furniture from its general refuse. It takes it for recycling or energy recovery at $110 a tonne plus the bin fee. Comox Strathcona has dismantled mattresses for recycling since January 1, 2019, rather than burying them. Recycling instead of landfilling matters more in the Cowichan Valley than you might guess. The CVRD says its garbage is landfilled in Washington State.
Where can I get rid of my couch?
A couch can go to a CVRD recycling centre, which counts it as upholstered furniture at $825 a tonne. The CVRD estimates that at about $50 to $63 a couch. At Hartland, a sofa or sectional may land in the bulky waste rate. The CRD defines bulky waste as items over 1.5 cubic metres or longer than 2.5 m (8 ft), and names large furniture as an example.
A sofa bed counts twice in some places. Nanaimo's surcharge covers a "Hide-a-Bed" alongside mattresses and box springs. Comox Strathcona's definition of a mattress includes "mattresses within sofa beds". If you're replacing one, the sofa beds we list are in our sleeper sofas.
Donating furniture to a Habitat ReStore on the Island
Donating furniture on the Island mostly means a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Three Habitat groups run them, and each sets its own rules about condition. None of the three lists a ReStore in Port Alberni. The CVRD also points people to local thrift stores for clean, gently used items.
- Duncan. Habitat Mid-Vancouver Island runs the ReStore at 251 Government St. Drop-offs are Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the receiving doors on Kenneth Street. Its list says "Furniture in good condition after inspection on site". Curbside pickups run on Tuesdays only since August 1, 2026. Call 778-455-1888 to book.
- Nanaimo. The same group's ReStore is at 1-4128 Mostar Road, with drop-offs Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Victoria and Langford. Habitat Victoria takes furniture at 721 Vanalman Ave and 849 Orono Ave. Pieces must be "free of rips, tears, stains, and come from a smoke and pet-free home". It takes couches and love seats "except floral".
- Campbell River and Courtenay. Habitat Vancouver Island North runs ReStores at 1725B Willow Street and 1755 13th Street. It takes furniture "If it is clean and resalable", and issues tax receipts for donations worth $50 or more.
The fine print differs between the three groups in ways worth knowing before you load the truck. The North Island stores turn away damaged furniture, waterbed frames and particle board entertainment centres, though solid wood ones are fine. In the north, the pickup driver has the final say on whether a piece is accepted. Habitat Mid-Vancouver Island says its crew won't come inside: "all donations need to be in garages, carports, or driveways". Have a second plan ready in case a piece is turned away at the door.
Selling old furniture, or giving it away for free
Selling old furniture takes longer than the other routes, but it costs nothing and may put money toward the new piece from Merit or anywhere else. A clear photo, the measurements and an honest note about wear do most of the work. I'd measure the piece the way a buyer would: width, depth and height, plus the narrowest part of any sectional. Our guide on whether a sofa fits through the door works in reverse when the old one has to come out.
Buyers in BC have been told to look closely. HealthLink BC's bed bug file says to "Check furniture and bedding you buy from second-hand stores, garage sales or roadside pickup". It adds, "Do not rely on the word of the store owner or seller". So a seller who mentions pets, smoke or a past pest problem up front saves everyone a wasted trip.
Children's furniture has its own rules. Health Canada's guide to second-hand products says it is prohibited to sell any consumer product that is a "danger to human health or safety". It lists cribs, cradles, bunk beds and toy boxes among the products it covers, along with product recalls. If you're selling a child's bed, check it against Health Canada's recalls first.
Can I throw garbage in someone else's bin?
I wouldn't put anything in a neighbour's bin, and a piece of furniture won't fit anyway. The CVRD's standard garbage tote holds 132 L, and a tote with its lid propped open isn't collected. Leaving a sofa at the roadside or in the bush is illegal dumping. The CVRD asks people to report it to the province's RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277. Many of the items dumped in the valley, upholstered furniture among them, cost little or nothing at a recycling centre.
Old mattresses, bed bugs and stained upholstery: what gets refused
An old mattress or a stained, pest-ridden sofa is the hardest piece to get rid of, because most charities won't take it and depots charge more for it. Habitat Victoria takes mattresses from corporate donors only. At CVRD centres, a contaminated mattress pays an extra $242 a tonne on top of the $32 per unit. Soiled or pest-ridden upholstered furniture "is not recyclable" there, and is treated as garbage at the same fee as clean furniture.
If there are bed bugs in the house, HealthLink BC suggests calling a pest control professional or your local health authority. Its advice is to "Throw out any items that can't be washed, heated or steam cleaned". If the bites or the stress of it worry you, it says to consult your health care provider or call 8-1-1 to speak with a registered nurse. When you book a delivery with take-away, tell us about the bed bugs before the crew comes in. Dust mites are a different problem from bed bugs, and clearing dust mites from a damp Island home calls for its own fixes.
A mattress that isn't infested but feels done is a different question. The signs that one has reached the end are in our guide on how long a mattress lasts. On the Island, the depots that charge a flat fee take one for $20 to $32, depending on the district. The other route is the take-away charge when a new one is delivered from Duncan. If you're still picking the replacement, start with our mattress quiz.
Getting rid of old appliances: free drop-off at Island depots
Old appliances are the easiest thing on this list to get rid of, because most Island depots take them free. The CVRD accepts large appliances such as stoves, washers, dryers and dishwashers at no charge. Fridges and freezers are free too, if they're clean and empty. The Alberni Valley Landfill charges nothing for "Metal, including appliances". Hartland's depot guide lists major appliances under metal items, which are free. Nanaimo is the exception: its landfill charges for metal, $8 flat up to 500 kg, and adds a $25 surcharge per appliance containing ozone-depleting substances.
Across BC, the Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable (MARR) runs a network of collection sites. Its site says, "There is no charge when you drop off your appliance at a MARR collection site". A working appliance can go to the Duncan or Nanaimo ReStore instead. Habitat Mid-Vancouver Island takes working stoves, fridges, dishwashers, washers and dryers "under 10 yrs."
The appliances Merit lists are sold through our Campbell River and Port Alberni stores, not Duncan. If you're replacing a fridge or washer, ask that store whether it can take the old one and what it charges.
Clearing a whole house of furniture: junk haulers and bins
Clearing a whole house of furniture, after a move or when settling a parent's estate, is usually a job for a junk removal company or a rented bin. A hauler loads, drives and pays the depot fees, then bills you for all of it. When you ask for a quote, ask whether the depot fees are included and where the pieces will go. The table above shows what the depot side should roughly cost in your district.
A rented bin is cheaper when you can do the lifting. Remember that the depot sorts what's in it. Hartland bans wood from its general refuse, and the CVRD may fine a garbage load with recyclables mixed in. Sorting before you start saves money at the gate. Clearing a family home is slow work, too, and there's no shame in doing it over several weekends.
When each way of getting rid of furniture falls short
- Our take-away happens when we deliver. If nothing new is coming from Merit, the depot, a sale or a charity is the route.
- Only Duncan's take-away charge is published. Nanaimo, Campbell River and Port Alberni set their own, so ask that store.
- A ReStore can refuse a piece at the door. Habitat Victoria says its receiving team decides "based on item condition and current store stock levels."
- Depot staff won't lift for you. The CVRD says customers unload their own materials, and closed-toe shoes are required.
- The CVRD caps garbage items at 1.25 m (4 ft) long or 100 kg (220 lb). Loads must be covered and secured, and Hartland charges double for loads that aren't.
- Peerless Road and Meade Creek open three days a week from November to March, so check before driving out.
Where these furniture disposal facts come from
- Merit Home Furniture, Delivery and Setup, read November 1, 2026.
- Merit's live listings for the Ashley Olten sofa and the Restonic Minto mattress, prices read November 1, 2026.
- Cowichan Valley Regional District, Accepted Materials and Fees, checked November 2026.
- Cowichan Valley Regional District, Drop-off Depots and Recycling Centres, checked November 2026.
- Cowichan Valley Regional District, Reuse, checked November 2026.
- Cowichan Valley Regional District, Black Garbage Tote, checked November 2026.
- Cowichan Valley Regional District, Illegal Dumping, checked November 2026.
- Capital Regional District, Hartland Rates and Accepted Items, checked November 2026.
- Capital Regional District, Hartland Depot User Guide, January 2026, checked November 2026.
- Regional District of Nanaimo, Solid Waste Hours and Tipping Fees, checked November 2026.
- Comox Strathcona Waste Management, Fees and Charges and Mattress Diversion, checked November 2026.
- Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot, Bylaw R1029-9, Alberni Valley Landfill tipping fees, checked November 2026.
- Habitat for Humanity Mid-Vancouver Island, Donate Household Goods and Curbside Pickup Request, checked November 2026.
- Habitat for Humanity Victoria, What the ReStore Accepts, checked November 2026.
- Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North, Donate to the ReStore, checked November 2026.
- HealthLink BC, Bed bugs, checked November 2026.
- Health Canada, Guide to second-hand products (including children's products), checked November 2026.
- Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable, Recycle your large appliances, checked November 2026.
Booking old furniture take-away with a Duncan delivery
If old furniture is going out because something new is coming in, call Merit's Duncan store on Ingram Street. Tell us what's coming, what's leaving and the narrowest door on the way out. We'll give you the delivery charge, the take-away charge and the lead time on the same call. We're open 9 to 5 from Monday to Saturday at Duncan. If you'd like to talk it over first, ask for me.
Call the Duncan store, (250) 746-5527
Our other guides on delivery, the four stores and buying on the Island are gathered on the Island customers page. Why an Island store is worth the call after the sale is the subject of shopping local on the Island.