Recycling The RJ Way

Office furniture is largely recyclable and with minimal planning, it can be reused, refurbished or disassembled for recycling. This does a lot for the environment by reducing the demand for materials (timber, metal and plastic), keeping large amounts of reusable waste from entering landfill, and reducing carbon emissions (which are associated with manufacturing new pieces).

In addition to the positive impact on the environment, businesses will also befit from cost control and sustainability. Besides good business and its effect on the bottom line, this “green” approach is a visible way to show that you are serious about environment conservation and waste reduction. In this article, we have outlined some of the ways that you can recycle chairs, desks, partitions, workstations, storage solutions and other pieces that you no longer require.

Recycling Options

If you no longer need your office furniture but it is still in relatively good condition, you will find many recourses willing buy or receive it as a donation. These sorts of places specialize in the sale of used and refurbished furniture, so is a perfect way to get it off your hands. Charity and opportunity shops may also be happy to receive unwanted office fixtures, which they will resell on a much smaller scale. RJ has donated hundreds of truckloads of furniture and fixtures to charity over the years on behalf of our customers.

Recycling Process

Office furniture that you no longer want can be recycled in a number of ways, including: reused as is, refurbished, recycled or repurposed. Often, the process that is selected will depend on the condition of the pieces. RJ is well versed in all of these environmentally sound solutions and is ready to help your business implement a more economical and earth-friendly approach.

Reuse – If the furniture is in relatively good and working condition, it will be resold as is. You will find that startups and businesses struggling financially are interested in purchasing second hand, as they are unable to afford brand new pieces.

Refurbish – If the fixtures cannot be resold as is, it will be touched up and made more presentable. This could include cleaning, repairing defects, replacing worn fabric and painting over scratches. These pieces are also popular amongst startups and struggling offices.

Recycle – If the furniture is not suitable for reuse at all (perhaps it’s damaged beyond repair) it will be disassembled, separated into various materials (such as metals, plastics and fabrics) and sent to the appropriate recycling center.

Re-purpose – If the furniture is not suitable for reuse, you might instead like to re-purpose it. We have seen various components turned into a sculpture, seating used in children’s cubby houses, and new legs added to a desk top for a dining table.

To learn more about RJ Furnitures recycling, refurbishing and other green solutions please call us at (847) 473-2563 or email [email protected]