Furniture Alternative ways to recycle Bulky Item Pick Up Consider DonationIf furniture is still usable, please donate. Visit Athens’ Material Reuse page for ideas. Bulky Item CollectionFurniture may be collected as a bulky item, please check with your city page for collection options (residential or commercial). Bulky Item collection options may vary depending on your city.To schedule a bulky item pickup place an order online or call Athens’ Customer Service Department at 888-336-6100. Alternative Ways to Recycle IKEA Buy Back Program Resell your IKEA furniture for store credit through their Buy Back & Resell program. This program is available to IKEA Family Members and can help give your used furniture a new home and/or use. Ways to Reduce Sell or Give Away Unwanted Furniture It’s easy to sell or give away unwanted furniture. Even if your furniture is in rough shape, it’s likely someone could use it or would be willing to fix it up themselves. Ways to Reuse Add a New Coat of Paint If a piece of furniture looks worn out, consider giving it a makeover, such as reupholstering. Even adding a fresh coat of paint can brighten up any old furniture piece. Buy Secondhand Furniture Consider saving a few dollars by purchasing furniture secondhand, but always check to see if the piece of furniture is broken. Also check for mold on the wooden parts of the furniture. Did You Know? How Your Furniture May Be Harming California Condors A recent study found that populations of the endangered California Condor have elevated levels of toxic contaminants like mercury and PBDEs, a flame retardant. PBDEs leech into the environment through close contact with or improper disposal of the items that contain them, such as stuffed and upholstered furniture. These chemicals have also been shown to have negative health effects on people.