Introduction
Metal file cabinets and shelving are common fixtures in many offices and homes. As you upgrade furniture or renovate spaces, you may need to remove these bulky metal items. Disposing of metal file cabinets and shelves improperly can be hazardous to the environment. However, with some planning and effort, you can remove and recycle or donate old metal storage furniture in an eco-friendly manner.
This guide will provide tips on how to responsibly dispose of old metal file cabinets and shelves. We will cover how to donate, recycle, or properly send your used office furniture to a landfill. With the right information and preparation, you can clear out metal filing systems and shelving while minimizing your environmental impact.
Prepare the File Cabinets and Shelving for Removal
Before carrying metal storage units to the curb, salvage yard, donation center, or landfill, take time to prepare them properly. Follow these steps:
Remove All Contents
Discard or shred any paperwork left in file drawers. Remove any shelving contents as well. Eliminating all items helps lighten the weight for transport. It also protects confidential personal and business documents from being accessed by others.
Take Apart Modular Components
Many filing systems and shelving units consist of modular pieces that can be taken apart. Disassemble any parts that can be easily separated. This makes the metal furniture more manageable to move. It also lets you break down oversize shelving into sections that may fit better into a donation truck or recycling container.
Detach Accessories
Remove any accessories attached to file cabinets and shelving. This includes hanging file folders, removable shelves, casters, locks and hardware. Detaching accessories allows all metal components to be freely recycled. Any separated non-metal pieces can be donated or trashed as appropriate.
Clean Surfaces
Use a mild detergent and water to wash soiled file cabinet and shelf surfaces. Avoid toxic chemicals. Thoroughly cleaning metal furniture makes it safer to handle and more appealing to potential recipients.
Donate Metal File Cabinets and Shelving
Donating unwanted metal storage furniture is an eco-friendly way to dispose of it. You keep the items out of landfills and provide inventory to charitable organizations. Here are some tips for donating metal filing cabinets and shelves:
Find Donation Centers That Accept Metal Furniture
Contact local reuse stores, thrift shops, and charities to find ones that welcome metal furniture donations. Habitat for Humanity ReStores, Salvation Army, and Goodwill are potential options. Some nonprofit organizations may even offer to pick up bulky metal items from your home or office.
Make Sure Items Are Sturdy and Clean
Donation centers only want to accept metal furniture that is structurally sound and clean enough for resale. Ensure file cabinets and shelves are intact, stable, cleaned, and with all documents removed. Disclose any defects upfront so the organization can decide if the items meet donation criteria.
Transport Smaller Pieces Yourself
For standard four- to five-drawer file cabinets or shelf units that can fit inside a minivan or pickup truck, you may be able to deliver them to the donation center yourself. Secure pieces properly to prevent damage en route. Bring helpers and dollies/handtrucks as needed to maneuver bulky metal furnishings.
Ask About Bulk Item Pickup
For extra-large filing systems, storage racks,multipart library shelves, or Volume too large to transport personally, inquire whether the charity provides bulk pickup service. Some will schedule a time to collect sizable metal furniture donations directly from your location and transport them with trucks, trailers, and lift equipment.
Get Receipts for Tax Deductions
Keep receipts from the donation center acknowledging the description and date when you gave the metal items away. If the estimated fair value exceeds $500, get the receiving organization’s federal tax ID number. You can claim qualifying charitable contributions as federal income tax deductions.
Recycle Metal Office Furniture
When file cabinets or shelves cannot be reused, environmentally responsible recycling is the next best disposal method. Here is how to properly recycle defunct metal office furniture:
Locate A Scrap Metal Recycler
Search for recycling centers or scrap yards that accept metal products near you. Look for recyclers certified to responsibly process and repurpose scrap steel, iron, and other metals. Terms to search for include “scrap metal recycling,” “metal salvage,” or “junk metal removal.”
Schedule a Bulk Metal Pickup
Call or go online to arrange a bulk metal removal appointment. Tell the recycling center what types of metal office furniture you have and approximate weights. They will plan transportation accordingly. Some recyclers may have minimum poundage requirements to provide pickup service.
Remove Non-Metal Parts
Prior to pickup, detach any remaining non-metal accessories, hardware, surfaces, or inserts on file cabinets and shelving. Recyclers only want the steel or iron framework and body panels. Remove attached plastics, woods, glass, or other non-metals for separate donation or disposal.
Provide Access for Loading
On the scheduled pickup date, ensure the loading area is accessible so the recycling truck equipment and crew can efficiently gather and load the metal furniture. For heavy-duty shelving units, they may bring apparatus like forklifts, hoists, pallet jacks, or dollies to transport bulky items.
Get Documentation for Certified Destruction
Ask the recycling company for documentation verifying they took possession of the metal furniture on the date of service. Get their certification showing your items will be fully destroyed for guaranteed security. Shredded metal can no longer reveal any sensitive labels or markings once processed.
Receive Compensation (Optional)
While some recyclers take scrap metal at no charge as community service, others compensate you per pound. If the metal furniture holds resale value for its raw materials, you may receive payment from the recycling center. Just be sure to inquire about this service upfront before scheduling pickup.
Dispose of Metal Furniture in Landfills as Last Resort
Ideally, all outdated metal filing cabinets, shelves, and racks should be reused or recycled rather than dumped. But if those options are unavailable in your region, landfill disposal is the last resort. Here are some tips to properly trash metal storage furniture:
Call to Verify Landfill Accepts Metal Items
Before hauling metal office furniture to the dump, call your local landfill to verify they allow public disposal of metal products. Ask about any limitations such as maximum sizes or prohibited materials. For example, some facilities only permit certain metal appliances or auto parts, not commercial steel furnishings.
Transport Items in a Truck or Trailer
You will likely need a truck, trailer, or junk removal service to haul old file cabinets and shelving to the landfill. Measure furniture dimensions to ensure your vehicle can accommodate them. Rent or borrow a pickup, trailer, or junk removal service as necessary to safely transport the metal items.
Remove Detachable Components
The landfill may restrict certain fixtures or parts from disposal. Remove doors, drawers, shelves, brackets, hardware, glass, and other detachable components prior to taking metal structures into the landfill. Recycle, donate, or trash separated pieces appropriately.
Follow Landfill Protocols
At the landfill, a worker will inspect and direct where and how to dump the metal waste. Review and obey all posted rules. Note procedures for accessing the dumping area, unloading metal items, and exiting. Ensure you deposit the metal furniture in the proper section as instructed.
Pay Required Dumping Fees
Be prepared to pay standard landfill dumping fees based on truck/trailer size and weight of disposed metal furnishings. Bring cash, credit card, or check to cover required payments so you can proceed to the unloading area without delay or complications.
Frequently Asked Questions About Disposing of Metal Furniture
Here are answers to some common questions about getting rid of old metal file cabinets, shelves, and racks:
How much does it cost to dispose of metal file cabinets?
Disposal costs vary depending on method. Donation is typically free for the donor. Recycling may generate a small profit from scrap value or cost a pickup/hauling fee. Landfills charge per-ton trash dumping rates, often $20-$75 for metal furnishings.
Is it better to donate or recycle metal shelves?
Donation is best if the units are sturdy and reusable. This ensures someone else can benefit from continued use. If shelves are broken beyond repair, recycling lets the metal components be repurposed versus dumped. Evaluate quality and options in your area.
Can you leave old metal desks or shelves on the curb for bulk pickup?
In some municipalities, you can schedule a home bulk trash pickup to remove large metal items from the curb. But most bulk pickup services exclude commercial, business, or oversize items like multi-shelf bookcases or lateral filing cabinets. Contact your local waste department to check eligibility.
What do junk removal companies do with old file cabinets?
Junk haulers typically first look for any reusable value in the metal furniture they remove. File cabinets and shelves in good condition get donated or resold. Those too worn out for donation usually get sold as scrap metal to recycling centers and salvage yards to recover raw materials.
Is it bad to put shelves or metal drawers in a landfill?
Metal waste in landfills is less harmful than other materials. But metal furniture takes up significant landfill volume due to its bulk and density. Recycling or repurposing through donation are far better environmental options whenever feasible. Only use landfill disposal as a last resort.
Can you recycle small metal pieces from dismantled shelves?
Yes, recycling centers accept small loose metal parts, as long as each piece is mostly metal. Remove any non-metal details first. Gather small metal shelf brackets, connectors, hardware, rods, and panels. Sort ferrous from non-ferrous metals. Take them all in for recycling cash.
Conclusion
Discarding old metal file cabinets, shelves, and racks takes thought and effort. We recommend first trying to donate usable metal storage furniture to extend its useful life. Whenever pieces are too worn to reuse, responsible recycling should be the next disposal method. As a last resort, damaged metal components can be taken to approved landfills.
With some advanced planning, you can clear out unneeded metal office furniture without it ending up in a landfill prematurely. This preserves environmental resources and community reuse opportunities. Just be sure to remove all contents first, disassemble any sections possible, and transport metal items carefully. Follow best practices and contact local facilities to arrange eco-friendly metal furniture disposal. With the right approach, you can declutter nonfunctional filing systems and shelves while still being green.