Forty workstations destined for the landfill can fill up one tractor-trailer. Imagine the amount of waste that can be eliminated if these workstations are recycled. We are not only reducing waste, but conserving natural resources as well. For every pound of natural resources we use to repair or add value to an existing product, we are saving five to nine pounds of virgin material that would have been used to create a new piece.

Recycling or reusing furniture is practical, given that many office tables, chairs, sofas, bookshelves and desks taken to landfills are still structurally sound. They are not really damaged or broken, just outdated or slightly worn perhaps. A common reason why companies discard these pieces is that they no longer fit the color scheme or layout of a new or renovated office space.

Recycling means saving unwanted office furniture from the landfill and reselling them with or without additional repairs. This is done through remanufacturing, refurbishing or simple reuse. As the saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

Not all second-hand furniture or office cubicles need repairs or changes before they can be resold. These are referred to as reused furniture and are put up for sale as is. Suppliers need little effort to make these pieces saleable, so this kind of recycled furniture is the least expensive of the three types.

Refurbishing office furniture means adding value by repairing structural damage and making cosmetic improvements to them before selling. Companies also have the option of refurbishing their current furniture to make them look brand new, match a certain color scheme or fit a physical space. Some examples are repairing the broken arm of a chair, reupholstering panels of office cubicles and adding new laminate surfaces to desks or tables.

Remanufactured office furniture also has value added to it, but includes structural level changes. This involves complete disassembly of the furniture, after which parts are inspected, cleaned then repaired or replaced. The entire thing is put back together and refinished. For example, refurbishing old office cubicles includes repainting, application of new fabric on the panels, stripping and replacing of laminate, edge banding and molding.

Recycling furniture benefits not just buyers and the environment, but suppliers as well. Studies show that changing or repairing an existing product needs less than 90 percent manufacturing effort and energy than creating a new product. Thus, companies dealing with used office furniture and office cubicles are able to run an operation that is both labor and energy saving.

Company’s can save a good amount of money if they purchase used office furniture because it can be half the price of new furniture. Not only is it cost effective but the quality can be the same. Craig Mather works to help companies find money saving used cubicle furniture by consulting with companies about it.