If it's still usable: donate it
A clean, structurally sound couch is wanted. Charities like Habitat for Humanity ReStore and The Salvation Army accept gently used sofas, and many offer free pickup — the Salvation Army schedules collection by ZIP code at satruck.org or 1-800-SA-TRUCK.
The catch is condition. ReStore requires furniture to be clean, pet-free and in working order with no rips, stains, mold or broken parts; the Salvation Army asks for unbroken, resellable pieces free of significant damage, odors and pet hair. Acceptance and pickup availability vary by local affiliate and can be paused when a center is full, so confirm with your specific location first.
City bulky-item pickup (often free)
Most municipalities run a large-item or bulky-waste collection for furniture — but the rules vary a lot by city. New York City (DSNY), for example, offers free curbside pickup of large items with no appointment: residents set out up to six large items on their regular collection day. Los Angeles, by contrast, uses scheduled pickup booked through MyLA311 or 1-800-773-2489, also free for city residents.
Elsewhere you may face an appointment, item limits, placement rules, or a per-item fee. Check your local sanitation department's website for how it works where you live before you drag the couch to the curb.
Pay for junk removal
If you want it gone today with no lifting, full-service junk-removal companies will haul a couch for a fee. The two common pricing models differ: 1-800-GOT-JUNK prices by volume (how much space your items take in the truck) and gives a free onsite estimate, while LoadUp prices per item with an upfront online quote. A two-person crew does all the lifting, and reputable services route usable couches to charities and otherwise separate wood, metal and fabric for recycling. Prices vary by market and size, so get a quote rather than assuming a flat rate.
Can a couch be recycled?
Mostly, no — not as a whole. A sofa is a mix of a wood frame, steel springs, polyurethane foam and upholstery fabric, and there's no curbside path for it. Per the EPA, about 80% of furniture and furnishings was landfilled in 2018 and only a fraction of a percent was recycled.
The materials are recyclable once separated: foam can become carpet padding, metal springs can be scrapped, wood can be repurposed. But that means breaking the couch down yourself and finding a facility for each part — practical only for the determined. For most people, donation (if usable) or municipal/junk-removal disposal is the realistic route.
Don't just dump it
Leaving a couch on a public curb, in an alley, or by a dumpster without a scheduled pickup is illegal dumping in most U.S. cities, and the fines are steep — commonly hundreds of dollars and, in some cities, far more (Philadelphia's penalty runs up to $5,000 per item). Enforcement often arrives by mail weeks later, based on anything in the couch that identifies you. Use a legitimate pickup, donation, or drop-off instead.