How to Dispose of an Office Chair (and Its Gas Lift)

How to dispose of an office chair depends on whether it still rolls and adjusts. A working chair from a known brand can sell quickly, and offices and schools often take donations. A broken chair is a mix of plastic, foam, fabric, and steel, plus a gas lift cylinder in the column. Taking it apart lets you recycle the metal and shrink what goes in the trash.

If it still works

• Sell it. Ergonomic chairs hold their value well, especially well-known models. Note the brand, adjustments that work, and any wear on the seat.
• Donate it. Schools, nonprofits, coworking spaces, and furniture banks sometimes accept working chairs. Thrift stores may take them if they are clean and in good shape.
• Ask about take-back. Some office furniture makers and dealers run take-back or refurbishing programs for business customers. If your company bought the chair, check with facilities first.

What is inside an office chair

Most office chairs have five main parts:

1. The base and casters, usually a five-star base made of steel, aluminum, or reinforced plastic.
2. The gas lift, a steel cylinder filled with pressurized gas that raises and lowers the seat.
3. The mechanism, the metal plate and springs under the seat that control tilt.
4. The seat and back, foam over a plastic or plywood shell, covered in fabric, mesh, or vinyl.
5. Armrests, plastic or metal, often bolted on.

Taking it apart for disposal

Turn the chair upside down. Unscrew the mechanism from the seat bottom, pull or unbolt the armrests, and pop off the casters. Separating the base from the gas lift often takes a rubber mallet or pipe wrench, because the parts are press-fit. Wear eye protection and gloves. Do not cut, drill, heat, or try to open the gas cylinder; it is under pressure.

Where each part goes

• Metal base, mechanism, and gas lift. Many scrap yards and transfer station metal piles accept these. Ask whether they want the gas cylinder left whole or removed; policies differ. A scrap metal sorting guide has tips on keeping metal clean.
• Plastic base and armrests. Hard mixed plastic is rarely accepted in curbside recycling. It usually goes in the trash.
• Seat and back. Foam and fabric go in the trash or with bulky items.
• Casters. Small, mixed material; trash in most areas.

Bulky pickup or drop-off

If you would rather not take it apart, many cities pick up office chairs with bulky items, and transfer stations take them as furniture. A whole chair can count as a bulky piece, while a taken-apart one may fit in a trash cart. Businesses clearing out many chairs often use a commercial hauler or the furniture dealer.

How to dispose of an office chair FAQ

Can I throw an office chair in the trash?

A whole chair is usually treated as a bulky item. Taken apart, the foam and plastic parts may fit in regular trash, and the metal can be scrapped.

Is the gas cylinder in an office chair dangerous?

It holds pressurized gas, so do not cut, drill, or heat it. Left intact, it is generally safe to handle. Ask scrap yards how they want it.

Can office chairs be recycled?

The metal base, mechanism, and gas lift can often be scrapped. Foam, fabric, and mixed plastics usually are not recyclable curbside.

Who takes used office chairs?

Resale buyers, some donation centers, schools, nonprofits, and office furniture dealers with take-back programs.

How do I get the base off an office chair?

Turn it upside down and tap the base off the gas lift with a rubber mallet, or use a pipe wrench. Wear eye protection.

The bottom line

How to dispose of an office chair starts with trying to keep it in use through a sale, donation, or take-back program. If it is broken, take it apart, send the metal base, mechanism, and gas lift to scrap where accepted, and put the foam, fabric, and plastic in the trash. Bulky pickup or a transfer station works if you would rather leave it whole.