The short answer
Start by asking whether someone could use it, then check your local council's bulky refuse collection, which you book in advance. If you can transport it, WasteServ civic amenity sites accept many household items. When you buy new furniture, ask whether the shop will take the old piece. A collection service is the easiest option when items are heavy, upstairs, need dismantling or must go on a particular day.
Start with the right question
Before choosing how to get rid of a piece of furniture, ask two things:
- Could someone else use it? If it is clean and in decent condition, reuse is the best option for everyone.
- Can you move it yourself? A sofa on the fourth floor of a building with a small lift is a very different job from a chair in the garage.
The answers point you to the right option below.
Option 1: Give it away or sell it
Furniture in good condition often finds a new home quickly:
- Local online marketplaces and community groups, where neighbours look for second-hand furniture. Good photos and honest descriptions help.
- Friends, family and colleagues, especially people setting up a first home.
- Charities and community organisations that accept furniture. Contact them first, because many have strict conditions and limited space, and not all can collect.
Things that make furniture easier to rehome:
- Clean it and take clear photos in daylight.
- Give the measurements, including height and depth.
- Be honest about marks, damage and missing parts.
- Say which floor it is on and whether there is a lift.
Most organisations will not accept used mattresses, broken items, or furniture with stains or damage. See our guide on how to dispose of a mattress in Malta.
See where to donate furniture in Malta for what is usually accepted and how to prepare pieces for collection.
Option 2: Your local council’s bulky refuse collection
Local councils in Malta and Gozo arrange collections of bulky household items such as furniture and mattresses.
- Book in advance, by phone or through your council’s website.
- Ask what is accepted, how many items, and any rules about size or type.
- Leave items out only when booked, and only at the time and place the council tells you.
Arrangements differ between councils, so always check with your own. This is usually the simplest option when you can carry the item down to the street yourself.
Option 3: Take it to a WasteServ civic amenity site
WasteServ runs civic amenity sites in Malta and Gozo where residents can drop off many household items, including furniture, wood, metal and appliances. Items are separated so materials can be recycled where possible.
Before you go:
- Check the accepted items and opening hours with WasteServ.
- Dismantle large items if you can, so they fit in your car or van.
- Separate materials such as metal frames and wood if the site asks you to.
This works well if you have a van or a large car, and the furniture is not too heavy to lift.
Option 4: Ask the shop when you buy new
When a new sofa, bed or wardrobe is delivered, some shops will take the old one away. Ask before you buy, because not all shops do it, and some only take an item like for like.
Old fridges, washing machines and other appliances need separate handling as electrical waste. Ask the shop about take-back when you buy a replacement, or use a junk removal service that takes appliances.
Option 5: A collection service
A junk removal or clearance service is the easiest option when:
- items are heavy or bulky, such as solid wood wardrobes, corner sofas or old sideboards;
- they are on an upper floor, with narrow stairs or a small lift, which is common in Maltese apartments and townhouses;
- items need dismantling to get out of the room;
- you need it done on a particular day, such as before a move, a sale, a new tenant or a renovation;
- there is a lot of it, such as a whole room, garage or roof washroom, or a family home that needs clearing.
A good service carries everything out, dismantles what needs dismantling, and takes items for reuse, recycling or proper disposal. Send photos of each item, the floor and access details, and you can usually get a fixed price.
Getting furniture out of Maltese homes
Older townhouses and many apartments make furniture removal harder:
- Narrow, winding staircases, sometimes with tight turns at each landing.
- Small lifts that will not take a sofa or a wardrobe.
- Narrow streets where parking a van outside is difficult.
- Roof washrooms and garages reached only by steep stairs.
Measure the item and the tightest point of the route before you start. Remove doors from their hinges if it helps, take legs and feet off sofas and tables, and dismantle wardrobes and beds. Large items need at least two people, and some simply have to be taken apart to get out at all.
If you are thinking of hiring a skip instead, see skip hire or a clearance service. For fridges, washing machines and cookers, see how to dispose of old appliances.
What not to do
- Do not leave furniture in the street or next to the bins without a booked collection. It blocks pavements, gets rained on, and counts as dumping.
- Do not burn old furniture. Most is made with glues, varnish, paint or foam that give off harmful fumes.
- Do not hand items to anyone who will not tell you where they are taking them.
A quick guide to which option fits
- Good condition, easy to move: give away or sell.
- Worn out, can carry it to the street: council bulky refuse collection.
- Worn out, have a van: WasteServ civic amenity site.
- Buying a replacement: ask the shop.
- Heavy, upstairs, urgent or a lot of it: a collection service.
Book a collection
clear.mt arranges junk and furniture removal across Malta and Gozo, from a single sofa to a full house or garage clearance. Usable items are passed on for reuse where possible. Send a few photos and tell us the floor and access for a free quote.