Where does old funniture so when it’s time to die?
■ Seniors look for methods of
discarding used furniture when
moving out into the real world
By Kathryn Petersen
for the Emerald
It’s the end of the line for gradu
ating seniors. Most are worrying
about their impending careers and
passing their last classes. After
graduation, however, a whole new
slew of problems will arise. Leases
end, houses and apartments empty
and roommates leave. Depending
on what the “real world” consists of
for the new graduates, furniture and
old household appliances will also
have to be disposed of or sold.
“I would sell my furniture, but I
don’t think anyone would really
want most of it,” senior Jayson
Martell said. “Most of it was passed
down to my roommate and me by
friends that were older and had
graduated. They got their years of
use out of it, and let’s just say that
we’ve gotten our use out of it too.
“We have a broken chair, a couch
and a fairly decent table. I actually
haven’t thought of what to do with
it after I leave. All I know is that I’m
not keeping most of it.”
For those who don’t want to take
their “college furniture” with them
when they leave the academic
world, there are options. Goodwill
Industries of Lane County has a
pick-up program, depending on the
weight and volume of the items and
where the pick-up site is.
People interested in a Goodwill
pick-up can call the store nearest
them and ask about delivery. Soon
er is better, because the month of
June is one of the busiest times of
the year — thanks to college gradua
tion. Goodwill only takes items that
are clean and in good condition.
Items donated to Goodwill can be
used as tax write-offs.
Those who can’t stand to part
with their possessions without
getting some cash in return can
contact Eugene Liquidators at
689-3973.
“We take mostly items that are
made of wood, but it all depends on
what we need at the time,” spokes
woman Esther Borchers said. “A
person can bring in an item any
time. We consider the condition of
the furniture to be the most impor
tant thing. We have two buyers for
the store, and they’re the ones that
have the ultimate say.”
Another option for new gradu
ates is to hold a garage sale. The
City of Eugene allows two
garage/yard sales per year without
having to apply for a permit. Those
who do need a permit can call the
Land Use Applications office at
682-5377.
Some people, such as Universi
ty senior Jason Blakely, don’t like
the idea of people perusing their
belongings.
“Garage sales just seem gross to
me,” Blakely said. “I don’t like the
idea of people looking through my
belongings and making comments
on all of it. Plus, I would almost
rather throw my old stuff out rather
than sit in my driveway with all of
it priced and having to deal with
the weather and people trying to
haggle with me over die price of a
lamp, which is priced at a dollar but
they want it for a quarter. No
thanks. Count me out.”
For those like Blakely and
Martell, who are considering get
ting rid of some of their college
possessions, disposal isn’t as easy
as recruiting a friend and carrying
the item to the nearest curb or
Dumpster. Sanipac customers
need to call in advance and
arrange for a bulk pick-up because
the company will not pick up ran
dom pieces of furniture around a
Dumpster or on a curb. Sanipac
charges by the cubic yard, and a
representative for the company
said that the average price to dis
pose of a couch is about $13.
Another disposal option for bulk
items is Lane County Waste Man
agement, but they will not pick up
the items — people looking to dis
card their belongings will need to
deliver them to the site.
While disposing of possessions
can be a hassle, Martell and
Blakely pointed out that there is a
positive side.
“College furniture is good fof one
thing: college,” Martell said. “I can’t
wait to start from scratch and have
furniture that isn’t broken.”
Blakely agreed.
“It will be nice to have stuff that
isn’t all mismatched and crappy,”
he said. “It will be nice to have
plates and silverware that aren’t
from different random places.”
Kathryn Petersen is a freelance
reporter for the Emerald.
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