Guide to using IKEA Hong Kong’s mattress, furniture disposal service in 2024

IKEA Hong Kong helps you dispose of your old furniture for a fee but it’s not clear how to arrange for the service from their webpage.

I found out the hard way when I tried to get rid of an old mattress left behind by the previous tenant of my new flat so I thought I would share a short guide to using IKEA’s disposal service for anyone who is considering this option.

Yes, mattresses are indeed considered furniture and are included in this disposal service.

Note: The information is based on my personal experience with IKEA’s ‘Disposal of Old Furniture Service’ in January 2024 at the Causeway Bay store. Please double check with IKEA for any potential updates to the service before committing to any next steps.

Conditions for disposal service

• Purchase a new product in same category
  • New product does not need to be same price as the disposed product i.e. new product can be cheaper
• Number of items of removed needs to match number of new items bought for replacement
• Service needs to be registered at service counters at the IKEA stores – cannot be applied online
• Service needs to be registered at least 3 days before the delivery date of the new furniture

Read other terms and conditions of the disposal service on the IKEA site. 

Cost of service

The IKEA furniture disposal service is not free.

It costs $200 for the first item; $100 for an extra item.

How to apply for disposal service

1. Before completing any new purchase, check that the item you are buying is in the same category as the item you want to dispose of.
2. Whether you’re buying online or at the store, make sure your new furniture delivery date is at least 3 days after your purchase date.
   • I made the mistake of ordering online late evening and setting the delivery day to the earliest day possible so that the next day when I tried to arrange for the disposal service, I was told I need to pay the admin fee of $200 to rearrange the delivery to a later date.
3. Go to the physical IKEA store and directly to the customer service counters
   • I tried asking about the disposal service to one of the staff at the showroom area of the store and they didn’t know the details about the disposal service.
4. At the service counter, say that you want to request for the furniture disposal service and provide your order number and the item category/categories you want to dispose of.
5. Make the payment at the service counter. You’ll be provided with a receipt that shows the disposal service will be on the same day as the delivery date for your new furniture.

Note: I’m not sure if or how the disposal service would work if you didn’t have the new furniture delivered and picked it up yourself directly at the store. Make sure you check with customer service before making any purchase!

Other ways to dispose of your furniture

• Drop it off at a public refuse collection point near you if you’re able to take the furniture there yourself – you won’t need to pay a fee but you need to check the opening hours and the location closest to you. Find the list of public refuse collection points on the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.
• Sell or give away second hand – check out groups on social media for exchanging, selling, or giving away furniture; or upload your item on platforms like Carousell, choosing the option to list a price or to give it away for free.
• Donate to charity – some charities in Hong Kong take furniture but you may need to pay to get it transported to their warehouses.