Updated: 11 September 2025

So, you’ve got an old sofa that’s been mangled to threads by your cat, or maybe a broken office chair that’s been sitting in the corner for months, taking up valuable space and quietly judging you. We totally get it: getting rid of big items anywhere is a HASSLE! It’s probably been on your to-do list forever, because, let’s be real, it’s heavy, it doesn’t fit in the trash, and in Switzerland, there are definitely certain ways to do stuff. If this sounds a little bit familiar, then you’re in the right place. We’ll cover everything from what to do if your item still has some life left, to how to make it magically disappear if it’s at the end of its life.

• What counts as a bulky item anyway?
• Option 1: Give your bulky item a second life
  • Sell it and make a bit of pocket change 💰
  • Donate or give it away for free 💗
  • Repair 🛠️
• Option 2: It’s beyond repair or use, time to say goodbye!
  • Schedule a curb-side pick up 👋
  • Haul it to a Cantonal Recycling Center (ESREC) 🚚
  • Throw money at your problems and hire a professional company 💸
• What to do with electronics and household appliances

What counts as a bulky item anyway? 

Basically anything that doesn’t fit with your household rubbish because of its large size. Things like:

• Old furniture (sofas, tables, chairs, wardrobes)
• Mattresses & bed frames
• Carpets & rugs
• Large sports equipment (bikes, skis, golf clubs)
• Mirrors & large household accessories
• Large pots and pans, kitchenware 
• Old strollers & car seats

⚠️ Electronic devices and household appliances (ex. fridge, coffee machine, fan, tv etc) are disposed of uniquely and so, they have their own section.

Option 1: Give your bulky item a second life (if it’s in good condition)

1. Sell it and make a bit of pocket change 💰

OK, selling things online does require a little extra work – taking decent photos, writing the descriptions, and the absolute worst part of responding to messages and coordinating pickups. But for some big ticket items, it might be worth a try! Geneva is a transient city, with people coming and going all the time. You never know who might be looking for exactly what you’re offloading. 

• Facebook Marketplace: Probably the remaining redeeming feature of Facebook these days, the Marketplace! It honestly is one of the best places to sell your stuff given the large user group. With the right picture and listing, good stuff will get sold in Geneva quickly!
• Facebook groups: Local expat groups on Facebook are a bit of a wild west but it’s worth diving in to post your goods:
  • Geneva Expats
  • Expats in Geneva
  • Geneva’s Expat Women
• Swiss Resell Sites: Get friendly with Anibis / Tutti / Ricardo. If these sites look a bit similar…it’s because they are all owned by the same company called Swiss Marketplace Group (SMG). Anibis and Tutti is more like a Swiss Craigslist – you’ll have to haggle and do the whole song and dance with potential buyers. Ricardo, on the other hand, is closer to an eBay where sales are usually final based on the set price (though they do take a large commission). 
• Resell alternative: Marko, a new alternative that launched last year.It’s definitely a much sleeker, more stylish platform with a far better user experience compared to the others. While it’s super popular for clothes and watches, we’ve spotted furniture and household items there too. Worth a shot!”
• France resell sites: Leboncoin.fr – Given Geneva’s proximity to France, Leboncoin.fr (their Craigslist equivalent) is also a savvy option to try listing your item!

2. Donate or give away for free 💗

If the thought of selling gives you a headache, consider giving your item a new home for free! Geneva has some fantastic charity organizations and second-hand shops that can even help arrange pickups for bigger items directly from your home. Plus, don’t forget the power of social media – posting in those same Facebook groups (listed above!) that an item is ‘free for pickup’ is often a magic trick for quick removal.

‼️ Don’t think of this option as a free removal service though, and only give away something that’s in good condition. “Good condition” may be a bit different for everyone, but my rule of thumb is: Can I give this to a friend without being embarrassed about it? If the answer is a hard “yes” without any awkward disclaimers or apologies, it’s likely in good condition. If you’d feel embarrassed or have to explain away significant flaws, it’s probably not. If it falls into the “terrible condition, broken, no one would want it”, skip ahead to the toss it section.

• Facebook Marketplace – No explanation needed.
• Facebook Free Stuff Geneva – In my personal experience, free stuff gets taken like hot cakes. I was giving away a functioning, though slightly old freezer, and it was gone by the next day – Jess. 
• WhatsApp Groups:
  • PICK ME UP!
  • GENEVA COMMUNITY (You have this community with different groups kids, pregnancy women clothes groups and furniture)
• Keep in use – Like a craigslist but only for listing free stuff!
• Charity/Non-profits: Instead of throwing stuff away, consider donating your stuff to a charity. Many of them also offer removal services (sometimes for a fee, so always check!), which can be a super convenient option if you don’t want to haul it yourself.
  • Armée du Salut (Salvation Army)
  • Centre Social Protestant (CSP) 
  • Caritas “La Recyclerie” (They accept furniture and items in good condition. They can also arrange pick-up at your home for larger donations. Contact: +41 22 884 99 99 / recyclerie@caritas-ge.ch / recyclerie.ch)
  • Communauté d’Emmaüs (They collect furniture free of charge anywhere in the canton. You can also bring items directly to their second-hand stores. Contact: +41 22 301 57 57 or via website)
  • La Renfile (They will collect it and their huge space is very cool to visit.)

3. Repair 🛠️

We know, we know…sometimes repairing can feel more expensive than just buying new (we totally get it!). BUT, if you truly love that item, keeping it alive and kicking is definitely still possible.
The good news is, the Geneva canton actually has a fantastic directory of shops offering repair services for everything from electronic appliances and furniture to sporting equipment. Even better, look out for ‘Repair Cafés‘! These repair workshops pop up in various Geneva neighborhoods on specific days and can help you with minor repairs and fixes for free – no registration needed, just show up with your item! Check here for the 2025 schedule.

Option 2: It’s beyond repair or use, time to say goodbye

1. Schedule a curb-side pick up 👋

The City of Geneva offers a free curb-side pickup service for bulky items. You’ll need to request an appointment in advance to have your things picked up at a designated site. (Heads-up: electrical, household appliances, and electronic items are excluded from this particular service). The only catch? You’ll still need to get your bulky items to that designated spot, which might or might not be super close to your apartment – so plan your muscles accordingly!

2. Haul it to a Cantonal Recycling Center (ESREC) 🚚

The Geneva municipality has 3 recycling centers in Bernex, Carouge, Bellevue, that accept bulky items like furniture, plus pretty much everything you can think of (metal, glass, paper, wood, organic wastes – the works). Just drive your stuff to the center during opening hours, and the lovely folks there will help take it off your hands. The only catch? You’ll definitely need a car or truck, as these centers tend to be in more remote spots.

If you live on the left bank, specifically in the Arve-Lac region, you’re in luck! There’s a Mobilitri drop-off center that’s free for residents. You just need to register for a pass to access the site.

🔥 Psst… if you’re curious about hauling big stuff yourself, we’ve got a whole other post on that!

3. Throw money at your problems and hire a professional company 💸

Sometimes, you just want it GONE, and you don’t want to lift a finger or break a sweat. If that’s you, hiring a professional removal company is always an option. While we haven’t personally used these services, they’ve come highly recommended by folks in our community:

• Recyclage Express
• Débarras Geneva
• Léman Débarras

🔥 Hot tip: If you’re buying replacement furniture from bigger stores, they usually offer the service to remove your old furniture for a fee. 

Electronic & Household Appliances: Don’t Bin ‘Em!

1. Return to electronics retailers

This is the easiest option! Stores like Interdiscount, Fust, major Coops, and Migros (and pretty much any other store selling similar items) are legally required to take back your old electronic and household appliances for free, even if you’re not buying something new from them. Even if they don’t sell the brand of your electronics. Easy.

2. Take them to the Cantonal Recycling Centers (ESREC)

As we mentioned earlier, these centers are also happy to take all your electronic waste too!

Well, that’s it! We hope this guide makes what seemed like a truly daunting task feel much more manageable. No more excuses for those bulky items to be sitting there, collecting dust (and quietly judging you) in your Geneva apartment. Happy decluttering!