how to dump a sofa

[LucasDella]

So, you've decided to dump your sofa. It's a tale as old as time: one minute you're binge-watching together, the next you're measuring doorways and plotting its exit. In New York City, breaking up with your furniture has a protocol, lest you be accused of illegal dumping.

According to the city's official guidelines, your sofa is considered a "bulk item"—a polite term for something too large to be unceremoniously stuffed into a trash bag. The good news is that the city offers a free curbside removal service for this very situation. You can say goodbye to up to six bulk items at a time, in case the matching loveseat has also overstayed its welcome.

To execute this domestic uncoupling, you must place your sofa curbside between 6 PM and midnight the night before your designated "bulk trash" or "large item" collection day. Timing is everything. Set it out on the wrong night, and it'll just be an awkward, lingering presence on the sidewalk. Do it right, and your old couch will be whisked away to its next great adventure, leaving you with a clean break and more floor space.