Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

All local authorities responsible for managing Waste Upholstered Domestic seating (WUDs) are required by law to change their processes for dealing with waste potentially containing POPs.

What are POPs?

POPs are chemical substances often used as fire retardants which need to be handled and disposed of in a special way to ensure they are not released into the environment. Items that often contain these chemicals generally include upholstered items, particularly older ones including:

• sofas, sofa beds and armchairs
• upholstered kitchen and dining room chairs
• home office chairs
• upholstered stools and footstools
• bean bags, floor or sofa cushions
• futons

This also includes any part made of or containing leather, synthetic leather, other fabric, or foam.

We must collect and store the waste in a way that prevents damage to the items that may release POPs and contaminate other waste. Such items must be kept separate from other waste and recycling streams and then be destroyed at an incinerator authorised to accept POPs waste. Further information on legislation see the guidance on the Gov.UK website. 

Can I take my unwanted upholstered domestic seating to the Recycling Centres?

Yes, however following guidance from the Environment Agency all WUDs must be segregated at recycling centre sites and cannot be mixed or transported with other waste.

This segregation will require additional skips solely for sofas, armchairs and other seating to be provided. These items must only go in the correct, designated skips and must not be mixed with any other waste. 

What can I do?

You will need to ensure that you take your WUDs items to a site that can accept them or book a collection via the our bulky item collection service.

Waste upholstered domestic seating should be kept whole where possible. Taking upholstered seating items apart increases the risk of releasing the POPs into the environment.

Any damaged parts must be kept contained (any tears must be taped up, or the damaged item must be covered in plastic sheeting). This will help to minimise the risk of textiles or foam escaping into the environment while on its way to disposal.

Can my item be reused?

The regulations only affect these items once they become waste. It may still be possible to donate good quality domestic seating for re-use.

Any upholstered domestic seating items that you would like to donate for re-use can still be passed to site staff at the recycling centres, provided the item is not damaged (beyond minor repair) and has a fire safety label attached. Re-use donations can only be accepted at the Chester, Ellesmere Port and Winsford sites. Items can also be donated through charity organisations. 

Will upholstered domestic seating still be collected via the bulky item service? 

Items containing POPs that are requested for removal via our bulky item collection service will be collected separately from other bulky waste items.

Our bulky item collection service will continue to accept domestic seating. If you book a collection that contains one or more POPs item (like a sofa) and a non-POPs item (like a fridge), we will collect them at different times but on the same day the collection has been arranged for. To find out more about a bulky item collection see our Bulky items collection page. 

Is my upholstered domestic seating dangerous?

The use of certain chemicals to make upholstered items flame retardant were banned in 2019. This means that new upholstered furniture bought after this time should not contain POPs, however, old or imported stock may have been sold after this time. The risk of exposure to POPs to the public from any upholstered domestic seating in the home is low. The potential for pollution and harm increases at the waste management phase when the items may become broken up or damaged ahead of disposal and this is why there are new procedures for how to manage this waste.

Any potential risk to health from exposure to chemicals in the home can be greatly reduced through good housekeeping, such as regular vacuum cleaning, washing hands before meals and ensuring any damage to upholstery is repaired as soon as possible.

Is it safe to buy second hand furniture?

We support reuse of furniture wherever possible in line with the waste hierarchy by prioritising waste prevention and reuse over other methods of disposal. Reusing items of upholstered domestic seating remains a good use of resources and helps reduce our collective environmental impact.

As a general safety precaution, you should check that the item is in good condition with no rips or tears as this increases the risk of exposure to POPs.