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Everyone visiting the Household Recycling Centres are required to pre-book their visit.
This is to minimise queues and congestion on site and to help keep everybody safe.
POP's (Persistent Organic Pollutants)
In this section
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are chemicals that do not break down. If waste containing these is not managed responsibly, they can cause damage to the environment.
POPs are found in upholstered seating (including sofas, armchairs, upholstered dining and office chairs etc.) and are usually part of flame retardant treatments. The main POP we see in this furniture is decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) and has been banned since 2019.
Some waste furniture has levels of POPs above the legal limit. As a result, new rules came into effect on 1 January 2023 and local authorities responsible for managing waste furniture are required by law to change their processes for disposing of this waste. From 1 December 2024 the methods of collecting, storage and transporting furniture containing POPs changes.
What furniture contains Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)?
The majority of soft furnishings in your home will have fire retardants applied to them in order to meet Fire Safety standards. It is possible that some of these items will have fire retardants that contain identified POPs but not at levels that can cause concern to the environment. Any soft furnishing item bought new after 2019 should not contain fire retardants using the current list of identified POPs.
The legislation requires that upholstered furniture as described below is segregated at the point of disposal. This is to ensure that all items potentially including POPs are fully and safely destroyed, which is why you will be asked to place your item in a different location for disposal when you visit a Household Recycling Centre (HRC).
The domestic items covered under the legislation is only related to waste upholstered domestic seating, as these items were found to contain the highest levels of POPs.
Waste upholstered domestic seating includes:
Sofas
Armchairs
Futons
Sofa-beds
Upholstered dining chairs and office chairs
Beanbags
Floor cushions
Upholstered stools and foot stools
There is no requirement to treat other soft furnishing items from your home differently when disposing of them.
Any upholstered domestic seating items that you no longer need can still be passed on for reuse provided the item is not damaged (beyond minor repair) and has a fire safety label attached.
Donating to charity
Sending items suitable for reuse to charities helps supply affordable furniture and other household items to those in need in Gloucestershire.
The potential for pollution and harm to the environment from POPs increases at the waste management phase and this is why there are new regulations for how to manage this waste.
Charities will still be able to accept good quality furniture for reuse provided the items meet conditions set out in law to ensure the item is suitable for reuse; for example if there is no damage to the fabric and the fire safety label is still attached.
Fire safety labels on sofas and armchairs must state compliance with The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 (amended 1989 and 1993).
There are other outlets for reuse, including websites such as Gumtree, eBay, Freegle or Facebook Marketplace.
Takeback schemes
You can contact the retailer you purchased your item from for information on manufacture take-back schemes.
Please check the manufacturer website when purchasing a sofa or other upholstered domestic seating item. It is likely that take-back schemes will differ from company to company and there may be a small charge.
Disposal
If you wish to discard/dispose of your upholstered domestic seating item as waste, it is advisable that that the item is kept whole where feasible.
Items not suitable for reuse can be disposed of through your local HRC.
Ensure the items are kept whole where possible. Any damaged parts must be contained to minimise the risk of textiles or foam escaping into the environment on transit through to disposal. This can be done by wrapping with plastic, such as bin bags, over the exposed areas and taping in place. Ask a member of staff on arrival at the site about where to place the item or if you require any assistance.
Alternatively, please check your local District Council website for details of its kerbside bulky waste collection scheme.
Any upholstered domestic seating items that you no longer need can still be passed on for reuse provided the item is not damaged (beyond minor repair) and has a fire safety label attached.
Donating to charity
Sending items suitable for reuse to charities helps supply affordable furniture and other household items to those in need in Gloucestershire.
The potential for pollution and harm to the environment from POPs increases at the waste management phase and this is why there are new regulations for how to manage this waste.
Charities will still be able to accept good quality furniture for reuse provided the items meet conditions set out in law to ensure the item is suitable for reuse; for example if there is no damage to the fabric and the fire safety label is still attached.
Fire safety labels on sofas and armchairs must state compliance with The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 (amended 1989 and 1993).
There are other outlets for reuse, including websites such as Gumtree, eBay, Freegle or Facebook Marketplace.
Takeback schemes
You can contact the retailer you purchased your item from for information on manufacture take-back schemes.
Please check the manufacturer website when purchasing a sofa or other upholstered domestic seating item. It is likely that take-back schemes will differ from company to company and there may be a small charge.
Disposal
If you wish to discard/dispose of your upholstered domestic seating item as waste, it is advisable that that the item is kept whole where feasible.
Items not suitable for reuse can be disposed of through your local HRC.
Ensure the items are kept whole where possible. Any damaged parts must be contained to minimise the risk of textiles or foam escaping into the environment on transit through to disposal. This can be done by wrapping with plastic, such as bin bags, over the exposed areas and taping in place. Ask a member of staff on arrival at the site about where to place the item or if you require any assistance.
Alternatively, please check your local District Council website for details of its kerbside bulky waste collection scheme.
All of Gloucestershire’s HRCs are able to accept waste upholstered domestic seating.
To ensure the items containing POPs are safely handled and stored, they must be segregated from other general wastes. Please follow any instruction given by site staff and signage at the HRC.
All of Gloucestershire’s HRCs are able to accept waste upholstered domestic seating.
To ensure the items containing POPs are safely handled and stored, they must be segregated from other general wastes. Please follow any instruction given by site staff and signage at the HRC.
The law requires that any waste upholstered domestic seating is kept separate from all other waste where it is reasonable and feasible to do so.
Do not dispose of your unwanted upholstered domestic seating in your recycling or residual waste bin. Your waste upholstered domestic seating should be taken to a Household Recycling Centre (HRC). Please ensure you pre book your visit before turning up at your local HRC.
The law requires that any waste upholstered domestic seating is kept separate from all other waste where it is reasonable and feasible to do so.
Do not dispose of your unwanted upholstered domestic seating in your recycling or residual waste bin. Your waste upholstered domestic seating should be taken to a Household Recycling Centre (HRC). Please ensure you pre book your visit before turning up at your local HRC.
Services for the collection of furniture and other bulky items differ from Council to Council across Gloucestershire. There will be a small fee applied per item collected. Find out more on your local Council's website.
Services for the collection of furniture and other bulky items differ from Council to Council across Gloucestershire. There will be a small fee applied per item collected. Find out more on your local Council's website.
It is important that waste upholstered domestic seating is kept whole where possible.
Taking upholstered seating items apart increases the risk of allowing the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) to be released into the environment and may increase your risk of being exposed to them.
It is important that waste upholstered domestic seating is kept whole where possible.
Taking upholstered seating items apart increases the risk of allowing the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) to be released into the environment and may increase your risk of being exposed to them.
To safely destroy the chemicals within items containing POPs a high temperature incineration process must be used. Within Gloucestershire this is carried out at Javelin Park Energy from Waste facility near Gloucester.
Waste, including furniture items containing POPs, that has been collected at HRCs and through District Council bulky waste collection schemes is safely incinerated to generate electricity, ensuring these chemicals are destroyed or irreversibly transformed and cannot be released into the wider environment.
To safely destroy the chemicals within items containing POPs a high temperature incineration process must be used. Within Gloucestershire this is carried out at Javelin Park Energy from Waste facility near Gloucester.
Waste, including furniture items containing POPs, that has been collected at HRCs and through District Council bulky waste collection schemes is safely incinerated to generate electricity, ensuring these chemicals are destroyed or irreversibly transformed and cannot be released into the wider environment.
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.
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.
All domestic seating produced must meet stringent UK flammability tests that comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.
Any items purchased after 2019 will still meet the requirements of the Fire Safety regulations, but the chemicals used in this process are not classified as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
All domestic seating produced must meet stringent UK flammability tests that comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.
Any items purchased after 2019 will still meet the requirements of the Fire Safety regulations, but the chemicals used in this process are not classified as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
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