How To Dispose Of Upholstered Furniture

Are you moving house and don’t want to take your sofa? Or maybe you just fancy a change and no longer like the look of your dining room chairs? Getting rid of upholstered furniture can be a challenge, not only because these items are usually bulky but because there are very specific rules around their disposal.

So, how do you dispose of upholstered furniture? The team here at SCS Waste is here to talk you through the process.

Assess the condition 

The first thing you should do is assess the condition of your upholstered furniture. Does it still have some life left in it, or is it completely past its best? If your furniture is still in good condition, you could consider selling it or donating it to charity. However, if your furniture is worn or damaged beyond repair, then disposal may be the best course of action.

Can you put upholstered furniture in a skip?

While you used to be able to throw your unwanted upholstered furniture in a skip without thinking about it, changes to regulations mean that this is no longer the case. In January 2023, the Environment Agency introduced new regulations regarding the disposal of furniture that contains Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). These items can no longer go to landfill; instead, they must be incinerated to prevent any contamination.

This means that many skip hire companies won’t accept upholstered furniture as part of their standard waste collection as it requires specialist disposal. Some skip hire companies do still accept these items, but at an additional cost due to the extra processing involved.

What are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

POPs are toxic chemicals that were commonly used in the manufacturing of upholstered furniture, primarily as flame retardants. The problem with POPs is that they don’t break down easily and will instead remain in the environment for decades to come. POPs also pose a risk to human health, as research suggests that repeated exposure can increase your risk of developing a number of cancers.

How to know if your furniture has POPs

POPs are incredibly difficult for the average person to identify, and there’s no way to know for sure whether your furniture contains any. However, if your upholstered furniture was manufactured before 2019, then chances are, some POPs may be present. Any furniture manufactured in the UK or the EU after this date is much less likely to include them as tighter regulations were enforced, meaning that these newer items are usually POPs-free and can typically be disposed of in a skip. You could also check any labels or documentation for clues, specifically looking for any mention of flame retardant treatments, as this often indicates the presence of POPs.

How can SCS Waste help?

If you’ve got upholstered furniture that you want to get rid of but you’re not sure where to start, get in touch with the team here at SCS Waste today. We offer a range of skip hire and waste disposal services and can help you dispose of your unwanted furniture in line with all regulations. For more than 20 years, we’ve been working across Arundel, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis and the surrounding areas – contact us to find out more.