Sofas and Sofa Chairs – Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
What are Persistent Organic Pollutants?
In mid 2022, a new guidance was launched by the Environment Agency with regards to the legal requirements for the collection and disposal of items that contain Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
Persistent Organic Pollutants are chemicals that were used as flame retardants in upholstered furniture and textiles which are now banned. They are found in large quantities in the foam and textiles of waste upholstered domestic seating. Due to the very nature of these chemicals, they remain in the environment for a continued period if not handled and disposed of correctly.
To eradicate the ongoing threat of POPs to the environment, the law dictates that any waste containing POPs must be incinerated, must not be recycled, re-used or placed in landfill sites.
This guidance started from 1st January 2023 that upholstered domestic seating containing POPs must not be :
- Submitted for Landfill
- Contaminate other non-POPs containing wastes
- Re-used or recycled
As a customer, what impact does this have for you?
From 1st January 2023, we will no longer accept POPs waste items in our skips where they are mixed in with other items.
This reduces the risk of other waste types becoming contaminated by POPs. A mixed skip containing POP items would affect the other waste types and subsequently be classed as POPs contaminate. As such, the contents of the skip will be treated and priced accordingly.
There will be a charge for POP items of £80.00+vat per item should they found in a mixed skip.
How to Identify POPs
Waste items that contain Persistent Organic Pollutants are :
- Sofa Beds
- Kitchen and Dining room chairs
- Home Office Chairs
- Sofas
- Home Office or Office Chairs
- Bean Bags
- Stools and foot stools
- Futons
- Cushions
- Sofa Cushions
If you have waste items that contain POPs then please contact us on 0330 113 2775 and our team will help you organise and dispose of your POP waste items.
Should you have any questions with regards to this matter, please do not hesitate to contact us by email on enquiries@budgetskipsdirect.co.uk or by phone on 0330 113 2775.
Our team at Budget Skips Direct remain committed to providing an excellent skip hire service to you and thankyou for you continued understanding and support.
Notes and References :
– This strict guidance from the Environment Agency outlined above does not include solid wooden, plastic or metal furniture. These items are fine to placed into our skips. This notice only applies to seating and furniture items classed as upholstered with foam and textile padding.
– Waste domestic seating is any item of seating of a household type from households or businesses that is waste. Upholstered domestic seating may contain POPs
– The manufacture, sale and use of products containing POPs is now banned. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are poisonous chemical substances that break down slowly and get into food chains as a result.
– Many POPs were widely used during the boom in industrial production in the late 1940s right up to 2007, when thousands of synthetic chemicals were introduced into commercial use. Many were used in everyday furniture, such as Sofas, dining and office chairs.
