From 1 January 2023, new legislation came into force regarding the storage and disposal of waste upholstered domestic seating containing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). POPs are poisonous chemical substances that break down slowly and get into food chains. From 1 January 2023, this waste cannot be disposed of in landfill and is required to be incinerated.
In the past POPs were used in various products including pesticides and industrial chemicals, and released during chemical and agricultural processes. The manufacture, sale and use of products containing POPs is now banned.
For further details on the POPs guidance and legislation can be found on the UK government website.
What items contain POPs?
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, such as:
- Sofas
- Sofa beds
- Armchairs
- Kitchen and dining room chairs
- Stools and foot stools
- Home office chairs
- Futons
- Bean bags, floor and sofa cushions
This includes any part made of or containing leather, synthetic leather, other fabric, or foam. The following items of domestic seating are unlikely to contain POPs:
- Items that are not upholstered, for example, a wooden chair without a cushioned or textile back, seat, or arms
- Deckchairs
- Wastes from manufacturing new domestic seating that the manufacturer can demonstrate do not to contain POPs
Mattresses, curtains, blinds and beds are not domestic seating and are not covered by this guidance.
How does this affect the council's waste management?
This legislation affects the way Mansfield District Council collects and stores materials that may contain POPs. Changes have been implemented to the way our waste streams that may contain POPs are collected from residents and businesses. Changes have also been made to the way this waste is stored at the Waste Transfer Station before being collected from our waste transfer station.
How does this affect my bulky waste collections?
Bulky waste collections will still take place as normal.
How does this affect how I dispose of waste?
If disposing of waste via the council's bulky waste collection service, please follow the guidance outlined above.
Residents should not dispose of any items that may contain POPs in their Green general waste bin, or in their blue recycling bins. If you suspect that an item may contain POPs, please dispose of this via the council's bulky waste collection service, or at a Mansfield district Council Household Waste Recycling Centre. See the list above of items that may contain POPs.