Old sofas and armchairs: why tips keep them separate

Old sofas, armchairs and other padded seats can contain chemicals called persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Environment Agency guidance says they must be kept apart from other waste and burned.

• England

Key facts

• The rules apply to tips, waste collectors and treatment sites. Seats must not be mixed with other waste in a skip or bulky waste bay.
• They cover sofas, armchairs, padded kitchen and office chairs, bean bags and floor cushions.
• Mattresses, beds, curtains and small scatter cushions are not covered.
• The seats must go to an incinerator that is allowed to destroy POPs. They cannot go to landfill.
• A sofa that can be reused is a donation, not waste. The British Heart Foundation collects sofas that have a fire safety label.

Last updated: 15 October 2026

Based on Environment Agency's own pages.

Related item guides

• Sofas and upholstered seating

Other kinds of place

• Tips near you: household waste recycling centres
• Battery recycling near you: where to recycle batteries
• Electrical recycling near you for old electricals
• Bottle banks near you for glass bottles and jars
• Disposal of paint, gas bottles, chemicals and vapes

Schemes and collection services

• Recycle Now locator
• BHF free furniture collection
• GOV.UK household waste rules
• Recycle Now: building materials
• Recycle Now: carpets and rugs
• Recycle Now: duvets and pillows