From Sunday 1st January 2023, County Councils across the country are asking all residents to ensure that any waste upholstered domestic seating brought to Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) are not brought as part of a mixed load if at all possible, as this may result in the whole load having to be incinerated, including any recyclable items.

This change is due to a new law being introduced that ensures all councils incinerate all upholstered domestic seating being disposed of as waste.

The law has been introduced across the country following the Environment Agency finding large levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in seating textiles and foams. The Environment Agency warns that POPs remain intact in the environment for long periods and if not disposed of properly become widely distributed geographically.

All upholstered domestic seating taken to Rutland's HWRCs (also known as CA Sites/the tip) goes to an Energy from Waste (EfW) facility and the energy produced is used to provide heat and power for homes and businesses

Upholstered domestic seating includes sofas, sofabeds, armchairs, kitchen and dining room chairs, futons, beanbags, floor and sofa cushions which has any type of fabric and/or foam in or on them.