Disposal of soft furnishings

This guidance details the types of soft furnishings that may contain POPs and how you should dispose of them via the University’s non-hazardous waste supplier, Select Environmental Services. 

So where are they found? 

Upholstered furniture examples include:  

• sofas 
• sofa beds 
• armchairs 
• kitchen and dining chairs 
• stools and footstools 
• office chairs 
• futons 
• bean bags and cushions 
• where any part is made of or contains leather, synthetic leather, other fabric, or foam. 

The following items 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 
• Mattresses, curtains, blinds and beds are not domestic seating and are not covered by this guidance. 

How to dispose of items you suspect contain POPs? 

Please use the Select Environmental Services bulk and junk collection service. 

For a bulk collection form, please get in touch with Select Environmental Services by calling:  0118 975 9000 or emailing their Technical Manager, Ian Adamson, on ipa@selectenviro.co.uk 

On your waste transfer note/bulk collection form – please: 

1. Describe the waste as ‘domestic seating waste containing POPs’. 
2. Classify it with the list of waste code 20 03 07. 
3. Ensure that the item is easily identifiable and separate from the rest of the collection. 

Select will collect this ‘domestic seating waste’ along with other items and take it to their specialised facility, where it will be segregated, broken down for packing and storage, and ultimately transported in bulk to an incineration centre. 

Disposal Costs 

In addition to the standard Junk Collectors charge, these extra (estimated) POP charges will be applied, depending on the item being disposed of: