How to get rid of an old sofa the right way

Getting rid of large items of furniture like sofas can be a challenge – and this year, it’s become even trickier…

You used to be able to hire a skip for convenient sofa disposal, meaning all you had to do was get it outside, toss it in the container and wait for it to be picked up.

But since upholstered seating was classified as POPs waste by the Environment Agency, using a skip hire firm like SunSkips to throw away an old sofa has become a thing of the past.

Here’s how to get rid of a sofa and other upholstered seating since the new legislation came into force.

Why can’t you throw an old sofa in a skip?

After an investigation into the presence of dangerous chemicals in soft seating waste, the Environment Agency (EA) has decided to tighten regulations on its disposal.

These chemicals – known as POPs, which stands for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) – are now deemed too hazardous to be recycled or taken to landfill. They’re dangerous both for the environment and human health.

POPs are found not just in sofas, but also cushions, armchairs, sofa beds, upholstered dining chairs, stools, soft office chairs, beanbags, futons… basically, any soft seating.

MORE: POPs waste: New rules for throwing away soft seating

So what do I do with my old sofa and soft seating now?

Old sofas and other soft seating can be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC).

You can find your nearest centre with a maps app like Google Maps, or consult your local authority website (Suffolk residents can check Suffolk Recycles. Check the SunSkips blog for a list of Cambridgeshire recycling centres).

If you don’t have the means to transport waste furniture to the local HWRC, call SunSkips so we can arrange a special collection that doesn’t involve mixing your old sofa with other waste and contaminating it.

MORE: Skip hire vs recycling centre: The pros and cons

But before getting rid of your sofa, it’s best to find a use for it if it’s in good enough condition by donating it. Some charity shops will even collect good quality sofas from your home.

If it’s in really good condition, you may be able to make some cash by selling it. Try Facebook Marketplace or Wallapop.

And if you’re getting rid of your old sofa to make room for a new one, you might find that the furniture store includes the collection of the old one for free.

What happens to old sofas now?

The reason it’s been difficult for waste management companies like SunSkips – and even some HWRCs – to take sofas is because they need to have established relationships with businesses that can legally incinerate them.

Sofas have to be separated from other waste and then taken to an authorised incinerator, for example, a cement kiln, where they can be burned to generate energy.

MORE: SRF vs RDF: What’s the difference between the alternative fuels?

While you can’t put a sofa in SunSkips’ containers anymore, we can collect a sofa for you by special arrangement. Call our team to arrange a pick up.