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Upholstered furniture has to be incinerated, not landfilled. This is why, and what it means for you.
Most people are surprised that a sofa costs more to dispose of than a wardrobe. It is not a mark-up. It is the law.
POPs stands for persistent organic pollutants. Many sofas, armchairs and other upholstered furniture made before the rules changed contain flame retardant chemicals in the foam and fabric. Those chemicals do not break down, so UK rules say that waste upholstered domestic seating must be destroyed in a way that stops them reaching the environment. In practice that means incineration at a permitted site. It cannot go to landfill.
Incineration costs more than landfill, so sofas and armchairs carry a small, published disposal charge. On our quotes it is £10, shown before you book and never added on the day. You can see the price of each piece on the sofa removal page.
If someone quotes far less than the going rate to take a sofa away, ask where it is going. A legitimate carrier has to pay for it to be handled properly. A price that does not cover that is a price that relies on it being dumped somewhere, and if it is traced back to you, the problem is yours. The next guide explains how to check.
A sofa that is clean and in good shape may be taken by a local furniture reuse charity, which keeps it out of the waste stream altogether. It is always worth a call before you book a collection.
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