POPs waste: what it is — and why it’s made sofa (and sometimes mattress) disposal more expensive
If you’ve recently booked a rubbish removal service and been surprised by the price of disposing of a sofa or mattress, you’re not alone. Since January 2023, changes to UK waste regulations mean that some bulky household items — especially sofas and upholstered furniture — are classed as POPs waste, which is more expensive to handle and dispose of correctly.
Here’s what that means, and why it affects the cost of your clearance.
What is POPs waste?
POPs stands for Persistent Organic Pollutants. These are harmful chemicals that don’t break down easily in the environment and can pose long-term risks to human health and wildlife.
Many older sofas, armchairs, and upholstered seating contain flame retardant chemicals in their foam and fabrics. When these items become waste, those chemicals can’t be allowed to escape into the environment — so they must be treated very differently from general household rubbish.
What changed in 2023?
From 1 January 2023, waste regulations in England tightened around upholstered domestic seating. This includes:
Sofas
Armchairs
Recliners
Sofa beds
Upholstered chairs and stools
Because these items may contain POPs, they must now:
Be kept separate from general waste
Be handled carefully, often kept whole
Go to specialist treatment facilities, usually high-temperature energy-from-waste plants where harmful chemicals are destroyed
This removes cheaper disposal options and significantly increases processing costs.
Why does this make rubbish removal more expensive?
Disposing of POPs waste costs more for several reasons:
Higher disposal fees at approved facilities
More labour time due to bulky handling and access issues
Strict compliance requirements for licensed waste carriers
Limited disposal sites that can legally accept this type of waste
All of this is reflected in the price you’re quoted for removing sofas and similar items.
What about mattresses?
Mattresses are not officially classed as upholstered domestic seating, so they’re not covered by the exact same POPs guidance.
However, mattresses are still expensive to remove because they are:
Large and awkward to handle
Labour-intensive to load
Difficult to recycle without specialist facilities
That’s why customers often see sofa and mattress removal priced similarly, even though the regulations behind them are slightly different.
Can I reduce the cost?
There are a few ways to help keep costs down:
Tell us exactly what you’re disposing of when booking (sofa bed vs standard sofa, number of items, etc.)
Ensure clear access — stairs, narrow hallways, and parking restrictions all add labour time
Don’t cut sofas up unless advised — keeping them whole is often safer for POPs compliance
If an item is reusable and in good condition, consider donation instead of disposal
Why proper disposal matters
These rules aren’t just red tape. POPs can cause long-term environmental harm if they’re shredded, landfilled, or handled incorrectly. Responsible disposal ensures these chemicals are destroyed safely, protecting people, wildlife, and future generations.
When you book a licensed rubbish removal company, you’re paying not just for collection — but for legal, environmentally responsible disposal.
