Disposal Dilemma: Sofas and Armchairs No Longer Accepted At Five Cornwall Recycling Centres

Some of Cornwall’s Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) will no longer accept sofas, armchairs, and other upholstered furniture due to new regulations from the Environment Agency. Starting 1st December, upholstered furniture must be stored and transported separately from other non-recyclable waste, significantly impacting how these items are handled in Cornwall.

What Does the Regulation Cover?

The new rules apply to any seating containing leather, synthetic leather, fabric, or foam. Items affected include:

• Sofas and sofa beds
• Armchairs (mechanical or electrical recliners included)
• Dining chairs and padded stools
• Footstools and ottomans
• Office chairs
• Futons, bean bags, and floor cushions

These items must now be stored separately at recycling centres, but space limitations mean some HWRCs cannot accommodate them.

Which Recycling Centres Are Affected?

Five sites in Cornwall will no longer accept upholstered furniture due to the space constraints:

• Bude
• Newquay
• Truro
• Helston
• Dudnance Lane, Pool

Residents needing to dispose of these items will need to use alternative HWRCs that can comply with the new requirements.

Council Response to the Changes

Carol Mould, portfolio holder for Neighbourhoods at Cornwall Council, expressed frustration over the new regulations. “We are really disappointed that these regulations are coming into force. These changes mean that some residents will have to travel further to dispose of unwanted furniture, and there will be considerable cost to the Council to make changes at the sites,” she said.

“All of Cornwall’s non-recyclable waste, including upholstered furniture, is taken to the Cornwall Energy Recovery Centre. It makes no sense that we have to separate these items before they get there.

“We, along with other local authorities, have urged the Environment Agency to reconsider but unfortunately our efforts have been unsuccessful.”

Alternatives for Residents

Carol recommended that residents consider repairing, selling, or donating unwanted furniture wherever possible. For those needing to dispose of these items, she advised checking which HWRCs can accept upholstered furniture before travelling.

Find your nearest recycling centre and check accepted items on the Cornwall Council website. Alternatively, you can learn more about the Council’s bulky waste collection service here.