New fears emerge of ‘sofa mountains’
Recycling experts have called on the Government to step in amid warnings that a crackdown on disposal of upholstered furniture could lead to ‘sofa mountains’.
The warning comes as evidence emerges that some councils are refusing to take them for landfill.
Sofas and upholstered seats are assumed to contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and must be incinerated as of 1 January, say the Environment Agency, enforcing a landfill ban first enacted in 2007.
The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (Larac) has called on Defra to step into the row over the rapid implementation of the enforcement action.
Last year the Environmental Services Association warned that enforcing the regulations could lead to ‘sofa mountains’.
Larac vice chair James Ward said: ‘Until we have further clarity from Government, local authorities are not completely clear about how to comply with what we understand is new enforcement of existing legislation.’
Larac said full compliance with the POPs legislation and guidance could not happen overnight, noting that the Waste Network Chairs (WNC) wrote to the Government in December to raise concerns.
East Cambridgeshire District Council has announced it can no longer accept upholstered items at recycling centres. Cumbria County Council has also announced a temporary ban.
