After a short break whilst different operational arrangements were put in place to comply with new Environment Agency regulatory requirements, some of Cumbria’s Household Waste Recycling Centres are now able to accept waste upholstered domestic seating.
From tomorrow (Tuesday 7 February) we are once again able to accept the following items at seven of Cumbria’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) where there is the space on site to separate this waste
- Sofas and armchairs
- Sofa beds and futons
- Kitchen and dining room chairs
- Stools and foot stools
- Home office chairs
- Bean bags, floor and sofa cushions
The HWRCs accepting waste upholstered domestic seating are Brampton, Carlisle, Kendal, Maryport, Grange, Penrith and Ulverston. For details of sites and opening times please see our HWRC webpage at: https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/planning-environment/waste-management/servicesincumbria/hwrcs/hwrc.asp.
Residents are asked to speak to site staff for advice on where to dispose of these items when they attend one of the HWRCs as they must be separated from other waste. We would also ask that you do not chop up or expose the seating before bringing it to the centres and if the seating is damaged, please cover the damage with tape, or wrap the damaged part up in a bin bag.
We are unable to accept waste upholstered domestic seating at the following sites due to lack of space at these centres at this time: Frizington, Millom, Barrow, Ambleside, Wigton, Clay Flatts and Kirkby Stephen.
All district councils in Cumbria are once again able to provide a collection service for waste upholstered seating, for a small fee. Please visit their websites for more details and to arrange a collection.
Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Celia Tibble, said:
“It is very good news that we now have a longer-term solution for separating, managing and disposing of waste upholstered domestic seating.
“In December 2022, new regulatory position statements were issued by the Environment Agency to local authorities. This meant that from 1 January 2023 Cumbria County Council’s HWRCs were temporarily unable to accept certain household items due to the enforcement of legislation that prevents certain items being sent to landfill which contain specific type of pollutants, known as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). This particularly affected upholstered seating items.
“It is a credit to the efforts of our contractors and staff that we have been able to put alternative arrangements in place so quickly. Our centres may be busier than normal this week as people start to bring these bulky items for safe disposal again so please bear this in mind or if you can, wait a week or so longer to visit. Thanks to all our residents who have remained patient in holding on to your items for the past few weeks.”
