Cumbria's recycling centres won't accept large household items from next year
Items no longer accepted at centres include sofas, futons and office chairs
Last updated 29th Dec 2022
Cumbria County Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) will temporarily be unable to accept certain large household items from Sunday 1 January 2023 after new legislation was announced by Government.
Local Authorities nationwide have been informed in the last few days, that the Environment Agency will start enforcement of new legislation that prevents certain items being sent to landfill which contain a specific type of pollutants, known as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), from 1 January 2023.
The items affected are particularly upholstered seating items, such as:
• 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
Following urgent discussions with contractors, it is anticipated that arrangements will be in place to allow Household Waste Recycling Centres to resume accepting this waste towards the end of January 2023.
Cumbria’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Celia Tibble, said: “This rapid implementation was unexpected and contrary to indications previously given by DEFRA and the Environment Agency to Local Authorities.
“There is insufficient time to make the necessary changes to how this type of waste is handled at our Household Waste Recycling Centres and as a result, with effect from 1 January 2023, we will temporarily be unable to accept these items at our HWRCs.
“This is frustrating and unwelcome news, and we are working hard to find a longer-term solution as quickly as possible.
“We kindly ask residents looking to dispose of household items such as these to either visit their local Household Waste Recycling Centre before January 1, 2023, or remain patient and hold onto any of these items until such time we’re able to accept them again.”
The changes to the law for this waste type also affect bulky waste collection services managed by district councils. Please check their websites for more details.
More information about the new legislation can be found on the government website.
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