Your local council can take it: most councils will collect large items such as old sofas for a fee, or you can take it to your local recycling centre. Charities that resell furniture generally need the label: the British Heart Foundation, for example, can’t accept upholstered pieces without one, because by law it can’t sell them.
It’s frustrating when a perfectly comfortable sofa can’t find a new home, so it’s worth a quick check before you book anything.
First, look again for the label
The rules cover upholstered furniture, such as sofas, padded chairs, beds, sofa beds, cushions and mattresses, and they apply to used furniture as well as new. A compliant piece carries a permanent label, usually found behind a loose cover at the back or under a seat cushion. Mattresses have their own label, showing compliance with British Standard BS 7177. Labels do get tucked away, so check under every cushion before you decide it’s missing.
Pieces the label rule doesn’t touch
- Older furniture. Furniture made before 1 January 1950 is excluded from these rules, so a genuinely old piece may still interest a dealer or auction house.
- Furniture without upholstery. Wooden tables, wardrobes, bookcases and chests of drawers have no padding or fabric covering, so charities such as the BHF can still take them if they’re clean, complete and in good condition.
Letting the council take it
GOV.UK lets you find your council’s large item collection by postcode. Some councils collect upholstered seating separately from other bulky items, so mention it when you book. That’s because upholstered seating often contains chemicals used as fire retardants, which have to be handled and disposed of in a special way. For the same reason, some councils only take upholstered seating at certain recycling centres, in a separate skip, so check your council’s website before you load the car. Taping up any tears helps keep the foam inside.
If you’d rather pay a private firm, GOV.UK says to use a registered business, such as a household clearance service.
If you’re clearing a home
When a house has to be emptied quickly, it can help to separate what’s going from what’s staying first. Our guide to storing things before a house clearance explains how a unit gives you time. If you’re thinking of storing an older sofa or mattress, give us a call first and we’ll talk it through with you.
For anything else, call us on 0800 2545585, or get a price online.
Related questions
- Should I store furniture, sell it or give it away?
- Should I put things into storage before a house clearance?
- Is there a rubbish bin at storage sites?
- How does a house clearance work?
Further reading
- GOV.UK: Apply for a large waste item collection
- GOV.UK: Dispose of household waste
- Business Companion (Chartered Trading Standards Institute): Second-hand upholstered furniture: fire safety
- British Heart Foundation: book a free furniture collection