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What is POP Waste? (Persistent Organic Pollutants)

Pop waste might sound like the forgotten Now that’s what I call music tapes at the local boot fair, but it’s actually way more serious, both for environmental and personal health. And with our new understanding of just how damaging POP waste can be, we all need to make the effort to make sure we know what these are and to make sure we are disposing of these items correctly.

- 7 min read

What is POP Waste?

POP stands for Persistent Organic Pollutants. They are harmful chemicals that don’t break down easily, so once they're released into the environment they stick around for decades. Because of this, the UK government has strict rules on how they can be disposed of.

Since January 2023, the Environment Agency has made it clear that certain household and commercial items must be treated as POP waste, not general rubbish that can be disposed of during the usual channels and of course, means they cannot go in a standard skip.

Exmples of POP Waste

Some common items that count as POP waste include:

  • Sofas, armchairs, sofa beds and futons

  • Cushions, beanbags, mattresses and upholstered chairs

  • Carpets and foam-backed flooring

  • Upholstered office chairs

  • Any furniture containing leather, synthetic leather, or foam filling

  • Treated wood manufactured before 2007

If you’re not sure whether something counts, a good rule of thumb is: if it’s soft, padded or upholstered, check before you chuck.

How to Identify POP Waste?

If it is upholstered seating and you can feel foam under fabric or leather, treat it as POPs by default and keep it separate from other waste. 

Identifying it is where it becomes a challenge for the consumer, because as consumers, we do not have the means to carry out testing as it’s done using XRF screening or accredited lab analysis. Not so good for us just trying to dispose of an old sofa.

Do all soft furnishings contain POP’s?

Current rules target upholstered domestic seating due to common POPs like brominated flame retardants in foam and textiles. Mattresses, curtains, and blinds are only POPs waste if analysis exceeds legal limits. The UK's PBDE waste limit tightened to 500 mg/kg in 2025, but non-seating textiles require evidence-based classification.

Why Can’t POP Waste Go in a Skip?

The clue is in the name in that they are Persistent Organic Pollutants. They are carbon-based chemicals designed to last, and they don’t break down easily in nature. Instead, they linger in the environment for years, sometimes decades.

When POP-containing items (like foam furniture or treated timber) are crushed, landfilled, or burned in the wrong way, these chemicals can:

  • Leach into soil and water – once in the ground, they can spread into rivers, lakes and even drinking water supplies.

  • Build up in the food chain – fish, animals and eventually people can absorb POPs over time. This process is called bioaccumulation.

  • Release toxic gases when burned – chemicals like dioxins and furans can form during uncontrolled burning, which are harmful even in tiny amounts.

Because of these risks, POP waste must be handled separately and either safely incinerated at very high temperatures or disposed of in specialist facilities. Ordinary skip companies don’t have the equipment or licenses to do this, so the law requires that POPs are excluded from general skips.

The Environment Agency has been clear: mixing POP waste in with other rubbish is illegal, and it can lead to penalties for both skip operators and customers.

How should you dispose of POP Waste?

Unfortunately even waste that isn’t POP waste, if you don’t have the correct documentation that states POP chemicals haven’t been used, then it will be classed as POP waste. So how do we, as consumers, get rid of POP (or expected POP) waste?

  • Household Recycling Centres - most still accept POP waste

  • Council Bulky Collections - pay per item including POP waste

  • Man and Van - You need to inform of POP waste

These options can make doing whole clearouts a challenge as individual items, such as curtains, a mattress, a sofa can all add to the total cost off disposal. If you have lots of POP waste, apart from taking the items to the tip yourself, the most cost effective method will be to use a Man and Van rubbish removal service.

Do council recycling centres accept items with POPs?

Usually yes, but not always at every site. Most councils accept waste upholstered domestic seating that may contain POPs, and they keep it separate from other waste. Some authorities only take it at selected HWRCs, so check your local site before you travel. Look for the dedicated POPs or “upholstered seating” area, and if in doubt ask staff to direct you.