Environment Agency change to waste disposal of upholstered furniture approved by Newark and Sherwood District Council
Changes to how upholstered furniture is disposed of could cost a council thousands of pounds and lead to increased fly-tipping, it is feared.
A change in law means such furniture must be incinerated and not re-used, recycled or landfilled. They must also be collected separately from other waste.
Newark and Sherwood District Council's cabinet reluctantly approved the change.
Roger Jackson, portfolio holder for cleaner, safer, greener, said: "When I first read the report, I had to just double check the calendar to make sure it wasn't April 1.
"Deep in the bowels of DEFRA they must have a cupboard or an office destined to bring out the daftest ideas they can think of and this is one of them.
"Persistent organic pollutants, it means anything made of fabric upholstery, settees, mattresses, chairs, now has to be collected and disposed of separately from other waste.
"I don't know why, but that is what the Environment Agency is telling us.
"It is going to be at a cost to this council of over £100,000 and I think it will only lead to more fly-tipping.
"I don't know whether at recycling centres they will have to go in separate bins but there will be a cost to disposing of them separately.
"I personally this this is totally daft, but it is something that we have got to do."
An Environment Agency investigation found widespread presence of very large quantities of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and other hazardous chemicals in both the textiles and foam of upholstered domestic seating — items that the council classified as bulky waste.
The law requires that POPs in this type of waste are destroyed to prevent lasting environmental harm or impact on the food chain.
The council's approval is legally required by the Environment Agency to ensure that the operational changes associated with how waste containing POPs is collected and disposed of take place.
District council figures show nearly 40% of items collected from properties would fall under the new legislation and need to be transported separately.
Similarly, an average of 12 items a week are recovered during fly-tipping clean-ups, which traditionally would have all been placed into the same vehicle but are now required to be separated.
Additionally, all waste of this type must be transported to Veolia’s waste transfer station at Welshcroft Close at Kirkby-in-Ashfield, 25 miles from Newark.
To carry out these collections a specialist 7½-tonne truck with a tail lift will be required at a cost of approximately £111,000, when factoring running costs.
To remain compliant in the short term, a 3½ tonne vehicle has been hired at a cost of £300 per week.
Council leader David Lloyd said: "There is a concern over the costs associated with this now.
"But the complications with this will inevitably lead to further fly-tipping which will lead to even further costs for us
"It is well intentioned, but the environment agency should have talked to the officers responsible for flytipping and environmental protection on other issues."
