**Changes to disposal of upholstered seating at Hampshire Waste and Recycling Centres**
Next year will see some changes to the way Hampshire's Waste and Recycling Centres operate as we look to increase recycling rates and stop harmful pollutants like microplastics entering the environment.
From tomorrow there a national requirement that upholstered seating is treated separately from other waste and incinerated safely to stop pollutants from entering the environment.
The only difference you should see is a separate container for upholstery at your local waste and recycling centre.
As items of upholstered seating furniture such as dining chairs, armchairs and sofas are likely to contain pollutants which stay intact and do not break down, we are required by law to ensure these items are diverted from landfill, separated from other waste and disposed of carefully at one of our energy recovery facilities.
This means that they will be incinerated to generate electricity.
We also ask that you avoid breaking up upholstered domestic seating, as this increases the potential for material to escape into the environment, - please ensure any loose material, such as coverings, is bagged for disposal at an HWRC.
The range of upholstered seating items which now need to be segregated for specialist disposal includes sofas; sofa beds; armchairs; kitchen and dining room chairs; stools and footstools that are upholstered; home office chairs; futons; bean bags; floor and sofa cushions.
Of course, we would encourage you to first consider offering suitable items of upholstered seating furniture for reuse by donating to charity, privately selling on or reusing wherever possible.
There are three HWRC's where there isn't room for new containers, these are: Hayling Island, Hartley Wintney and New Alresford HWRCs.