Identifying waste containing persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
POPs are chemical substances that do not break down in the environment. They are a danger to human health and the environment.
"Waste domestic seating" is any item of seating of a household type, from households or businesses, that is needing to be disposed of. Upholstered domestic seating may contain POPs.
For example, objects of the following types where any part contains leather, synthetic leather, other fabrics or foam:
- Sofas
- Sofa beds
- Armchairs
- Recliner chairs (electrical or mechanical)
- Kitchen and dining room chairs
- Garden furniture
- Stools and foot stools
- Office chairs that are fire resistant to domestic standards
- Futons
- Bean bags, floor and sofa cushions
- Any other upholstered items that can reasonably be described as a form of seating used by households, and to which relevant fire regulations apply. This might include child car seats, highchairs, and benches.
The following items of domestic seating are unlikely to contain POPs:
- Items that are not upholstered; for example, a wooden chair without a cushioned or textile back, seat, or arms
- Deckchairs
- Wastes from manufacturing new domestic seating that the manufacturer can show do not to contain POPs
Items that are not domestic seating may still contain POPs.
POPs may also be found in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). This may include:
- Office equipment - non-household type such as photocopiers and printers
- Printed circuit boards
- Cables and granulated cable plastics
- Plastic cases from, display devices (flat panel displays and cathode ray tubes)