Sofas, armchairs and other upholstered furniture items will soon no longer be accepted at some Renfrewshire Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC).

This change, expected to take effect from February 1, is due to the new guidance by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) on waste management.

Cllr Michelle Campbell, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Board, said: "The risk posed by POPs from upholstered furniture is low, but the potential harm increases when it comes to disposing of them.

"This is why it’s important that we follow the guidance set out by SEPA to ensure we are playing our part to reduce any risks to health or the environment by getting rid of these items in the right way."

Upholstered home seating items such as sofas, armchairs, futons and any other pieces with cushions or padding, will be disposed in a new and different way.

This shift in practice follows the latest guidance stating that waste items containing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), chemicals that can harm both human health and the environment, must be kept separately during purification to prevent any contamination.

The only centre accepting these items after the given date will be Linwood HWRC, and the items should include sofa beds, kitchen and dining room chairs, stools, home office chairs, futons, bean bags, floor cushions, and electrical recliner chairs.

These will be discarded safely in a dedicated upholstered seating container.

The council said this alteration will also affect its bulky waste uplift collections. After February 1, there will be specific rules for the collection of upholstered waste furniture to prevent any form of cross-contamination.

Waste collection, in this case, will no longer be free and is set to cost £45 per item.

If such items are damaged, they must be properly covered and taped before collection.

Cllr Campbell said: “I’d encourage anyone looking to discard these items, if not fit for reuse, to visit the Renfrewshire Council website to get the most up to date information on how to safely and correctly dispose of them.”

The council also encourages locals to opt for donating items in sound condition to local charity shops.

More guidance on disposal can be derived from the council’s website at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk.