Waste Disposal & Specialty Removal
Mattress and soft furnishings disposal removes mattresses, sofas, armchairs and cushions, and handles each under the right route: mattresses recycled where possible, and upholstered seating sent for compliant incineration under the POPs rules.
Who it is for: Householders, landlords, hotels and businesses disposing of mattresses and soft furnishings.
What it covers: Collection of mattresses and upholstered items, handled under the correct route for each.
When a survey is needed: No survey needed; a photo and access details are enough.
Mattresses and upholstered seating are bulky and need separate planning. Mattresses can often be recycled, while upholstered sofas and armchairs now have to be handled under the POPs rules.
Keeping these items dry and clean helps their onward route, so it is worth protecting them if they are stored outside before collection.
Scope
How the work runs
Send a photo and note how many mattresses and upholstered items there are.
iTrade confirms a price and how each item will be handled.
A collection is arranged to suit you.
Mattresses are recycled where possible and upholstered seating is handled under the POPs rules.
The completed area is checked against the agreed scope. Before booking, confirm which waste transfer record applies to the job, who will issue it and who must retain it.
Your quote
| Factor | What it means for your quote |
|---|---|
| Number and type of items | How many mattresses and upholstered pieces there are. |
| Upholstered seating | Sofas and armchairs need separate handling under the POPs rules. |
| Access and floor level | Upper floors and awkward access add labour. |
| Condition and storage | Wet or contaminated items can affect the onward route. |
Responsible handling
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Reuse | Suitable items are kept separate for reuse when an appropriate receiving route is available. Acceptance depends on condition, safety and the receiving organisation’s current criteria. |
| Recycle | Mattresses are sent for recycling where possible, recovering springs, foam and fabric. |
| Upholstered seating | Sofas, armchairs and similar seating are kept separate and sent for incineration under the POPs rules. |
| Responsible disposal | Anything remaining goes for controlled disposal under duty-of-care rules. |
Before you enquire
The more of this you can share, the faster iTrade can give a realistic figure:
Reassurance and compliance
Since 1 January 2023, waste upholstered domestic seating such as sofas and armchairs, which can contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs), cannot be sent to landfill or recycled and must be incinerated in controlled conditions. Since 1 December 2024 it must also be transported separately from other waste. iTrade handles this seating accordingly.
When you pay someone to remove household waste, you have a household duty of care under section 34(2A) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Check that whoever takes the waste is a registered waste carrier.
iTrade Recycling Ltd is registered with the Environment Agency as an Upper Tier carrier, broker and dealer under CBDU521652. The public record was checked on 10 August 2026 and expires on 9 February 2027; customers should follow the official register link and check it again before hiring.
Read the full guide: how to check a waste carrier registration
Common questions
Often yes. Mattresses can be broken down to recover springs, foam and fabric where a recycling route is available.
Upholstered seating can contain POPs, so it must be incinerated rather than landfilled or recycled, and transported separately from other waste.
Upholstered seating is kept and transported separately where the rules require it, so it is not simply mixed in.
Yes. Upper-floor collection is fine, with the extra handling reflected in the price.
Practical guidance
Talk it through
Share a few details and get a clear, no-obligation quote. If it helps to talk first, call and we will guide you through what is involved.
