Guide
How to get rid of an old mattress or sofa: every option
Most councils will collect a sofa or mattress for a fee: £26 for up to six items in Nottingham, £30 to £40 for up to three in Charnwood and £55.50 for up to three in Epsom and Ewell (2026/27). In England, sofas and armchairs that may hold POPs must be kept apart from other rubbish and incinerated, not landfilled, and anyone you pay to take it must be a registered waste carrier.
What are your options for an old sofa or mattress?
There are five routes, and the right one depends on the item's condition and how quickly it has to go.
- Council collection. GOV.UK says your council may run a special collection for large items, naming sofas and fridges as examples. Expect to pay for it.
- The recycling centre. If it fits in your car, the council's household waste recycling centre will take it. Check the council's website for booking slots and any rules on vans or trailers.
- A charity. A clean sofa or chair with its fire safety label still attached can often be donated, and some charities collect for free.
- Selling or giving it away. A buyer on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree usually arranges their own collection.
- A registered waste carrier. A man and van that holds a waste carrier registration can take it to the tip for you, at a price.
Some retailers will also take the old one away when they deliver the new one. Ask when you order, because it has to be arranged with the delivery.
What does a council bulky waste collection cost?
Each council sets its own fee, and many now price sofas and armchairs separately from other furniture. Three examples from council pages checked in October 2026:
| Council | Charge |
|---|---|
| Nottingham City | £26 for up to 6 items, with sofas collected separately from mattresses and beds |
| Charnwood Borough | £30 for up to 3 standard items, £40 for up to 3 upholstered items |
| Epsom and Ewell | £55.50 for up to 3 items, £111.05 for 4 to 6 (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027) |
Nottingham gives residents on Council Tax Support one free collection every 12 months. Charnwood will take up to nine items on one visit. Look up your own council's page first: the fee, the item limit and whether sofas go on a separate round all vary.
Why are sofas and armchairs handled differently?
Older upholstered seating may contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from flame retardants. In England, the Environment Agency's guidance says waste domestic seating containing POPs must be incinerated and must not go to landfill, and that it should be kept apart from other waste and not compacted.
The guidance covers sofas, sofa beds, armchairs, recliners, and kitchen and dining chairs with upholstery. It does not cover mattresses, beds, curtains, blinds or small scatter cushions. That is why a council may collect your sofa on a different day from your mattress, and why a recycling centre may ask you to put a sofa in its own area. Natural Resources Wales publishes its own version of the rules.
If a sofa is waiting in a garage or shed for collection day, leave it in one piece rather than cutting it up, so the filling stays together for incineration.
Can you donate an old sofa or mattress?
Yes, if it is in good condition and still has its fire safety label. The British Heart Foundation offers a free furniture collection for upholstered items that carry a fire safety label and have no stains, particularly on mattresses, and no rips that expose the filling. The BHF says the law requires the label before it can sell upholstered furniture; the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 include rules on second-hand furniture.
GOV.UK's guidance on reusing upholstered seating says an item a householder hands to a charity shop can be treated as meant for reuse, so it is not waste. Take a photo of the label and the cushions before you book a charity collection, so the charity can confirm the item before the van comes.
Can a man and van take an old sofa or mattress to the tip?
Only if the business is registered as a waste carrier. GOV.UK says householders must check the company is on the register of waste carriers before handing waste over. In England a council can fine you up to £600 if your rubbish is dumped and you made no reasonable checks. The register is public and takes a minute to search, and the guide to rubbish and man and van firms explains how.
Taking a sofa you have sold or given away to its new owner is different: that is a delivery, not waste. A local delivery of a two-seater sofa or a double bed and mattress was £27 to £45 on AnyVan's listings in June 2026, so a buyer who lives a few miles away may be glad to split that cost with you.
Common questions
Will the council collect an old mattress?
Most bulky waste services do. Nottingham lists a mattress among the non-upholstered items it collects at £26 for up to six, and Epsom and Ewell charges £55.50 for up to three items in 2026/27.
Can I put an old sofa in a skip?
Not in England if it may contain POPs. The Environment Agency's guidance says waste upholstered seating must be incinerated, not landfilled, so book a council collection or take it to the recycling centre instead.
Do charities take sofas without a fire label?
No. The British Heart Foundation sells upholstered furniture only with a fire safety label, and turns away items with rips that expose the filling.
Is a mattress classed as upholstered seating?
No. The Environment Agency's POPs guidance excludes mattresses and beds, which is why councils such as Nottingham collect them with other furniture rather than with sofas.