ISLE of Wight waste recycling centres will continue to accept soft furnishings, such as sofas and armchairs, says the council, as it seeks to reassure Islanders and businesses.

The assurance follows new Environment Agency regulations requiring all upholstered seating to be separated from other waste and disposed of by incineration – meaning it cannot be sent to landfill.

For most residents, this will mean little change, with padded seating and other soft furnishings placed into a separate containers at Afton and Lynnbottom waste recycling centres.

For businesses using the Commercial Waste and Recycling Centre to ‘pay as you throw', the council requests that upholstered domestic seating is brought in a separate load from other waste and placed in a separate container.

Isle of Wight County Press: Lynnbottom Waste Recycling CentreLynnbottom Waste Recycling Centre (Image: Newsquest)

Mixed loads will be charged as all containing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

The council will continue to collect soft furnishings as part of its bulky waste collection service and reusable soft furnishings for free as part of its reuse service.

Natasha Dix, the council's strategic manager for environment, said: “We want to reassure residents that all households and all commercial businesses can continue to bring their own waste, including soft furnishings, to one of our recycling centres.

"We have dedicated bays at both of our recycling centres for people disposing such items — please make the meet and greet person aware on arrival, and we will then dispose the items in accordance with the new guidance.

"For businesses delivering their own waste, we ask for this to go to the Commercial Waste Recycling Centre at Lynnbottom. This includes sofas, chairs etc."

Cllr Karen Lucioni, Cabinet member for waste services, said: "We are an Island of conscientious recyclers who love and care about our environment.

"Our waste service provider is working hard to ensure we can comply with the changes in the Environment Agency’s regulations at our sites and at the soon-to-be-finally commissioned Energy from Waste Plant.

"I would like to reassure the private waste carriers on the Island that the request not to bring POPs to site is only a temporary measure due to capacity to store these materials at this time.”