Advice has been issued to UK households to avoid the fine
UK households could face paying a £1,000 fine if they have a certain piece of furniture. People who own a sofa could be hit with a hefty fine if they make one simple error when trying to get rid of it.
Google searches for “how to get rid of old sofa” saw a 200% spike in September. During the same time, new fines starting at £400 and up to £1,000 were introduced for fly-tipping offences under Labour’s new government rules, as reported by Birmingham Live.
An expert at Sofa Club has dished out advice on how to avoid the steep costs when binning old sofas. Head of Supply Chain, Matt Brooker, shared his pearls of wisdom on how to ditch a dingy couch without drawing the financial damage.
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He said: “Fly-tipping refers to the illegal disposal of waste, whether solid or liquid, on land or in water, often to avoid the associated costs of proper disposal. Offenders can face fines of up to £1,000; in more serious cases, penalties may include imprisonment for up to five years under various environmental protection laws,” he said.
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“Potential changes in legislation under a new Labour government, mean it’s more important than ever to ensure that you understand the correct methods for disposing of waste furniture to avoid escalating fines or legal consequences.
“When it comes to disposing of an unwanted sofa, there are several responsible options to consider. If your sofa is in good condition, donating it to a local charity shop is a great way to give back to the community. Many charity shops are happy to accept furniture donations, which can then be resold to benefit those who may not be in the position to buy a brand-new sofa.
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“Booking a slot at your local recycling centre is another way to ensure your sofa is disposed of sustainably. These centres usually aim to recycle or repurpose as much of the sofa’s materials as possible, minimising waste.
“Many local councils offer collection services for bulky items like sofas, fridges, or washing machines for a fee for those without a suitable vehicle to remove these items themselves. You can find more information about these services on your local council website.”
It comes months after Liverpool City Council appointed a new external company to hand out fines for people dropping litter and dumping rubbish around the city. The local authority’s blitz on littering and illegal dumping came as it tried to clean up the city.
The city council approved a £ 2.5 million plan back in February to recruit more environmental enforcement officers over the next 12 months. It said it wanted to tackle the ‘minority’ of residents whose poor behaviour, such as littering and fly-tipping, blights communities and places avoidable demand on the council’s waste management services.