Giving the garden a much needed clear-out
Old furniture has a way of hanging around. A sofa gets moved out of the living room and put in the garden “just for now”, but before long, it becomes part of the scenery. That was the case for Jane in Seaton, East Devon, who had a two-seater sofa and an upholstered chair in her back garden and needed a straightforward way to get rid of them.
The job
Both items were outside at ground level, so there were no stairs, narrow hallways or lifts to negotiate. Neither piece needed dismantling. Although the job was relatively simple, sofas and chairs can be heavy and awkward to move, and they rarely fit into an ordinary car. It’s easy to see how unwanted furniture can end up sitting in gardens, sheds and driveways for longer than intended.
Rather than hire a van or wait for a council bulky waste collection, Jane requested a no-obligation quote through Rubbish.com and was matched with a local waste carrier. A man-and-van service was a practical choice for the job, providing suitable transport and help with lifting without the need to arrange a larger clearance.
How the collection will go
Our local partner will carefully remove the sofa and upholstered chair from Jane’s back garden and load them onto the van. With both items at ground level and no dismantling required, the collection is expected to be straightforward.
The removal is quoted at £95 and is expected to be completed in a single visit, leaving Jane with more space in her garden without the hassle of moving bulky furniture or arranging its disposal herself.
Where old sofas and upholstered chairs go
Upholstered furniture needs special consideration when it's thrown away. According to the Environment Agency, household sofas, upholstered chairs and similar upholstered seating may contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs), chemicals that can include certain flame retardants used in furniture.
In England, upholstered domestic seating waste must be managed in accordance with the relevant POPs rules. Items that contain, or must be assumed to contain, these substances need to be kept separate from other waste and sent to an appropriately authorised facility for incineration. They must not be sent to landfill. Read the Environment Agency's guidance.
This is one reason to choose a responsible waste carrier. Before booking, check that the carrier is authorised to transport waste and ask how your furniture will be handled and disposed of. Depending on the facility and process used, energy may also be recovered during incineration.
Householders also have a duty of care when disposing of their waste. Taking reasonable steps to ensure it is handed to an authorised person can help prevent improper disposal and fly-tipping.
Thinking of clearing a sofa in Seaton?
If you have an old sofa, armchair or other bulky item taking up space in your garden, garage or home, a booked collection can be a convenient option in Seaton and the wider EX12 area.
A few simple steps can help make the collection easier:
Explain where the items are. Let the team know whether furniture is in the garden, garage or upstairs so they can plan access.
Mention any dismantling requirements. Corner sofas and recliners may need extra work to move safely.
Group items together where possible. If you have several things to clear, collecting them in one visit may be more convenient and cost-effective than arranging separate collections.
Jane’s planned furniture clearance shows how a straightforward collection can help reclaim valuable outdoor space. With the right arrangements in place, unwanted furniture can be removed from the garden without the hassle of transporting or disposing of it herself.
