North Lanarkshire residents disposing of items containing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) must use designated skips at three of the council's recycling centres due to new regulations.
Regulations on POPs
The Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulations require all Scottish councils to store, transport, and dispose of these items separately from other waste. POPs are toxic chemicals that do not break down easily in the environment and pose significant risks to human health.
These chemicals are found in items made from or containing leather, synthetic leather, other fabric, or foam, including sofas, armchairs, kitchen and dining room chairs, beanbags, child car seats, and upholstered highchairs and benches.
Recycling Centres Accepting POPs
The three recycling centres that can accept these items are Netherton in Wishaw, Wardpark in Cumbernauld, and Stobcross Street in Coatbridge. Items containing POPs must also be separated from other household waste if disposed of via a special uplift.
Compliance with the regulations has increased costs by over £950,000 for North Lanarkshire Council in 2025/26. Consequently, the council will introduce a charge of £80 for special uplifts for items containing POPs, effective from October 1. A points system will be implemented, allowing up to eight points per uplift.
Councillor Helen Loughran, Convener of the council's Environment and Climate Change Committee, stated: "Persistent Organic Pollutants cannot be recycled or sent to landfill and must be incinerated to protect the environment and impacts on the food chain. The council is already making significant budget savings, and the increased costs of managing POPs disposal mean we have to introduce a charge for special uplifts. The charge has been kept to a minimum to recover disposal costs. Items with POPs can continue to be disposed of free of charge at three of our household waste recycling centres."
The charge and arrangements for POPs disposal were agreed at the council's Policy and Strategy Committee on June 11.
