Manage waste institutional mattresses containing POPs
Source: gov.uk (2025-05-08)

Identify, describe, classify and manage waste institutional mattresses containing persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

Identify waste mattresses that contains POPs

The waterproof, flexible covers of Crib 5 (BS6807:2006) used in health and social care mattresses may contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

Decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) is present in high concentrations in the covers of some Crib 5 mattresses.

There is no evidence that the mattress foam contains this POP.

Similar Crib 5 mattress covers used in other sectors might also contain POPs. You should check if the cover contains POPs if unsure.

Waste mattresses from prisons are not expected to contain POPs.

Describe and classify waste institutional mattresses containing POPs

In your waste transfer note you must:
- describe the waste as ‘mattresses containing POPs’
- classify it with the list of waste code 20 03 07
Although it may contain POPs, waste under a 20 03 07 code is classified as absolute non-hazardous.

You must make the recipient aware that DecaBDE is present, you can either include this on the waste transfer note or provide this information separately.

Sort and store waste institutional mattresses containing POPs

You must sort and store waste institutional mattresses containing POPs separately from other waste and in a way that prevents:
- damage to the cover
- release of POPs
- contamination with other waste
You must avoid mixing waste institutional mattresses containing POPs with other waste during waste:
- production
- storage
- collection
- treatment
Where you meet these requirements, waste institutional mattresses can be stored together with segregated waste upholstered domestic seating at household waste recycling centres . You must separate them before any pre-treatment of either waste stream, as the pre-treatment requirements differ.

Transporting whole institutional mattresses

You can collect waste institutional mattresses on the same vehicle as other waste items if they are:
- not mixed with other waste
- collected in a way that does not contaminate the other waste (for example compaction)
- separated from the other waste when unloaded from the vehicle
Identify institutional mattresses that do and do not contain POPs

You can identify institutional mattresses that do not contain POPs and store them separately.

You can use x-ray fluorescence (XRF) to scan for bromine, the presence of bromine indicates that POPs are likely to be present. However, you must:
- have the right training for using XRF and use a suitable device
- contact the Environment Agency to check if you need to make any changes to your permit and management system
- be able to show that your process works and is accurate – the Environment Agency may ask you for this evidence.
If no bromine is found to be present after multiple scans of the front and rear of the cover then brominated POPs will not be present.

Dispose of waste institutional mattresses containing POPs

You must incinerate the covers of waste institutional mattresses containing POPs.

The municipal or hazardous waste incinerator (or cement kiln) must be authorised to accept POPs waste.

You must not use any other type of incinerator, for example a clinical waste incinerator, or small waste incineration plant (with a capacity below that set out in Section 5.2 of Annex I IED) unless:
- the operator has implemented bi-annual polybrominated dibenzo-dioxins and furans monitoring to air
- the Environment Agency has approved evidence of destruction efficiency of brominated POPs submitted by the operator
You must not use any other waste treatment, recycling or disposal methods, for example landfill or clinical waste treatment plant.

Contingency plan for incinerator shutdown

When the incinerator cannot accept the waste, you can:
- store the waste until the incinerator is able accept it
- send it to another incinerator or cement kiln authorised to accept and destroy it
You must not send it for any other type of disposal or recovery operation, for example landfill.

Incinerator operators need to put contingency plans in place to manage accepting waste institutional mattresses from customers. They cannot send this waste to landfill in the event of a planned or unplanned shutdown.

Treatment of waste institutional mattresses

Removing covers containing POPs from mattresses

You may pretreat the waste mattress by removing the cover from the mattress.

If you operate a waste management facility, your environmental permit must allow this activity.

If you operate a health or social care facility, where the waste was produced, you do not need an environmental permit to do this at that premises.

If you separate, you must make sure:
- you store separated material containing POPs inside a building, under cover, or in a sealed container
- that no POPs are released to the sewer or surface water
- all cover material is sent for destruction
Other forms of treatment, before destruction, are not allowed. This waste may only be mixed with other waste during the loading of the incinerator.

Once the cover that contains the POPs has been removed, you do not have to manage the foam part of the mattress as POPs waste.

How landfill operators must manage waste institutional mattresses

Landfill operators must not accept any waste institutional mattresses, or their covers, containing POPs. This includes:
- segregated institutional mattresses or their covers
- mixed or treated waste containing institutional mattresses or their covers
Your waste acceptance procedures must screen out waste institutional mattresses and their covers. You must quarantine this waste type and send it to an appropriately authorised incinerator for destruction.

Exporting waste institutional mattresses for incineration

You must only export waste institutional mattresses to European Union or European Free Trade Association countries for incineration with energy recovery (R1).

You must make sure that the presence of POPs is made clear in block 12 ‘designation and composition’ of your notification.

Reusing waste institutional mattresses.

You must not reuse waste institutional mattresses containing POPs either in the UK or by exporting them overseas.

As the holder of the waste, you must send the POPs for destruction.

If the mattress is not waste, you may reuse them or export them for reuse. You can check if your material is waste (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-your-material-is-waste).

You should inform the person reusing the mattresses that POPs are present as the mattress will require specialist management at end of life. If you are exporting the mattress, you should consider that some countries may have limited technical capacity to identify and manage POPs waste in a manner that protects the environment and human health.

Waste from manufacturing of institutional mattresses

When you manufacture waste institutional mattresses you must know what chemicals are in covers, foams and other materials used.

Suppliers from some countries that have not fully implemented the Stockholm Convention may supply materials containing chemicals, for example flame retardants, that are POPs. You should ask the manufacturer for evidence of which flame retardant is present. If the manufacturer cannot provide evidence of what chemicals it contains and in what quantities (either via a supplier’s specification or analytical testing) you must assume that it contains POPs.

You must describe and classify any waste you produce from manufacturing institutional mattresses correctly. This is so that your waste contractor can manage it appropriately.

You should clearly label your new products with the chemicals that are present in their components. This will make sure that they are managed appropriately in the future, including when they are:
- reused
- recycled
- disposed of