Are you thinking about changing your duvet? But what can you do with your old one? The local tip is refusing to take it, so what now?
We discuss the issues and provide some solutions for disposing of your used duvets and pillows.
Read on if you want to stay on the right side of the law with:
- Where can you take your old duvet for free?
- Can to dispose of pillows and duvets in your bin.
- Are feathers from your duvet good for the garden?
How do I dispose of old duvets in the UK?
Your disposal options are limited. Who would have thought that disposing of used pillows and duvets would be so difficult in 2022?
What happened to all the talk of sustainability and environmental drives to clean up the planet?
Well. Not lost, but you will need to make some effort to dispose of a used duvet and pillows and maybe think out of the box a little.
Is there an animal charity close to your home? If so, check if they can use the discarded items, these types of charities are working nationwide with centres that need bedding materials desperately but have no funds for new bedding.
As a society, you know that an increasing number of homeless struggle to survive during the cooler months before the country even gets into winter.
Approach the high street charity stores and see if they will take your clean, used duvets and pillows.
Why is there not a recycling route for duvets and pillows?
Investment has not been forthcoming. To be truthful, you should be able just to put your duvet and pillows in a recycling bin and forget about them. Still, some municipal refuse facilities are less than welcoming when it is their total responsibility to deal with the problem.
Part of the problem is the waste stream is not segregated at the source, say synthetics in one pile and organics such as down and feathers in a separate pile.
Dealing with feathers has notoriously been difficult as feathers tend not to compost very well in the short term.
However, feathers can be used in plastic manufacturing and help provide structural rigidity to plastic components. The components incorporating feathers are moulded similarly to standard plastic products.
Does anyone take old duvets?
Donating pillows and duvets is the way to go. If you can donate your used pillows and duvets and give them a new lease of life, this is the best way of your disposal route.
Or, you can look for take-back schemes from retailers. Retailers like Dunhelm will take your old duvets and pillows, providing they are clean and free from blood stains.
If the duvet or pillow has a tear, they will still take it and release you of the burden of disposal. Dunelm offers an excellent service because there is a Dunhelm in every major city, so you should not have to travel too far for your disposal route.
You can simply use the Dunelm store locator to find a branch near you.
Nothing is sent to the landfill.
Does RSPCA take duvets?
Yes, if they are clean. When donating to a charity such as the RSPCA, it is important not to dump your old smelly bedding on these charities. Deliver clean bedding that can be used within their organisation.
Your donation will be welcomed with open arms as they provide comfort and warmth to abandoned animals.
How do you bin a duvet?
Seal duvets and pillows in bags before you place them in a bin. Sealed in a red bag or black bag. Your bin collection service should take them away. If you have a lot to dispose of, you may wish to stretch it out over a few weeks or try a different disposal method.
You should not try to place a duvet or pillows in the recycling bin.
How do you throw away pillows?
In a bin sealed in a bag. If you have feather or down pillows and a garden, you could compost the feathers yourself. Composted feathers make great fertiliser.
Mix the feathers with your other compost and cover them with a tarp or piece of old material to speed up the composting process.
Can I throw a duvet in the bin? Yes. If your pillows are synthetic, you will be left with no choice but to bin them as garbage. They will possibly head straight for the landfill.
Are feathers good fertiliser?
Yes, feathers are fantastic fertilisers. Most would think the humble feather has little to offer in terms of fertiliser, but the truth is the feather is a powerhouse of nitrogen.
By composting feathers from your pillows and duvets, you can eliminate the need to buy expensive nitrogen-rich fertilisers. The feathers have all you will need.
Once composted, the feather compost can be mixed into a liquid and watered onto your favourite flowers and veg.
Can you put bedding in the clothes bank?
Not duvets or pillows. If you have sheets and blankets, duvets, covers, and pillowcases are perfect for the clothes bank, but filled materials like duvets and pillows are not accepted.
It would be possible to split the liner and release the filling for composting if it is feathers or down, but any other material will need to go to the landfill.
Can you burn old duvets?
No, definitely not. Burning household waste in the garden could see you issued an enormous fine from the local council.
The laws date back to the Environmental Protection Act of 1990.
The act states Under this Act, it is an offence to dispose of rubbish in any way that may cause pollution to the environment. Or if it causes harm to people’s health, such as by burning it. This means you must not burn waste that can create excessive smoke and fumes.
Your duvet and pillows will be coated with flame retardants that burn the gas off even more toxic fumes and smoke than standard material would have done.