Resin garden furniture

Many people furnish a garden or a conservatory with resin chairs and tables. Resin here means plastic. Some sets come bare, and some come with cushions or padded seats.

What resin means

Recycle Now, the national recycling campaign run by the charity WRAP, uses the word resin for the type of plastic an item is made from. Makers mark a lot of plastic packaging with a Resin Identification Code. It is a number from 1 to 7 inside a chasing arrows symbol, and each number stands for one type of plastic.

Recycle Now lists PP, code 5, as widely recycled in its common forms, such as tubs and trays. It lists PVC, code 3, as not easily recyclable. If you find a code moulded into a chair, you can look the number up on Recycle Now.

Cushions and fire safety

The government set fire safety rules for upholstered furniture, cushions included, in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. Business Companion, the government-backed Trading Standards guidance for businesses, says makers of outdoor furniture suitable for indoor use must follow them too. Upholstered dining sets for conservatories and gardens are one example.

Manufacturers must test the fillings and covers, and fit a permanent label to each item. The label has the heading CARELESSNESS CAUSES FIRE. You will usually find it behind a loose cover at the back, or under a seat cushion.

Buying second-hand

A business selling used upholstered furniture must meet the same fire standards as one selling new. Business Companion tells these sellers to take furniture they cannot verify from its label to a waste recycling centre.

Sellers must also make sure furniture is safe in other ways, for example free from sharp edges and splinters. OPSS suggests asking the seller whether anyone has modified a used product. If the instructions are missing, you may find them on the maker's website.

Recalls and unsafe products

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) publishes product safety alerts, reports and recalls on GOV.UK. You can filter the list to show furniture.

If you think a product is unsafe, report it. In England and Wales, contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline. In Scotland, contact Advice Direct Scotland, and in Northern Ireland, your local district council.

When you no longer need it

Recycle Now suggests selling usable furniture, passing it on to someone else or donating it. It also says charity shops cannot resell every item. Ask a shop before you take something in.

Most furniture can go to a Recycling Centre. Some councils also collect bulky items such as furniture. Check your council's website for details.

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