Getting rid of bulky items: your options
Old sofas, mattresses and fridges cannot go in the bin. These are the legal ways to get rid of them.
Council bulky waste collection
Many councils collect large items from your home, usually for a fee, and you often book online. Check your council’s website for prices and what they take.
The tip (household waste recycling centre)
You can usually take household items to your local recycling centre for free. Many centres now ask you to book a slot, and some restrict vans, trailers or DIY waste, so check before you go.
Give it away or sell it
If the item is in good condition, local reuse charities, community groups and online marketplaces will often take it, and some will collect.
Pay a registered carrier
Man and van and clearance firms will take almost anything. Make sure they are registered by checking the register first, and ask for a receipt.
Fridges, mattresses and electricals
Fridges and freezers, TVs and other electricals contain materials that must be handled separately, and many retailers will take your old one when they deliver a new one. Ask when you buy. Councils and recycling centres have specific rules for mattresses and items like gas bottles.
More guides
How to check a waste carrier is registered
Anyone who takes your waste away as a business must be a registered waste carrier. Here is how to check in a few minutes, and the warning signs to look for.
Your household waste duty of care
Householders in England have a legal duty to make sure their waste goes to the right person. What that means, what councils can do, and how to protect yourself.
Fly-tipping: what to do and who is responsible
What counts as fly-tipping, how to report it, and why handing waste to the wrong person can make you responsible. Plain-English help for UK householders.
Skip hire or man and van: which is right?
Skip hire or a man and van? How the two compare for household clearances in the UK, what a skip permit is, and what to check before you book.
Questions to ask before hiring someone to take your waste
A short checklist of questions to ask a rubbish removal company before you book: registration, insurance, where the waste goes and what paperwork you will get.
Waste transfer notes: what householders need to know
What a waste transfer note is, whether you need one for household waste, and why keeping a receipt from your waste carrier is a good idea.