Bulky Waste Items: How to Save Money

Whether it’s furniture, dishwashers, bicycles or mattresses, bulky items can be a nuisance to get rid of, from both a price and a practicality point of view. The good news is that there are a number of options open to you that are both responsible and reasonably priced. During this blog series, we’ll give you some tips and tricks on how to get remove bulky waste items in a responsible way whilst also saving yourself some money.

If you’re ready to skip right to getting your bulky items removed conveniently and in an eco-friendly way, then book your waste clearance now or give Clearabee a buzz. Otherwise, let’s have a look at how you can save some money.

Take a trip to the tip

Of course, you can always take bulky items to the local Household Waste Recycling Centre yourself if you have the time, transport and ability to carry the items yourself. If you don’t have the transport, you could always hire yourself a van. Depending on the size and number of bulky items, you may be able to hire a Vauxhall combo van for around £50 for a day or £110 for a Luton-style van.

The majority of local Household Waste Recycling Centres will accept your bulky waste free of charge before going on to dispose of it in a responsible way. However, since the outbreak of COVID-19 you should be aware of the range of restrictions that have been implemented across certain centres. Some centres require photo ID, or will only allow access if you have made a booking online.

You should also consider if such a journey to the tip is essential and in line with current government guidelines as well as checking how often your centre allows you to visit as some restrict visits to once a fortnight. Guidance changes but currently, you will not be able to receive any assistance from workers at the centre with carrying heavy items due to social distancing restrictions.

Local authority and charity collections

Depending on whereabouts you live, you might be able to arrange a bulky collection from your council but services and costs vary from place to place. For example, if you live in the City of London and if you’ve already considered the option of donating your item for reuse then you can arrange a collection. This will cost £34 for up to three items but you must make sure that the items are moved to the edge of your property so they can be collected easily.

Like many others, Bristol council used to collect bulky items for free but now the charge is £25 for one to three items but there are some restrictions in place. Collections only take place between 7am and 5pm and again, must be accessible, not hidden behind gates or walls and sheltered from the rain. Depending on demand (and current COVID-19 restrictions) you may experience a wait of five days to two weeks so be sure to check with your local council before removing the items from your house.

Many of the same restrictions as above apply if you’re considering a collection from a charity shop. Firstly, many are currently closed due to government guidelines and they’re sure to face a high level of demand once they reopen. This will likely see an increase in waiting times, if collections happen at all for the first few months although the service is still likely to be free or for the cost of a small donation.

Bulky waste removal costs and waste calculator

The cost to remove bulky waste varies from company to company but the important issue is that they are reputable, responsible and registered waste carriers. Whilst you may think you’re getting a bargain with a cheap clearance, there’s the possibility that you could be contributing to the fly-tipping problem. Not only is this illegal and has a detrimental impact on the environment, you could be found liable if the items are traced back to you.

Clearabee are responsible, reliable, registered waste carriers and we collect bulky items from thousands of homes each and every month. Our current charges are £25 per cubic yard of waste in addition to the £59.99 call-out fee. If you’re looking to only get rid of a single item then a cubic yard might be more then you need, but it makes financial sense to add to your order so you can get your most of your rubbish removal.

Our unique waste calculator is a handy tool when it comes to working out how much your waste clearance will cost you. You can add as few or as many items as you wish from tables and chairs to lawnmowers and lamps to see how you can get the most for your money. You can even compare which of our services is the most cost-effective and convenient for you, be it ‘Man and Van’, skip hire or Skip Bags.

Bulky Waste Collections with Clearabee

Clearabee are the United Kingdom’s largest clearance company, completing 221,845 jobs in 2020 alone. We are the most-reviewed such service on Trustpilot, with over 10,000 reviews earning us a 5-Star ‘Excellent’ rating.

Bookings can be made 24/7 online and we can often collect your unwanted bulky items on the very same day as your order. Unlike many of the services listed above, we will remove the items from inside or outside of your property so you don’t have to do any heavy lifting. We always use directly-employed Clearabee operatives who are all courteous, conscientious and trained to be contact-free.

As is standard with our waste clearance services, you’ll receive an SMS when we’re on our way to collect your waste and you’ll also be able to keep up to date with our progress via a tracking link. We also supply our customers with a digital Waste Transfer Note once their rubbish tips at the audited and approved Waste Transfer Station so you can be sure your waste hasn’t been fly-tipped.

Clearabee have 124 locations up and down the nation which means that our journeys are under 15 miles each on average. This, and our ultra-light chassis vehicles reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions considerably. In order to offset the remaining carbon usage, we have planted two UK forests. This reforestation project is made up of 19,674 trees and is expected to offset 1,886 tonnes of carbon. On average, we divert from landfill at least 95% of all the waste that we collect, which means that with Clearabee, you know you’re doing your part for the planet.

Order your bulky waste collection 24/7 using our hassle-free online booking system or by getting in touch with our friendly office team.

For further details on this service and answers to your questions, check out our dedicated rubbish clearance page.

Removing rubbish. It’s what we do.

The costs featured in this article are correct at the time of going to press.