Skip to main content

Bulky waste collection

We cannot take commercial waste. If you need a commercial or charity collection visit our commercial waste collection page.

We can collect and dispose of larger household items that will not fit in your bin. Collections start at £27.50 which is non-refundable. Residents who receive Council Tax Support get a 50% discount.  

You can also take large items to your local recycling centre or many local charities will collect items that are in good clean working order.

Book a bulky waste collection  

You must have a My Plymouth Account to book a collection. If you already have an account, you will need to sign in. If you do not have an account, you will be asked to create one.

Booking a bulky waste collection should take around 5 minutes. You will be asked for:

  • list of bulky waste items
  • your address
  • your contact details
  • debit or credit card
WarningOnly items listed when booking a collection will be collected.
Failure to follow the information on this page may result in your items not being collected.

What we can collect  

  • furniture: such as tables, chairs, beds, mattresses, sofas (5ft and under)
  • furnishings: such as carpets, underlay  
  • electrical items: such as televisions, microwaves,  
  • white goods: such as cookers, fridges and freezers

These items should be taken to Chelson Meadow recycling centre:

  • DVD players
  • computers
  • hard drives
  • monitors
  • keyboards/Mice
  • laptops

Please make sure your items are:

  • left at the edge of the property (where your bins would normally be collected) before 6am on the day of your booking. You can place the items outside for collection 24 hours before the collection date, anything presented before this will be classified as fly tipping.
  • kept separate from any items you don’t want removed
  • manageable by 2 people and no more than 5 foot in length, to fit into the vehicle
  • left in a clear and level location, we cannot remove bulky items from up/down steps

If you do not follow these guidelines we will not collect your items and another booking will need to be made.

We can only collect your items if:

  • soft furnishings that can soak up water are kept dry
  • glass and mirrors (including door panels) must be covered with cardboard and masking tape
  • microwaves have the glass plates removed
  • fridges and freezers have food removed and be defrosted
  • any bagged waste must be in large, thick bin liners to prevent them from ripping
  • wood and laminate flooring are in pieces no more than 5ft long. They should be tied in bundles and have any sharp items (i.e. nails) removed
  • recliners (armchairs and sofas) are dismantled and where possible, the mechanism removed

If you do not follow these guidelines we will not collect your items and another booking will need to be made.

What we cannot collect  

  • asbestos 
  • building or DIY waste 
  • car parts and tyres 
  • chemicals 
  • commercial equipment 
  • paint 
  • pianos

How much it costs  

The cost of this service depends on the items and how many there are to collect.  

The minimum charge of £27.50 is non-refundable and some items can count as 2 to 3 items due to their size.

If you receive Council Tax Support, you are entitled to two separate half price collections in a 12 month period.  

You will need to provide your Council Tax reference number or your Council Tax Support benefit reference number when you book a collection. You can find these on your Council Tax bill or your Council Tax Support award letter.  

When we collect  

We collect bulky waste Monday to Thursday. Your collection day will depend on the address the items are being collected from. 

Items must be presented by 6am on collection day.

Change or cancel a collection  

You can make changes to your collection if you give us at least 5 days notice. Changes you can make include:  

  • changing your collection date (subject to availability)  
  • adding or removing items (this may affect what you have to pay)  
  • cancelling your collection  

This can be done after you have made the booking by logging into your account and updating the request with the amended items/date.

If you need to cancel less than 5 days before the collection date you will need to use the cancellation form, however no refund below £27.50 will be given.


Other ways to get rid of large items  

You can donate unwanted items in good condition to charity. Some will collect from your property. Find a charity.  

Sell  

You can sell unwanted items on a resale site such as eBay, Gumtree or Facebook marketplace.  

Recycle

If your bulky items are not in good condition, you can take them to one of our recycling centres.  

Waste collection companies  

A local business may offer more flexibility if you have a large number of items to dispose of. You must take reasonable steps to make sure any waste is transferred to an authorised person.  

The Buy with confidence website has a list of Trading Standards approved businesses.  

If you use a commercial waste collection service, you need to check whether the business is an authorised carrier or exempt from registering as a waste carrier. You can check this on the Environment Agency’s public register