What is a bulky waste collection?
A bulky waste collection is a booked pick-up for household items too large for your wheelie bin, such as sofas, mattresses, wardrobes and fridges. Every London borough runs its own service, often through a contractor. Each has its own price, item limit and booking rules. A private bulky waste collection does the same job, but a business registered as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency carries it out. The price is set for the job rather than taken from a council tariff. Kingston's accepted list is a fair picture of what council services generally take:
Sofas and chairs
Including armchairs. Some councils, such as Sutton, collect upholstered seating separately from other bulky items.
Wardrobes and cabinets
Flat-packing large furniture can help items fit within weight and handling limits.
Baths, sinks and toilets
Kingston lists bathroom fittings, but check your own borough's rules first.
Electrical items and white goods
Including fridges and freezers. Richmond runs a separate fridge and freezer collection.
Mattresses and bed frames
Among the most commonly booked items across London.
Rugs and carpets
These usually count as one item each, but they must be liftable by the crew.
Each council sets its own list, so treat Kingston's as a guide, not a rule. For borough-by-borough booking steps, see our London council bulky waste collection guide. This article covers the decision itself: whether the council or a private carrier suits your load.
How much does a council bulky waste collection cost in London?
The table shows the published council charges we found for five south-west London boroughs, checked September 2026. Treat them as typical. Councils revise their fees, and some of these figures need confirming with the council before you book.
| Borough | Free allowance | Paid price | Items per collection | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wandsworth | 2 free a year per household (since early 2025) | £24.90 after free collections; extra items £11.10 each | 4 items or 12 sacks (3 sacks = 1 item) | Landlords pay £106.70 (1–4 items) or £212.70 (5–8) |
| Merton | 1 free a year from 1 June 2026 | Paid rates not confirmed – check with the council | 3 items on the free collection | First come, first served; slots expected to fill quickly |
| Richmond | Free for qualifying low-income households (max 2 a year) | £85 for up to 5 items, plus £9.90 per extra item; £29 for over-60s | 5 items at the base price | Fridges and freezers are a separate £74.90 collection |
| Kingston | None | £47–£48 for 1–4 items; £71–£73 for 5–8 items | 8 items | The council's two web pages give different prices |
| Sutton | None | £49 for 1–3 items; £81.80 for 4–6 items | 6 items | Non-refundable; domestic properties only |
Wandsworth is the most generous of the five. Each free collection covers up to four items, and three standard sacks count as one item, so up to 12 sacks can go free. The council valued the two free collections at £47 per household. After those, a standard collection costs £24.90. DIY waste has its own paid service for residents at £106.70 for up to four items or 12 sacks. Booking details are on our Wandsworth council bulky waste collection page. Merton brought in one free collection a year for every household on 1 June 2026. It covers up to three household items, such as sofas, mattresses and fridges. We could not confirm what Merton charges for further collections. Our guide to Merton's free bulky waste collection explains how to book it. Richmond costs the most for a standard collection. Our last check, on 2 September 2026, found £85 for up to five items. Older published figures were lower, so the fee appears to have risen during 2026. Confirm it with the council or on our Richmond council bulky waste collection page. Kingston charges by item count, up to eight items. Its prices differ between two council pages, so budget for the higher figure. See our Kingston council bulky waste collection page. Sutton has a two-tier price and no refunds.
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What will the council not collect?
Councils rarely publish a single list of refused items. The limits are in the booking terms instead. Across the five boroughs, these are the main reasons a crew may leave items behind:
Anything not on your booking
Wandsworth and Kingston only take the items you listed. Adding a chest of drawers on the day can mean it stays on the pavement.
Items that are too heavy
In Kingston, every item must be liftable by two people or fewer. Wandsworth crews won't take anything two crew members can't safely lift.
Items still inside the property
Sutton collects from outside your home only. Wandsworth crews won't contact residents, porters or concierges to find or collect items. Anything not out on the day is likely to be missed.
Business waste
Kingston and Sutton run domestic-only services. Waste from a business or a trade job is not covered.
The wrong collection type
Wandsworth won't take items booked under the wrong service, for example DIY waste booked as a standard collection. Sutton collects upholstered seating separately.
Items unsafe or unlawful to collect
Sutton crews can refuse items if collecting them would breach safety or environmental law. The collection is then cancelled without a refund, and the council points residents to the recycling centre or a private company.
Maximum items per council bulky collection
We could not confirm each council's rules on rubble, garden waste, hazardous waste or upholstered furniture. If your load includes any of these, check the council's accepted-items list before you pay. Sutton, for example, already handles upholstered seating as a separate collection.
How long do you wait for a council bulky collection?
The wait depends on the borough and, for free collections, on demand. This is what the councils themselves say:
1 week
Wandsworth free collection
The council says you should not need to wait longer. Items are collected on your usual bin day.
8 weeks
Kingston booking window
You choose a slot up to 8 weeks ahead. This is the booking window, not a typical wait.
6.00am
Sutton put-out deadline
Collection is any time between 6.00am and 6.00pm on the day.
1 a year
Merton free collections
Allocated first come, first served. The council expected slots to fill quickly.
Demand for free slots is high. In the first month of Wandsworth's free service, residents booked 2,000 collections. Merton's free collection is booked through the council's usual online system, run with Veolia, and slots are given out in order of booking. Kingston collects between 6.30am and 4.30pm, and you don't need to be home. Richmond doesn't publish a waiting time. One published London guide puts the typical Richmond wait at 10 days to two weeks, but we have not confirmed that with the council. A private collection has no council timetable. Carriers set their own availability, which varies by carrier and area. You say when you need the job done and choose a bid with a date that suits you. This matters most when there is a fixed deadline, such as a house sale completing or the end of a tenancy.
How much does a private bulky waste collection cost?
Private collectors price by volume and labour rather than by number of items. The main factors are: - how much van space your waste takes up - how many people are needed to carry it - stairs, lifts and parking at the property - what the waste is, because some items cost more to dispose of One London guide puts a minimum van load from about £95, including labour and licensed disposal. Single-item collections start lower.
Typical private bulky waste collection prices in London
These figures cover very different jobs, so they spread widely, from about £35 for a single mattress to £400 for a full van. The trade directory figure for Kingston averaged £253. All private prices here come from trade or marketplace sources, because we found no independent industry price data. For single items, see our breakdown of the cost to remove a sofa, mattress or fridge.
Council vs private bulky waste collection: which is cheaper for your load?
For a handful of items you can put outside, the council usually costs less. The balance shifts when your load is over the item cap, needs carrying out, or is in a borough with a high base fee. The scenarios below use the typical prices above, checked September 2026.
| Your load | Council route | Private route (typical) | Usually better |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 items in Merton, placed outside | Free once a year, if you get a slot | About £35–£60 for a single item | Council |
| Up to 4 items or 12 sacks in Wandsworth | Free twice a year, then £24.90 | £40–£75 for a small clearance | Council |
| 5–8 items in Kingston, at the kerb | £71–£73 | From about £95 for a minimum load | Council |
| One mattress in Richmond | £85 standard (£29 if aged 60+) | About £35 | Often private, unless a concession applies |
| Fridge plus furniture in Richmond | £85 plus a separate £74.90 fridge collection | Priced as one load | Compare both |
| More than 8 items, or items upstairs in a flat | Over most caps, and crews collect from outside | £280–£400 for a full van | Private |
Council collection or private licensed carrier?
Council bulky collection
- Free in Wandsworth (2 a year) and Merton (1 a year)
- Published fixed price for a few items
- No duty-of-care fixed penalty risk for waste left out for the council's own collection
- In Kingston, you don't need to be home
Private licensed carrier
- No item cap, because pricing is by volume
- Can include carrying items out of the property
- Collection date agreed with the carrier
- Can handle loads councils refuse, such as business waste
Item count is the deciding factor more often than price. A Wandsworth household with three items has a free option. The same household clearing a garage of 15 items would need several bookings and would have to move everything outside itself.
Will the council clear a whole house or flat?
Many people search for how much the council charges to clear a house, but council bulky services are not built for that job. Depending on the borough, each booking is capped at three to eight items. Crews generally collect from outside the property, and Kingston and Sutton only take domestic waste. We found no London council offering a whole-house clearance at bulky-collection prices, although none of the five councils we checked says outright that it won't do one. The numbers show why. In Kingston, eight items cost £71–£73 per collection. A Wandsworth landlord pays £212.70 for five to eight items. A furnished house holds far more than eight items, before you count bagged contents. Clearing it through the council would mean several bookings over several weeks, with everything carried outside by you before each one. For executors, landlords between tenancies and anyone clearing a flat, a private licensed carrier pricing the job by volume is usually the practical route. A full van typically costs £280–£400, and larger properties may need more than one load.
How to check a private bulky waste collector is licensed
Householders have a legal duty of care to pass waste only to an authorised person. Under section 34(2A) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, a council can give you a fixed penalty if fly-tipped waste is traced back to you and you hadn't taken reasonable steps to check who took it. You can be fined even though you didn't dump it yourself. This does not apply to waste left out for the council's own collection, but it does apply to every private collector you use.
Five checks before you hand over your waste
- 1
Ask for the registration number
Carriers don't have to display their registration number, but every registration is on the public register. A genuine carrier can give you the number when asked.
- 2
Search the Environment Agency register
Search the Waste Carriers, Brokers and Dealers register by company name or registration number. Our guide shows how to check a waste carrier's licence step by step.
- 3
Check the tier and the name
A business carrying other people's waste should hold an upper tier registration, which is renewed every three years. The name on the register should match the business you are paying.
- 4
Agree the load in writing
List every item and say where it is, including floors and stairs. This avoids disputes on the day.
- 5
Get a waste transfer note or receipt
It should describe the waste and give the carrier's details. Keep it. Defra guidance says a receipt with a registered business's details, or a copy of the carrier's licence, can show you met your duty of care.
How to compare bids for a private bulky waste collection in London
RubbishBids is a London marketplace for rubbish and waste removal. It is not a skip-hire company, and it does not collect waste itself. You post the job once, and Environment Agency-licensed waste carriers bid on it. Our page on how RubbishBids works explains the process in full.
Comparing bids for a bulky collection
- 1
Post your job
Add photos, your postcode and a list of what needs to go. Mention stairs, lifts, parking and any deadline.
- 2
Receive bids from licensed carriers
EA-licensed carriers who can do the job place bids. The number of bids varies by job and area.
- 3
Compare what each bid includes
Look at the price, the proposed date and whether it covers carrying items out and disposal.
- 4
Choose a carrier
Only the carrier you select receives your contact details.
- 5
Get your waste transfer note
The carrier must issue a waste transfer note. Keep it as your duty-of-care record.
181 bids
Across 83 jobs
RubbishBids jobs, 14 April–9 September 2026
£200
Median bid
All job types, 14 April–9 September 2026
£150–£250
Middle half of bids
All job types, 14 April–9 September 2026
50%
Median bid spread
Gap between lowest and highest bid on jobs with 2+ bids, 14 April–9 September 2026
The 50% spread is the main reason to compare. Carriers price the same job differently depending on their route, van size and how they read the photos. Clear photos and an honest item list give every carrier the same information to bid on.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bulky waste collection?
A bulky waste collection is a booked pick-up for household items too large for your bin, such as sofas, mattresses, wardrobes and fridges. In London, each borough council runs its own service with its own price and item limit, and usually collects from outside your home. Private collections are run by businesses registered as waste carriers with the Environment Agency, and they price by the job.
How much is bulky waste collection in London?
In south-west London, council charges checked in September 2026 run from free to £85. Wandsworth gives two free collections a year and Merton one. Richmond charges £85 for up to five items, Kingston £47–£73 and Sutton £49–£81.80, depending on item count. Published London guides put private collections at around £35 for a single item and £280–£400 for a full van load.
How do I find a private bulky waste collection near me?
Use a business registered as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency, and check it on the public register before booking. On RubbishBids, you post photos, your postcode and what needs to go, and EA-licensed carriers bid on the job. You choose the bid you want, and only the carrier you select gets your contact details.
How much does the council charge to clear a house?
London councils' bulky services aren't designed for whole-house clearances. Each booking is capped at three to eight items depending on the borough, and items normally have to be outside. Eight items in Kingston cost £71–£73, and Wandsworth's landlord rate for five to eight items is £212.70. A full house usually needs a private licensed carrier, and a full van load typically costs £280–£400.
How do I book a bulky waste collection with my council?
Book through your borough council's website and list every item, because crews in boroughs such as Wandsworth and Kingston only take what is on the booking. Put items outside by the stated time; in Sutton, that is 6.00am on the collection day. Merton's free collection is booked through its usual online system, run with Veolia, on a first come, first served basis.
Is Wandsworth or Merton bulky waste collection free?
Yes, within limits. Wandsworth gives every household two free collections a year, each for up to four items or 12 sacks, then charges £24.90 per collection. Merton has offered one free collection a year for up to three items since 1 June 2026. We could not confirm what Merton charges for further collections, so check with the council before booking.
Do I need a waste transfer note for a private collection?
You should get one. Householders have a legal duty of care to pass waste to an authorised person. If fly-tipped waste is traced back to you, the council can issue a fixed penalty. Defra guidance says a receipt with a registered business's details, or a copy of the carrier's licence, can show you met that duty. Keep the note after the job.
Sources
- Wandsworth Council – Standard bulky item collection
- Wandsworth Council – 2,000 free bulky waste collections booked in the first month
- Merton Council – Free bulky waste collections for every household
- Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames – Bulky waste collections
- Sutton Council – Book a bulky item collection
- Sutton Council – Bulky waste collections terms and conditions
- Environment Agency – Public registers (waste carriers, brokers and dealers)
- Defra – Guidance for local authorities on household waste duty of care fixed penalty notices
Prices are typical market ranges checked October 2026; councils change fees, so confirm with your borough before booking.
Over the council limit?
Compare bids from EA-licensed carriers for your bulky waste
Post photos, your postcode and what needs to go, then compare bids from Environment Agency-licensed carriers. Only the carrier you select gets your contact details.