Bulky Waste Collection

Items that can be collected

The following items can be collected for a fee:

• Doors that form part of an item of furniture
• Lawnmowers
• Vacuum cleaners
• Domestic furniture (including any wooden fitted furniture)
• Televisions
• Garden furniture
• Domestic carpets
• Beds
• Refrigerators, freezers or coolers (non-commercial)
• Washing machines, tumble dryers or dishwashers, microwaves
• Three-piece suites
• Bags of smaller household items such as crockery, pots and pans

Please note, bags need to be strong enough to ensure they do not split when being taken to the vehicle. Items will not be accepted if they contain glass.

• Non-electrical items £40 for up to three items, followed by an additional £5 per item.
• Electrical items £40 for up to three items, followed by an additional £5 per item.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) guidance:

What are POPs and why are they important?

POPs are chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically. These chemicals are leaching from sofas and other padded / foam items resulting in significant damage to rivers and aquatic ecosystems. The use of these chemicals has now ceased but they still exist in most sofas / chairs and other upholstered items. The Environment Agency is enforcing the ban of these items at landfill sites from 19 December 2022.

What items may contain POPs?

Upholstered items of domestic seating waste may contain POPs. This includes items with any part made of or containing leather, synthetic leather, other fabric, or foam. Such as sofas, sofa beds, armchairs, kitchen and dining room chairs, stools and foot stools, home office chairs, futons, bean bags, floor, and sofa cushions.

Can POPs still be collected with bulky waste?

Yes, we can still collect all of the items listed above on a bulky waste collection. Please leave items that may contain POPs separate from other items you may have requested to be taken. These will be collected separately from your other items at a different time on the day of your booking.

What if my POPs items are damaged?

If items are damaged, ripped or torn, the damage MUST be repaired with no foam exposed. Please repair the item, for example taping it up, this enables us the safe collection and disposal of the item. Any items that have not been sufficiently repaired will not be taken and we will not be able to return. This will need to be re-booked for another collection.

Please note

House improvement or building work-related items such as building waste or replaced windows, will not be collected.

Broken glass must be supplied in a box.

Bagged, boxed and tied waste will be classed as individual items.

Sheds must be dismantled and each panel will be classed as an item.

All items must be presented in a way that satisfies manual handling and can be easily loaded onto the collection vehicle. Failure to do so will result in non-collection of items.

Arranging a collection

To arrange a collection please contact Customer Services on Leicester (0116) 288 8961.

Please note: due to popular demand for the bulky waste service some collection dates may already be fully booked. Please, therefore, check with a Customer Service Advisor, at the time of booking, when the next available collection date will be.

You will be required to make the payment over the telephone (0116 288 8961) by debit or credit card when booking in the bulky collection at least a week prior to the collection.

Customer Services will advise you on charges and arrange for collection. Payment must be made in advance and a receipt number will be issued. You will need to retain this number in case of a query by admin or collection staff. Please note that our collectors do not take payment at the time of collection.

Please note, all collections are carried out on Thursdays only between 6.30am and 3pm. All items must be as described, placed at the front edge of your property and visible from the road from 630am on the collection day. Clinical waste and white goods (washing machines, dishwashers etc) collections are on a Wednesday.

If your items include POPs (see above) – these will be collected at a different time (on the same day) to the rest of your bulky waste – please do not worry if your items are not collected all at once.

Are you eligible for a free collection?

Those on certain benefits can apply for an exemption, which will then entitle them to two collections during the financial year with up to a maximum of four items on each collection.

To qualify for an exemption, the homeowner/named tenant must be a resident of the borough and be in receipt of one of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit (Housing Element Only)
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Support
• Disability Living Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment
• Incapacity Benefit
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Attendance Allowance
• Disabled Students Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• War Disablement Pension
• Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

To apply for an exemption please contact our Customer Service Team on 0116 288 8961 or email customerservices@oadby-wigston.gov.uk

You may be required to provide proof that you are in receipt of the benefit.

Reuse unwanted items

Your household items may be of use to someone else. Organisations, particularly charities, may accept your household items and put them to good use or offer them to others. Please contact them directly for more information.

Recycling household furniture

Please visit the Recycle Now website for all your unwanted items. Do not let your attic, shed or cupboards fill up with unwanted junk. Recycle them to a new home today.