Rubbish removal cost: how we work out your price

Rubbish removal cost comes down to what you have, how much of it there is and how we get it to the van. We price each job from what you send, so you know the figure before we lift anything. This page explains what goes into that price and how it compares with booking the council.

Send us a photo for a price Call 07834 527 855

Black bags, timber and plasterboard sheets piled outside a terraced house

How a price is built

What goes into the price of a rubbish collection

Every load is different, so we do not work from a fixed list. When you send us the details, we look at 5 things.

Volume: how much room the waste takes up in the van. A few bags and an old chair fill a small part of a load; a packed garage fills most of it.
Weight: rubble, soil, tiles and plasterboard are heavy for their size and cost more to tip than the same space of cardboard or bedding.
Type of waste: mixed household rubbish, garden waste, builders waste and electricals go to different places, and each place charges in its own way.
Access and stairs: a pile on the drive loads quickly. A loft, a top floor flat with no lift or a garden reached through the house all take longer to carry out.
Items that need special handling: fridges, freezers, mattresses and upholstered sofas and armchairs cannot go in with the general waste, so we keep them apart and take them where they can be dealt with properly.

Time on site matters too. Loading straight from the kerb is quicker than carrying every item down a narrow side passage, and the price reflects that.

A narrow side passage full of bags, boxes, a bin and brooms

Laminate boards, a green bag, boxes and black bags on a driveway beside a brick house

Send a photo

Why a photo gets you a firm price

A photo tells us more than any description. We can see how big the pile is, what is in it, whether there is rubble under the bags and how far it sits from the road. So the price we come back with is firm for what is in the picture.

Take 1 or 2 shots from a step back so the whole pile is in frame, and tell us your town and postcode. If anything is upstairs or round the back, say so. If more turns up on the day, we tell you the difference before it goes on the van.

Send us a photo for a price

Council collections

What the council charges for bulky waste

Most councils run a bulky waste collection, and for a few large items left on the kerb it can be good value. These are the charges as published on 15 October 2026. Councils usually change them each April, so check the council page before you book.

Epping Forest District Council special collection

1 to 3 items£34.80

4 to 7 items£52.80

8 to 10 items£69.60

Maximum 10 items per address, out by 6.30am, and nothing that needs more than 2 people to carry. As published by Epping Forest District Council on 15 October 2026.

Harlow Council bulky waste

1 to 5 items£35.50

6 to 8 items£53.50

9 to 12 items£77.50

13 to 16 items£101.50

Upholstered seating costs extra (£10 per item up to 2 seats, £20 for 3 or 4 seats) and is collected apart from other bulky waste. As published by Harlow Council on 15 October 2026.

Thurrock Council bulky waste

Up to 3 items£44.00

Each item after 3 (maximum 8 per booking)£12.00

Paid when you book, and bookings are often made well in advance. As published by Thurrock Council on 15 October 2026.

Brentwood Borough Council bulky waste

First item£25.00

Each extra item£15.00

Collected on Tuesdays. Sofas and armchairs go on a separate Friday collection at the same rates, and fridges and washing machines are handled by another firm, not the council. As published by Brentwood Borough Council on 15 October 2026.

Our price includes the carrying and loading as well as the tip, so the comparison is not always like for like. A council crew collects from the edge of your property; we come in and bring it out.

Old furniture left out on a kerb in a residential street

A pile of broken bricks and bagged rubble inside a shop unit

The limits

What council collections will not take

Bulky waste services are set up for furniture and appliances, not clear outs. Each council keeps its own list, and these are the main exclusions as published on 15 October 2026.

Epping Forest District Council: no garden waste, soil, cut down trees, building waste, carpet and underlay, worktops, fixtures and fittings, paint, pianos, glass, fence panels, sheds or greenhouses. The council says the service cannot be used for refurbishments or clearances.
Harlow Council: upholstered seating has to go on its own collection, apart from other bulky items.
Thurrock Council: no tonne bags, no commercial items, no loose rubble or foliage unless it is bagged securely, and nothing that does not match the booking.
Brentwood Borough Council: no garden waste, construction or trade waste, hardcore, sheds, greenhouses, pianos, paint, asbestos, mirrors or glass cabinets, and no American style fridge freezers.

Council crews also tend to stay outside. Epping Forest District Council will not collect from garages or covered storage, for example. If your waste is on these lists, or is still in the loft, the shed or the back garden, that is where we come in. We go and get it, carry it out and load it ourselves.

Before you book anyone

Check who takes your rubbish away

Whoever you use, the law puts a duty on you as well. Under section 34(2A) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, householders must take reasonable steps to check that anyone other than the council who takes their household waste is allowed to carry it. You can look up any waste carrier on the Environment Agency public register. We are on it under CBDU525129.

Businesses must check their carrier too, and complete a waste transfer note for each load that leaves their premises. A very low price from someone with no paperwork can end with your rubbish dumped in a lane and your name on it.

Weighing up a skip instead? Our page on the skip hire alternative sets out when a loaded van suits and when a skip makes more sense. When you are ready, send us a photo for a price.

Boards, packaging, plastic and bags piled by the front wall of a terraced house

Our services

Find the service that fits your job

Household clearance›Garden waste removal›Builders waste removal›Strip out waste removal›Office clearance›Electrical waste disposal›Weekly and monthly waste collection›Property clearance for landlords and agents›Areas we cover›

Questions

Questions about rubbish removal prices

How much does rubbish removal cost?

It depends on the volume, the weight, the type of waste and how easy it is to reach. We price each job from what you send, so send a photo and we will come back to you with a price.

Why is there no price list on this page?

2 loads that look alike can be very different to carry and to tip. A pile of bedding and a pile of broken tiles take the same space but not the same cost. Pricing from a photo keeps it fair on both sides.

Is the council cheaper?

For a few items left on the kerb, a council bulky waste collection can be the lowest cost. Epping Forest District Council charged £34.80 for 1 to 3 items, as published on 15 October 2026. Garden waste, rubble, items still inside the house and full clear outs fall outside most council services, and that is where a private collection fits.

Does it cost more if things are upstairs?

It can, because bringing items down from a loft or a top floor flat takes longer than loading from the drive. Tell us where everything is when you send the photo and it will be part of the price.

Which items are priced separately?

Fridges, freezers, mattresses and upholstered sofas and armchairs need separate handling at the tip, so we price them on their own. List them when you get in touch so nothing comes as a surprise.

How do I get a price?

Fill in the quote form, call 07834 527 855 or send a photo on WhatsApp. Give us your town and postcode, and say whether anything is upstairs or round the back.