The Complete Guide to Rubbish Removal Services

Whether you are clearing a garage, emptying a rental property or getting rid of an old sofa, there are more ways to deal with rubbish than there used to be. This guide explains how professional rubbish removal works, what it costs, what can and cannot be collected, and how to make sure the company you choose is legitimate.

What is a rubbish removal service?

A rubbish removal service sends a team and a vehicle to collect waste from your home or business, loads it for you and takes it to a licensed waste facility. Unlike a skip, you do not have to do any lifting and nothing sits on your drive for a week. The service is sometimes called man and van rubbish removal, waste collection or junk removal, but they all describe the same thing.

The main types of service

Man and van collections

The most flexible option. A two-person team loads your waste into a van and you pay for the volume it takes up. It suits most household jobs, from a few bags to a full room. See our man and van rubbish removal prices.

Single and bulky item collections

If you only have one or two large things, such as a sofa, a mattress or a fridge freezer, a fixed-price item collection is usually cheapest. We cover sofas, furniture and appliances.

House and property clearances

For moving house, end of tenancy or probate, a full house clearance empties the property in one visit.

Skip bags and skips

If you want to fill it yourself over a few days, for example during a renovation, a skip bag is delivered, filled at your own pace and then collected.

Commercial and trade waste

Businesses and builders need regular or on-demand collections with the right paperwork. See business waste and builders waste removal.

What does rubbish removal cost?

Most companies price by volume, measured in cubic yards. One cubic yard is roughly the size of two small washing machines, or about five full bin bags. Some items cost extra because they need specialist disposal, such as fridges, freezers, TVs and mattresses. Heavy, dense waste such as rubble or soil is also priced differently because it weighs far more per cubic yard.

The easiest way to get an idea of cost is to list what you have. Our waste calculator gives you an instant estimate.

What can and cannot be collected?

A rubbish removal service can take almost all household and commercial waste: furniture, electricals, bagged rubbish, garden waste, cardboard and renovation waste. For safety and legal reasons, most will not take:

• Asbestos
• Chemicals, solvents and most paints
• Needles, sharps and clinical waste
• Raw food and meat waste
• Gas bottles and pressurised containers

How to choose a legitimate company

By law you have a duty of care to make sure your waste is handled by someone licensed to carry it. If an unlicensed collector fly-tips your rubbish, you can be fined. Before you book, check:

• A waste carrier licence number. You can check it on the Environment Agency public register. Ours is CBDU654313.
• A Waste Transfer Note. A reputable company gives you one for every job.
• A clear price before they start. You should know what you are paying before anything is loaded.
• Real contact details and reviews. A landline or freephone number and a track record on Google.

Our guide to avoiding fly-tippers covers this in more detail.

What happens to your rubbish afterwards?

Good companies take your waste to a licensed transfer station where it is sorted. Metals, wood, cardboard, plastics and electricals are separated for recycling, and upholstered furniture is sent for safe destruction under Environment Agency rules. At Junkbusters, over 90% of what we collect is diverted from landfill.

Booking a collection

If you are in Birmingham or the wider West Midlands, you can book a collection online or call us on 0800 002 5490. Same-day slots are available most days.