Renovating
Do I Need a Skip for That? How to Get Rid of Your Unwanted Bulky Items
From charities to auction houses, there are some good options for clearing out your large goods. Read on for expert advice
Whether you’re embarking on a grand renovation project or just having a spring clean, at some point you’ll need to get rid of bulky items from your home. While it can be therapeutic to have a good clear-out, finding somewhere to dispose of your old junk can sometimes be a headache in itself. However, there’s a range of options, from skip hire to charity collection, or you could even make a profit by selling your items at auction. Here, some experts give their top tips.
Professional advice from:
Roland Arkell of Antiques Trade Gazette
Chris Kervin of Skip Hire Services
Matt Taylor of Emmaus
Professional advice from:
Roland Arkell of Antiques Trade Gazette
Chris Kervin of Skip Hire Services
Matt Taylor of Emmaus
Take it to the tip
There’s usually a place for bulky items at your local recycling centre, but check the particular council’s website first to see a list of items they accept. This option might at first seem wasteful, but the items are usually reprocessed. Fridges, for example, are treated for hazardous gases, then broken down into their component parts and sold into the market for new recycled products.
“The trend for upcycling has prompted some recycling centres to open their own on-site shops,” says Taylor. “And some councils have even started to provide concession stands to charities where they can carry out upcycling projects.”
Discover 10 brilliant upcycling projects
There’s usually a place for bulky items at your local recycling centre, but check the particular council’s website first to see a list of items they accept. This option might at first seem wasteful, but the items are usually reprocessed. Fridges, for example, are treated for hazardous gases, then broken down into their component parts and sold into the market for new recycled products.
“The trend for upcycling has prompted some recycling centres to open their own on-site shops,” says Taylor. “And some councils have even started to provide concession stands to charities where they can carry out upcycling projects.”
Discover 10 brilliant upcycling projects
Hire a skip
A skip is the obvious solution for your building waste, and might also be a good place to put your unwanted furniture. Remember that you can’t put electrical goods in a skip, so your fridge and washing machine will have to go somewhere else.
Think about the size you’ll need first, as there are several types, from mini ones to huge roll-on roll-off models. “For a small job, such as a bathroom refit or small garden clearance, a mini skip will probably be sufficient. But for a larger project, you’ll need something more substantial,” Chris Kervin from Skip Hire Services advises.
“The other major consideration is the skip permit,” he says. “You’ll need one if you’re putting the skip on a public road. Prices are set by each council, and normally range from £15 to £60.
“You can hire a skip from as little as £70, but request a quote from multiple providers first,” Kervin adds. “You can then use the cheapest quote to negotiate a better deal with your preferred company.”
A skip is the obvious solution for your building waste, and might also be a good place to put your unwanted furniture. Remember that you can’t put electrical goods in a skip, so your fridge and washing machine will have to go somewhere else.
Think about the size you’ll need first, as there are several types, from mini ones to huge roll-on roll-off models. “For a small job, such as a bathroom refit or small garden clearance, a mini skip will probably be sufficient. But for a larger project, you’ll need something more substantial,” Chris Kervin from Skip Hire Services advises.
“The other major consideration is the skip permit,” he says. “You’ll need one if you’re putting the skip on a public road. Prices are set by each council, and normally range from £15 to £60.
“You can hire a skip from as little as £70, but request a quote from multiple providers first,” Kervin adds. “You can then use the cheapest quote to negotiate a better deal with your preferred company.”
Enlist a collection team
Don’t want to do any heavy lifting? You could try a waste and rubbish removal firm, such as Any Junk, who will come and take it away for you. It’s a good option for items you can’t sell, donate or put in a skip.
“One of the benefits is that you don’t need to estimate skip size, and will only pay for the waste you’ve generated,” says Kervin. “The cost usually depends on the weight and size of the items you need to throw away.”
Both skip and rubbish collection firms recycle most of their waste, as landfill charges are pretty steep.
Don’t want to do any heavy lifting? You could try a waste and rubbish removal firm, such as Any Junk, who will come and take it away for you. It’s a good option for items you can’t sell, donate or put in a skip.
“One of the benefits is that you don’t need to estimate skip size, and will only pay for the waste you’ve generated,” says Kervin. “The cost usually depends on the weight and size of the items you need to throw away.”
Both skip and rubbish collection firms recycle most of their waste, as landfill charges are pretty steep.
Go under the hammer
If you’re looking to earn some cash from selling your unwanted items, it might be worth contacting an auction house. However, think first about the value of your goods and whether you’ll actually make a profit. “The antique and second-hand markets are very depressed these days,” says Roland Arkell from Antiques Trade Gazette. “Lots of antique houses are saying no to even moderately good antique furniture.”
Once you’ve totted up extra commission and marketing costs, and the possibility of getting a low price, it might not be worth your while. But if you have something you think might wow buyers, why not give it a go? Arkell says there are around 500 different salesrooms in the UK, and there’s at least one good local auctioneer in each region. However, do your research and find one that deals with the kind of objects you’re trying to sell.
Auctioneer Alexander Clement from Shrewsbury firm Halls says, “The firm should give you a free valuation, but look out for hidden costs, as each auction house is different.” It’s also a good idea to find one that lists on a web portal, such as The Saleroom, which will give you access to an international audience.
Read expert advice on second-hand furniture buying
If you’re looking to earn some cash from selling your unwanted items, it might be worth contacting an auction house. However, think first about the value of your goods and whether you’ll actually make a profit. “The antique and second-hand markets are very depressed these days,” says Roland Arkell from Antiques Trade Gazette. “Lots of antique houses are saying no to even moderately good antique furniture.”
Once you’ve totted up extra commission and marketing costs, and the possibility of getting a low price, it might not be worth your while. But if you have something you think might wow buyers, why not give it a go? Arkell says there are around 500 different salesrooms in the UK, and there’s at least one good local auctioneer in each region. However, do your research and find one that deals with the kind of objects you’re trying to sell.
Auctioneer Alexander Clement from Shrewsbury firm Halls says, “The firm should give you a free valuation, but look out for hidden costs, as each auction house is different.” It’s also a good idea to find one that lists on a web portal, such as The Saleroom, which will give you access to an international audience.
Read expert advice on second-hand furniture buying
Sell it online
If you think the auction house route isn’t for you, consider an online marketplace. eBay is the most obvious one, but there are alternatives, such as Preloved, Etsy. One of the easiest options is Depop, an app that allows you to quickly share a photograph of the item and advertise it with hashtags.
Don’t forget that bulky items would cost a lot to ship, so it’s best to advertise to local customers who can pick the items up from you.
Gumtree also has a ‘free’ section, if you’re happy just to give something away in turn for someone coming to collect it, and of course there are the popular recycling communities, Freecycle and Freegle.
TELL US…
How do you dispose of your waste? Share your tips in the Comments below.
If you think the auction house route isn’t for you, consider an online marketplace. eBay is the most obvious one, but there are alternatives, such as Preloved, Etsy. One of the easiest options is Depop, an app that allows you to quickly share a photograph of the item and advertise it with hashtags.
Don’t forget that bulky items would cost a lot to ship, so it’s best to advertise to local customers who can pick the items up from you.
Gumtree also has a ‘free’ section, if you’re happy just to give something away in turn for someone coming to collect it, and of course there are the popular recycling communities, Freecycle and Freegle.
TELL US…
How do you dispose of your waste? Share your tips in the Comments below.
Most charities accept furniture donations and will even pick pieces up for you. Go online to find a local branch or book a collection. A useful website is the Furniture Donation Network, which will link you up to one of your local charities. For electrical items, it’s best to check the policy of individual charities.
Bear in mind that upholstered items must have a fire safety label on them, so your beautiful vintage chairs might be sadly turned away. The goods must also be in a resaleable condition. “This isn’t because we’re ungrateful, but if we can’t sell them on, we’ll have to take them to a tip and get charged for it,” explains Matt Taylor from Emmaus, a charity that works to end homelessness.
“Watch out when donating your flatpack furniture, too,” Taylor advises. “The fact that it can be impossible to put back together after it’s been unassembled means some organisations stay clear.”