How to dispose of unusual or bulky items

When making big changes to your home or upgrading appliances it can often be difficult to dispose of big or unusual items. This sometimes leads to unwanted items being left on the streets because it can be inconvenient or difficult to dispose of this large waste effectively. This kind of rubbish is not only an eyesore but it also creates a hazard for other people and wildlife.

One of the best ways to dispose of a large item is to donate it to charity so that it can be used by someone else. Alternatively, see if you can give the item a new purpose by upcycling or repurposing it. There are lots of ideas for repurposing on the internet with the DIY Network and Pinterest being great sources of inspiration. Alternatively, before replacing a broken appliance it is worthwhile attempting to fix the issue yourself. Again, there are many online resources that can help you maintain and fix items so you can continue using them. Doing this can help limit the amount of waste that is dumped in our landfill sites.

If your only option is to dispose of your bulky items you should do this as soon as possible to prevent them from becoming a hazardous eyesore. Your local council’s household waste recycling centre can usually dispose of the vast majority of items but before making the trip there you should check your local council’s website to see if they will accept your waste.

Alternatively, some councils now offer a bulk waste collection service. In Leicestershire, Leicester City Council is starting to help residents with the disposal of their unusual or bulky waste items by providing one free collection of up to five bulky items and one free collection of up to 15 items of garden waste every two months. If you live in Leicester and wish to use this waste collection service you can book a collection online here. However, if you live outside of Leicester you will need to contact you district council to arrange a bulky waste collection.

More information on waste disposal can be found on the LSPS website, or alternatively you can call LSPS on our free phone number: 0800 083 7807.