How to dispose of rubbish in Birmingham
5 ways to get rid of bulky rubbish in Birmingham
This is the ultimate how to dispose of rubbish in Birmingham guide. It covers all the ways you can dispose of or reuse your bulky waste (i.e. anything too big for your bins, such as a sofa, large appliance, builder waste, mattress, rubble, fridge) if you live in Birmingham, and how to choose between them. The key sections in this article are:
- Reuse options in Birmingham
- Birmingham Council bulky waste collection service
- Man & van waste collectors - including example prices
- Skip hire in Birmingham - including skip hire providers, prices and council permit fees
- Local recycling centres
1. Reuse options in Birmingham
Are your unwanted items still in decent condition? Somebody else could reuse them! The great thing about donating your items for reuse is that most ways to do this are completely free. Even better, there are lots of reuse options to choose from in Birmingham.
Below are some popular reuse charities and social enterprises in and around Birmingham that accept second hand furniture, appliances and other bigger items:
| Organisation name |
| The ReUsers shop, Sutton Coldfield |
| CT Furniture Birmingham - Northfield |
| British Heart Foundation Furniture & Electrical |
| Birmingham St Mary's Hospice Furniture Shop |
| Betel Furniture Superstore |
For a more detailed guide to all the reuse options in the area, including addresses and contact details of the above, check out our Guide to Reuse in Birmingham. Or, if you just have furniture to get rid of, check out Furniture Removal Birmingham.
2. Birmingham council bulky waste collection service
Birmingham city council offers a rubbish removal service for bulky items that don’t fit in your bins. They can collect up to 10 items per booking and will accept electrical appliances, furniture, ovens/ cookers, garden waste and bicycles. All items for collection must be left outside the property and you must bag or secure any loose items properly.
Birmingham council cannot collect:
- Business or commercial waste
- Bags that weigh over 10kg
- Boilers
- Pianos
- Any kind of doors
Items for collection must be safe to carry between 2 people. To see a full list of what the council cannot accept, click here.
Note: you cannot dispose of asbestos either through the bulky waste collection service or at the recycling centres. You'd need to find a private collector of hazardous waste.
Cost of the collection service
Birmingham council collect up to 10 items for £35.70. Book a collection online here or call the council's bulky waste collection service on 0121 303 1112.
For full details visit the Birmingham city council website. Remember that to book a collection online, you need to have registered with an account. And to register, you need to have an address within Birmingham.
3. Licensed man and van waste collectors
Instead of a council bulky waste removal, you can hire a licensed man & van rubbish collector. Whereas you could wait up to a couple of weeks for a council removal, a private collector can respond immediately. They collect any and all types of waste. Man & van companies can also collect rubbish from either in or outside the home, while the council collects items strictly outdoors. The council option can present problems if you can’t lift or move the items by yourself.
Cheapest licensed bulky waste collector in Birmingham
It's really important to check that your waste collector has a valid waste carrier license. The easiest way to find a fully licensed and insured waste carrier business in Birmingham is with LoveJunk waste removal and reuse marketplace. The process is quick and easy: snap some pictures of your unwanted stuff and then a nearby licensed waste collector or reuser gives a quote to take it away. Quotes are free and no obligation, and councils widely recommend the service.
Examples of man & van rubbish removal prices in Birmingham
Man & van rubbish removal prices vary on the type and amount of waste, as well as the date or time you want it removed. We've included some example jobs in Birmingham, and how much they cost.
Corner sofa, £30
Sofa + pullout bed, £60
Double mattress, £30
Garden waste, £150
5 part sofa, £100
2x sofas, £80
4. How to dispose of rubbish in Birmingham with Skip Hire
Skips are useful if you have a lot of messy waste to get rid of. Unlike Man & Van collectors, you’ll need to load the skip yourself and the prices are fixed no matter how full the skips are at the end. Skip hire is often much more expensive than Man & Van simply because of additional permit and license fees. For more information on skips, take a look at our Ultimate Guide to Skip Hire.
Birmingham skip hire companies
The best options for skip hires are using a local skip provider, rather than a national one. Here are some of the main skip hire companies operating in Birmingham.
| Organisation |
| Kiely Skips |
| Mercian Skip Hire |
| Holborn Waste Limited |
Skip hire prices in Birmingham
Typical skip hire prices (including VAT) for a mixed general waste skip in Birmingham. Prices reflect a hire period of 14 days. They do not include the cost of necessary skip permits or parking bay suspensions.
Builder skip: 6-8 cubic yard skip @ £250-£260
Maxi skip: 10 - 12 cubic yard skip @ £340
Skip Permits and Bay Suspensions
You’ll need a skip permit license to place a skip on the road (as opposed to on your drive, for example), and (if you live in one) a controlled parking zone (CPZ) suspension permit. Have a look at our Guide to Skip Permits and Bay Suspensions for more information regarding skip permits.
Skip license Birmingham: £22 maximum 7 days, new permit after that.
CPZ Bay Suspension in Birmingham: £15 a day.
You can apply for a skip license for Birmingham here, and apply for a parking suspension permit here.
5. Birmingham Recycling Centres
There are 5 recycling centres in Birmingham. You must be a Birmingham resident to use them. For full information about the Birmingham tips including opening hours, permitted and prohibited items, have a look at our Birmingham Recycling Centre Guide.
- Sutton Coldfield: Norris Way, Sutton Coldfield, B75 7BB. For more info read our guide to Sutton Coldfield Recycling Centre
- Tyseley: James Road, Tyseley, B11 2BA. Check out our guide to Tyseley Recycling Centre for more info.
- Kings Norton: Lifford Lane, Kings Norton, B30 3JJ.
- Castle Bromwich: Tameside Drive, Castle Bromwich, B35 7AG.
- Perry Barr: Holford Drive, Perry Barr, B42 2TU
Other resources for Birmingham householders
Thank you for reading! Why not have a look at:
- Solihull Bulky Waste Collection: a guide for residents of Solihull
- Guide to House Clearance in Birmingham - rubbish removal information related to clearing your property
- How to Dispose of Rubbish - a comprehensive guide to rubbish clearance
