Council cuts cost of bulky waste collections

Rochdale Borough Council’s bulky waste collection service has seen booking numbers rocket when collection prices were reduced by 50% from 1 May.

The half price offer, which initially was only set to run until the end of August has proved so popular that the reduction in price has now become a permanent offer.

As lockdown hit in March, the borough’s household waste and recycling centres, run by waste management company Suez, closed its facilities to the public, meaning large bulky items could not be taken for recycling.

Many residents stuck at home, found time on their hands to take on DIY projects and home improvements, meaning carpets, beds, sofas and appliances now needed to be removed.

The offer allowed residents the chance to have three large general household items collected from their doorstep for just £11 and large appliances for £17, making it a much more affordable option to many.

The council has seen bookings rise by over 2,000 between May and August, compared to the same time period in 2019 and had to place extra dedicated call staff to man the bulky waste phone lines to keep up with demand.

Orchard Recycling Service, who collect the items on behalf of the council also took on extra staff to cope with demand across Rochdale and can accommodate around 65 collections a day. The aim is to recycle and reuse at least 60% of unwanted furniture and appliances and avoid unnecessary addition to landfill.

Councillor Neil Emmott, Rochdale Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “We are delighted that this offer has proved extremely popular and is why we have decided to make it a permanent provision. It allows residents to have large items collected from their homes, without the hassle; with many items offered to those in need of affordable furniture.

“We are also very proud of the fact that alongside this scheme, household bin collections continue as normal with no disruption to service. Our dedicated team even removed extra side waste during the peak of the pandemic as we saw unprecedented high levels of waste.

“The crew received many letters of thanks and drawings from children and residents which are proudly displayed back at the depot. We thank all our keyworkers for their hard work and support.”

The council continues to urge residents who book private waste carriers to always check they have the correct licence in place. If fly-tipping is found and evidence uncovered, the resident is liable for a fine of up to £400.

The household waste recycling centres are open to the public. Full details on what you can take can be found at recycleforgreatermanchester.com

Residents can request a collection on the council’s website, but due to current high demand, bookings may take a little longer to process.

To book a bulky waste collection or to find further advice for hiring someone to remove waste, visit: rochdale.gov.uk/bulkywaste