If you choose to take items to your local council recycling center, you’ll need to separate and bag everything according to the specific recycling categories. This includes wood, hard plastics, metal, china, glass, paper, cardboard, and fabrics. Proper sorting is essential, as recycling centers no longer accept mixed waste, and failing to separate items in advance could lead to delays or refusal of disposal.

Gone are the days of simply filling black bin bags and taking everything to the local tip. Most council facilities have now transitioned into recycling centers, where all waste must be properly sorted before disposal. If you arrive with unsorted waste, you may be required to separate it on-site, or in some cases, staff may refuse to accept it. Planning ahead and pre-sorting your waste can help make the process quicker and hassle-free. 

Local authorities offer a bulky waste collection service, which allows you to dispose of a limited number of large items for a fixed fee. However, this service typically requires advance booking, often needing to be scheduled a few weeks ahead. Additionally, collections are strictly from the curbside, meaning you’ll need to move the items outside yourself, as councils do not collect from inside homes or gardens.