How to dispose of large unwanted items
If you're looking to remove furniture or dispose of unwanted household items such as beds, mattresses and fridges, we offer a collection service from domestic properties within the borough.
Businesses need to make their own arrangements to dispose of commercial waste.
Items we collect in bulky waste collections
We accept the following items:
- General household items, including mattresses, bed frames, bed headboards, carpets, armchairs and settees.
- Fridges and freezers - you'll need to remove all food otherwise we won't collect it.
- Washing machines.
- Cookers (excluding range cookers).
- Dishwashers.
- Small electrical items, including music systems, microwaves and TVs.
Please note that some items may count as multiple individual items. Examples of item units:
- 3 piece suite = 3 items
- Bed (base and mattress) = 2 items
- Bed base and bed headboard (if attached or separate) = 1 item
- Divan bed base, even if it can be separated = 1 item
- Table and 4 chairs = 5 items
- Broken items, such as a wardrobe in 2 or 3 parts = 1 item
Where possible we recycle bulky waste items by setting aside good quality items for people looking for affordable home furniture.
Items we don't collect
We don't collect the following items. However, you can safely dispose of them at your local Recycling Centre
- Fluorescent tubes.
- Gas bottles.
- Concrete posts.
- Car or motorbike parts.
- General waste.
- Trees.
- Asbestos – any household asbestos must be brought to your local Recycling Centre wrapped up in heavy duty plastic such as household rubble sacks that can be bought from supermarkets.
Alternative ways to reuse and recycle your items
You may also consider one of the following alternatives:
- Donate your bulky items to a charity shop or local scheme, such as:
- A local charity shop.
- Second-hand shop.
- Renew - Recycle for Greater Manchester - you can donate good quality, pre-loved items such as homeware, garden furniture, toys, sports equipment, books and more to the Renew Hub. Items can be repaired and sold in shops across Greater Manchester to raise money for charity. You can drop off your items in a donation container at any of our recycling centres.
- Pass It On - Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH)
- Petrus Community Store
- Rochdale Freegle
- Sell your items through free ads.
- Use the Electrical Retailer Take-back Scheme - return your local electrical and electronic equipment to the retailer for free. Retailers must provide a way for customers to dispose of their old household electrical and electronic equipment when they sell a new version of the same item under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations.
Advice for hiring someone to remove your waste and collect household goods
If waste is illegally dumped and traced back to you, you could be held responsible.
Recycle for Greater Manchester has created a SCRAP code which may help you prevent your waste from being fly tipped.