Assisted bulky waste collection: what each council actually offers
82 of the UK's 361 councils publish something about help for residents who cannot move items to the kerb themselves. Every council's own wording, in one place.
Every council's bulky waste page states the same baseline rule: items go out at the kerbside or property boundary, and the crew does not come in. For most households that is a minor inconvenience. For someone living alone, elderly, recovering from an operation or managing a disability, it can be the one thing standing between a booking and an empty hallway. "Assisted collection" is the term most councils use for help with that specific problem, and it is a different service from the general can't-lift options we cover elsewhere: it is council-run, usually free, and usually needs to be arranged in advance.
Most councils simply do not say
Only 82 of the UK's 361 waste collection authorities publish any position on this at all, on their own bulky waste page or elsewhere on their site. Where a council says nothing, that is not us missing it; it is the council not stating a policy either way, and the honest move is to ring and ask rather than assume.
Where councils do say something, the answer varies enormously
Of the 82 that do address it, the wording ranges across the whole spectrum, in the council's own words:
- A genuine assisted service for bulky waste specifically. Several councils run a dedicated scheme, sometimes called a "wheelout", for residents who cannot place items out themselves.
- Help in principle, but limited. Some councils will only move an item from just inside the property boundary, not carry it down stairs or out of a back room, or only step in if nobody else in the household can help.
- Assistance for bins, not for bulky waste. A number of councils run an assisted collection scheme for weekly bin collections but say, explicitly, that it does not extend to bulky items.
- Explicitly not offered. Some councils state plainly that they cannot help prepare or move items, full stop, and that residents unable to do so themselves need to find someone who can.
Reading the general rule on your own council's page is not enough here; you need the specific sentence about assisted collection, which is exactly what this page collects in one place rather than leaving buried halfway down 82 separate council pages.
Every council that has published a position
This table is built live from our dataset and lists every council with a stated position, exactly as published. It grows as we verify more councils each week.
| Council | What they say |
|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire | Not offered; the council cannot help prepare items for collection |
| Amber Valley | Council will not enter properties, so residents unable to move items must arrange for someone else to bring them to the kerbside on their behalf |
| Angus | Assisted collections (wheelouts) are available for residents unable to put items out due to age or a medical condition, where no able-bodied household member can do so |
| Argyll and Bute | Argyll and Bute Council offers an assisted collection service for residents who cannot put bins or items out themselves, for example because of mobility problems or illness, and h... |
| Basildon | An assisted collection service is available for residents who qualify, covering the bulky waste service among others; apply through the council |
| Birmingham | A separate 'request an assisted collection' route exists on the council site, but details of eligibility were not confirmed |
| Blaby | Special arrangements are available for elderly and disabled residents to have items collected from inside the home (downstairs only). |
| Blaenau Gwent | Not available, the council says it is unable to offer assisted collections for bulky waste |
| Brighton and Hove | The council runs a general assisted collections service for residents who cannot move their rubbish or recycling to the collection point due to age, disability or ill health; it i... |
| Bromsgrove | A separate assisted bin collection scheme exists for residents who struggle to get bins or waste to the kerb, subject to meeting eligibility criteria |
| Broxtowe | Assisted collection requests are assessed individually; contact the council on 0115 917 7777 or [email protected] |
| Burnley | The council runs a separate assisted collection scheme for elderly and disabled residents who cannot put their bins out, but this does not cover bulky waste, which is a separate p... |
| Bury | The council's assisted collection scheme helps residents who cannot wheel their own bins to the kerbside due to disability, poor health, age or mobility problems, but this scheme... |
| Calderdale | The council's assisted collection scheme helps residents with a disability or mobility problem put their bins out, but it does not specifically cover bulky waste, which is booked... |
| Cambridge | The shared waste service runs an assisted collection scheme for residents with a disability or mobility problem who cannot put their bin out, but it covers standard bin collection... |
| Camden | A separate handyperson service can help move items to the collection point, chargeable, or free if referred through WISH Plus. |
| Central Bedfordshire | A separate assisted bin collection scheme exists for residents in poor health, with a mobility issue or disability, who are elderly, or who have no one else at the property able t... |
| Charnwood | The council runs a separate assisted collections scheme for residents unable to present recycling, refuse and garden waste at the property boundary due to illness or disability, a... |
| Chelmsford | A free assisted collections service exists for residents who cannot move their bins, bags and boxes to the property boundary and have no one at home able to help, covering putting... |
| Cheshire East | Residents unable to leave items outside their property can ask on the booking form for items to be collected from within the property |
| City of Edinburgh | Available for households where members cannot place items outside due to disability or medical condition; contact [email protected] |
| City of Lincoln | Free assisted collection on Wednesdays at 6:30am for residents on means-tested benefits, state pension, registered disabled, pregnant residents, or those with a temporary disabili... |
| Cornwall | A separate assisted collection service exists for residents who cannot move general bin waste (rubbish, recycling, food and garden waste) to the property boundary due to disabilit... |
| Cotswold | None. The council states it cannot help move items from inside the home, items must already be at the kerbside for collection. |
| County Durham | Residents on the council's assisted collection list still have items collected from the kerbside only, crews cannot enter homes to help move items even for assisted collections |
| Crawley | Crawley Borough Council offers a separate assisted collection service for residents who are unable to take their waste out themselves |
| Dacorum | The council lists a separate assisted collection service in its related links, but the specific eligibility and process were not shown on the bulky waste page itself. |
| Derby | Residents unable to place items outside can email [email protected] to request a private quote for collection from within the property. |
| Derry City and Strabane | The council runs a general assisted collection scheme, arranged through its Control Room (028 7137 4107) with supporting medical evidence, for residents unable to present items at... |
| Dover | Dover District Council operates a general assisted collection service for residents who cannot present items at the boundary of their property due to injury or a medical condition... |
| Dumfries and Galloway | Not available; the council cannot help carry large items from your home to the collection point |
| East Lothian | Help to put bins and items out is available for people who qualify because of disability, age or ill health with no one at home to help; apply online, by email wasteservices@eastl... |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | The council suggests residents who cannot move items outside themselves ask family members or neighbours to help, as crews cannot enter the home, garage, shed or outbuilding |
| Epsom and Ewell | 'Pullout' assisted collection service for residents unable to bring bins or bulky items to the collection point themselves; register by giving name, address and contact details |
| Forest of Dean | Call 01594 810000 for accessibility queries or special circumstances |
| Hackney | Elderly or disabled residents needing help moving items can request an assisted bulky waste collection at no extra charge |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | Assisted collections are available at no charge for disabled residents unable to move items to kerbside; contact the Cleaner Greener hotline for an application form |
| Harborough | A separate assisted collections service exists for residents who are elderly, ill, infirm or disabled with no one else at the property to help; the council may ask for supporting... |
| Havering | Residents unable to place items at the boundary can call 01708 432563 for assistance |
| Herefordshire | Limited assistance is available for residents unable to move items outside; call 01432 260051 to ask before booking online |
| Horsham | Free assisted collections available for eligible elderly, infirm or disabled residents; contact Customer Care on 01403 733144 for an application form |
| Huntingdonshire | Available for elderly, disabled or infirm residents who cannot place items outside themselves. Items must be in a ground floor room with safe, easy access, and crews attempt colle... |
| Inverclyde | Special or assisted uplifts that would require council staff to enter the garden or interior of a property, either to quote or to collect, are not currently possible |
| Isle of Anglesey | An assisted bin collection service is available for residents needing extra support |
| Isle of Wight | Free assisted collection for residents with no other household member over 18 able to move items to the kerbside; the council's waste contractor visits to agree a fixed collection... |
| Islington | Assisted collections available for residents who need help carrying items out, call 020 7527 2000 to arrange |
| Kensington and Chelsea | Internal collections available for elderly or disabled residents unable to move items themselves, subject to a risk assessment which can take several weeks to arrange |
| Kingston upon Thames | Residents in flats above shops should call to book, so the collection location can be arranged |
| Kirklees | Households on an assisted bin collection get two free bulky collections a year |
| Leicester | Available for elderly or disabled residents unable to move items outside, contact 0116 454 1002 or [email protected] |
| Midlothian | Available for registered residents who cannot bring items from the garden due to accessibility issues |
| New Forest | Assisted collections are available for residents with a temporary or long-term disability, illness or injury who have no one else in the household able to put waste out; this is a... |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | An assisted lift service is available for residents who need support putting items out for collection; apply through the council |
| North Devon | Available for residents entitled to assisted general waste collection; crews still cannot enter properties |
| North East Derbyshire | 50% reduced rate for disabled residents unable to deliver bulky waste to a civic amenity site themselves, evidence required |
| North Hertfordshire | Referenced as a separate assisted collections service |
| North Lincolnshire | An assisted collection service is available for residents with no other able-bodied household member who cannot present items themselves due to a physical or medical condition, in... |
| Northumberland | Disabled or elderly residents can request an assisted collection by phone |
| Pembrokeshire | Residents with disabilities, limited mobility or age-related challenges can request assistance when booking |
| Peterborough | Assisted collections available for eligible residents; contact customer services for details |
| Redbridge | You can apply for an assisted collection if you cannot put items out yourself because of age, disability, illness or a similar need, allow up to 10 working days for a response |
| Renfrewshire | Assisted collection is available for residents who cannot present items themselves; apply through the council's assisted collections service |
| Sefton | In exceptional circumstances council staff may help move items to the collection point, but this is entirely at the resident's own risk as it is not covered by the council's insur... |
| Sheffield | A reduced-rate collection is available for residents receiving Housing Benefit, Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit or Employment Support Allowance, with charges... |
| Somerset | A separate assisted collection service exists for residents who cannot carry bins to the kerbside for health reasons, but this was not confirmed to extend to bulky waste collectio... |
| South Gloucestershire | A separate assisted collections service exists for households unable to present bins, boxes and bags for collection due to health or mobility reasons, applied for online or by cal... |
| South Hams | Free assisted collection service for residents who are infirm, disabled, or have a medical reason and cannot bring items to the collection point themselves |
| South Holland | Assisted collection support is available for residents who have difficulty moving items to the collection point and have nobody in the household able to do it for them |
| South Kesteven | A separate assisted waste collection service is available for households where no resident can put waste out due to frailty, disability or ill health. A waste advisor visits to as... |
| South Norfolk | A general assisted bin collection scheme exists for residents unable to move bins or bags to the collection point; it was not confirmed whether this extends to bulky waste booking... |
| South Ribble | A separate assisted bin collection scheme exists for residents with disabilities, poor mobility, or who are elderly or infirm and have no one else in the household able to put bin... |
| Stevenage | Items that fall outside the standard list can be arranged as an assessed collection by calling the depot on 01438 242323, priced after the contractor assesses the job |
| Sunderland | Assisted collections are available and can be requested alongside a bulky waste booking through the council's online system. |
| Swale | Assisted collections can be arranged for residents unable to put items out themselves; call Customer Service on 01795 417888 (proof of eligibility, such as a disability benefit cl... |
| Telford and Wrekin | Available for residents physically unable to present items outside with no family support, by special arrangement |
| The Vale of Glamorgan | Assisted collections are available for residents who cannot get waste to the kerbside and have no one at home able to help, via the council's separate Assisted Collections scheme |
| Wakefield | Assisted collections available if no one in the household can move items to the kerb; contact the council to discuss needs |
| Waltham Forest | Currently suspended for supported residents |
| West Lindsey | West Lindsey offers assisted collections for residents who, through illness, age or disability, cannot get their waste to the property boundary; this is described for household bi... |
| Westminster | Assisted collections available for residents who are physically unable to leave items outside their property, arranged at the time of booking |
| Wigan | Separate assisted bin collection scheme for residents with no one else in the household able to bring bins or items to the collection point, applied for online, a council officer... |
| Woking | Woking offers assisted collections for residents who cannot move bins because of age, disability, illness, frailty or another long-term difficulty; not confirmed whether this exte... |
Not on the list? Look up your own council on the full A to Z of all 361 councils, or use postcode search: its page will say honestly whether we have found a stated position yet.
If your council offers nothing, or you are still stuck
A charity reuse crew will carry a genuinely reusable, fire-labelled item out of the house for free as standard, because they want it in one piece; see our free collection guide. For anything else, or if the item is not in reusable condition, a private two-person crew such as WasteSpeed collects from any room, including flats with stairs, on a fixed price agreed before travel, from £199. See the full range of options in our can't-lift guide.
FAQ
What is an assisted bulky waste collection?
A service some councils run for residents who cannot place bulky items out at the kerbside or property boundary themselves, usually because of age, disability or a long-term health condition. It typically needs to be requested in advance, often by phone rather than the online booking form, and is not the same as the council's general collection service.
Which councils offer assisted bulky waste collection?
82 of the UK's 361 councils publish a stated position, and the exact wording varies a great deal, from a dedicated help scheme to an explicit refusal to help with bulky items specifically. See the full table above for every council that has published something, with a link to its own page for the exact wording.
My council does not offer assisted collection. What else can I do?
A charity reuse crew collects genuinely reusable furniture from inside the house for free, provided it has its fire safety label. For anything else, or if nobody can wait for a charity slot, a private two-person crew such as WasteSpeed collects from any room on a fixed price agreed before travel, from £199.
Skip the queue. Keep your back.
Don't want to wait? Can't lift to kerbside? WasteSpeed collect in your area on a scheduled day each week, from £199.
Two-person crew, any room of the house, no lifting for you, and your items are reused or recycled wherever possible. Fixed price agreed before we come.
- Exact price shown before you pay
- Full refund until 6pm the evening before
- Any room, any stairs, two-person crew
- Reuse first, landfill last