Large item collections

We can collect large and unwanted items for re-use, recycle or disposal.

We will collect up to 5 items free of charge per booking.

Please check the large item checker to see what items can be collected. For any items that are not on the list please visit a reuse and recycling centre to dispose of the item or contact Waltham Forest Service Store.

If your item is in a good enough condition to be used by someone else please let us know by booking a reuse collection. These reusable items will be passed onto the TCL Reuse Centre where items can be sold in TCL Reuse Centre shop. 

You can also pay for a speedier collection should you want your items collected quicker than the date shown to you when booking.

Items that we don't collect:

• Items which are too heavy and would require more than 2 people to move
• Electrical or Electronic items - includes most products that have a plug or need a battery
• Glass or mirrored items – please remove any glass or any mirrors from your items and take this to your local recycling centre

On the scheduled collection day, how you need to present your items for collection will depend upon whether you live somewhere with bins or with a sack collection service.

If you live somewhere with plastic two-wheeled bins or metal communal bins, on the scheduled collection day for your large items, please:

• leave your items in the area where the bins at your address are kept (e.g. your front garden or bin store) by 6am.
• ensure the items are accessible to the collection crew and visible from the highway if the bin area is visible from the highway.
• ensure your items booked for collection do not obstruct access to any of the bins in case there is a collection scheduled on the same day.

Labelling your items with the REQ number of your large item request also helps the collection crew identify what items have been requested for removal.

Items booked for disposal need to be collected from the front of your property or bin store. The large item collection crew cannot enter your home or any other part of your property aside from your front garden or bin store to take your items. Items booked for a reuse collection will be taken from inside your property on the ground floor only.

Please do not leave items on the public highway. Any items left on the public highway can be classified as fly-tipping and you may be liable to a £400 fixed penalty notice for fly-tipping.

If you live somewhere without bins on the Council's sack collection service, on the scheduled collection day for your large items, please:

• leave your items where you would usually present your tied up sacks of refuse and recycling for collection between 6am to 9am.
• ensure every item you have booked for collection is accessible and visible to the collection crew from the highway.
• label every item you have booked for collection with the REQ number of your large item collection request.

Please do not leave items in the road, in a cycle lane, or blocking any pedestrian road crossings. The large item collection crew cannot enter your home or any other part of your property to take your items. Items booked for a reuse collection will be taken from inside your property from the ground floor only.

Any items left in the wrong place, on the wrong date or time, or without being booked and labelled can be classified as fly-tipping and you may be liable to a £400 fixed penalty notice for fly-tipping.

The Council offers a preloved collection service where your items will be passed on to a TCL Reuse Centre for reuse.  We accept most preloved furniture in a good and clean condition.

Reuse bookings will be prioritised for collection between 8am and midday on the scheduled collection day.  You will need to be home to give the collection crew access and they will let you know in advance when they are on their way.  All reuse booking items will need to be kept inside the ground floor of your home until the crew arrives.  This prevents damage to the item.

Passing on items for reuse saves resources, reduces waste and helps the local community furnish their homes.

There are terms and conditions (PDF) that you need to agree to in order to receive this service.

You can also view our reuse and repair directory to find local places to repair your things and buy and borrow second-hand.

For residents who usually receive a supported bin collection service from the Council, we aim to offer a supported large item collection service.  When available this can be selected as an option within your online booking.  The large item collection crew will enter your property and collect the booked items from the ground floor of your property.

You can amend or cancel a booking you have made with the Council by logging into your My Account.

You must give two working days' notice to amend or cancel a large item collection booking.

If the booked large items were not collected on the scheduled collection date, you can report this on your My Account.

You will have until 10pm, 20 working days after your scheduled collection date to report the large item collection as missed.

If the large item collection crew report a reason for not being able to collect your large items, you will be able to find this information in your booking.

There are 2 options for large electrical domestic collections:

Option 1

Book a free large domestic electrical appliance collection with Any Junk and North London Waste Authority (NLWA). Complete the Any Junk and North London Waste Authority booking form for your free collection.

You can book up to 4 items in a collection in a single booking.

You are able to book up to two months in advance.

Please note that Waltham Forests collection day is Fridays.

Large domestic electrical items accepted:

• Cooker
• Dishwasher
• Fridges and freezers
• Large Televisions
• Tumble dryer
• Washing machine

Option 2

Book an electrical item collection with the Waltham Forest Service Store collection team who can collect your unwanted large electrical items and white goods for a fee.

The Waltham Forest Service Store team will collect the following large electrical items:

• air conditioners
• clothes dryers
• cookers
• dishwashers
• freezers
• fridges
• microwaves
• washing machines

Fees

They can only collect up to three items in one go. Oversized items count as two.

• £27 for one standard size item
• £38 for two standard size items
• £38 for one oversize item
• £48.50 for three standard size items
• £48.50 for one oversize and one standard item

Sizing

• standard items: are too large to fit easily in a car, but less than a one cubic yard in volume (0.765 cubic meters)
• oversized items: are anything larger than this

On collection day

Your item(s) must be ready at 8.30am for collection. If the item(s) are being collected from inside your property, please make sure you’re in when the team arrive and that the appliance is disconnected.

To amend or cancel a booking or report a missed electrical large item collection

Please respond to the confirmation email you received.

If you would like your house or garden cleared, please get in touch with Waltham Forest Service Store. 

This is a chargeable service.