Bulky waste collections

Before you contact us to arrange a bulky waste collection, could your item be reused?

If you have large items at home that you no longer need and are still in good condition, they could be passed on to someone else.

Items accepted include:

  • furniture in a reusable condition
  • soft furnishings such as sofas, mattresses and armchairs that have fire regulations labels attached
  • electrical items such as washing machines, fridges and cookers in good working order

You can look for an organisation that could collect your item by searching on Zero Waste Scotland's Reuse Tool.

What can I have collected?

The bulky waste collection service is for the collection of bulky household items such as mattresses, indoor furniture and large kitchen appliances. All the items collected on the bulky waste collection service can also be taken to your local Recycling Centre.

This service is for household items only, and therefore cannot be used by a business, or for items such as commercial fridges or freezers. We do not collect liquids or hazardous materials, e.g. asbestos.

Items we can collect

  • beds
  • carpets
  • cookers and ovens
  • dining room chairs
  • dishwashers
  • electric heaters
  • fireplaces and fire surrounds
  • fridges/freezers (emptied, clean and defrosted)   
  • mattresses
  • metal radiators
  • rugs - over 6 foot by 6 foot
  • sofas and armchairs
  • storage heaters (bricks removed)
  • tables - over 6 foot by 6 foot
  • televisions - over 32 inches
  • wardrobes
  • washing machines and tumble dryers

Items we cannot collect

  • baths/toilets/sinks
  • bikes and scooters
  • black bagged waste
  • building materials, including bags of rubble/soil
  • car batteries or any other type of battery
  • cardboard boxes
  • clothes horse
  • concrete coal bunkers
  • electric recliners
  • external/patio/French doors/windows
  • fences
  • garage doors
  • garden furniture
  • garden sheds
  • garden swings
  • garden waste
  • gas bottles
  • general waste
  • glass
  • greenhouses
  • heating/oil tanks
  • internal doors
  • kids ride on toys
  • kitchen units and worktops
  • paint
  • pianos
  • safes
  • small electrical items
  • storage heater bricks
  • trampolines
  • tyres

All items put out for collection must be presented in a safe and tidy manner on the kerbside or they will not be collected.

Book a bulky waste collection online through myeastlothian

Find out more about myeastlothian and register online

Additional information about bulky waste collections

  • there is a charge of £5 for each individual item uplifted
  • you can’t make changes to your bulky waste collection request (eg alter the number or type of items) after the booking is confirmed
  • you can cancel the booking at any time but the fee is non-refundable
  • there are only a limited number of slots available each week and you may find that you have to wait longer than expected before a collection slot is available to book
  • you may be allocated more than one collection date, depending on the number and type of items - as we carry out separate collections for fridge-freezers and large electricals, and metal items
  • all items booked for collection should be presented at the kerbside by 7:00am on the day of collection - we do not carry out collections from gardens, driveways, outbuildings like garages or sheds or inside houses
  • if you can't book online you can book a bulky waste collection by calling 01875 824 305

Why haven't my items been collected?

  • collection crews will only collect the items listed on your order
  • items must be presented neatly at the kerbside by 7:00am
  • fridges and freezers must be both clean and empty
  • we cannot collect items from between parked cars or from communal bin stores.

If your bulky waste collection has not taken place on the day you were given, and you had presented it on the kerbside by 7:00am, please email wasteservices@eastlothian.gov.uk