Recycling and Sustainability — Council Largeitem Collection

Council Largeitem Collection is a central part of our borough's sustainability programme. This page explains how our council large item collection, bulky waste rounds and reuse initiatives work together to reduce landfill, support local communities and keep reusable items in circulation. The large-item collection service is designed to prioritise repair and reuse before recycling or disposal, and it sits alongside education campaigns to help residents make greener choices.

Our published recycling percentage target for the large-item stream is 70% by 2030, an ambitious but achievable goal that emphasizes reuse, refurbishment and material recovery. That target is measured annually across all bulky-item routes and transfer-station outcomes and is aligned with broader borough waste reduction plans. To meet it we combine performance metrics, investment in infrastructure and close coordination with partners who refurbish, resell or responsibly recycle items that are no longer usable.

Across the boroughs, the approach to waste separation for the largeitem collection recognises distinct material streams: wood and timber, mixed metals, electricals (WEEE), textiles, mattresses and soft furnishings. Crews trained in the council bulky waste collection protocol perform an initial assessment at the kerbside to identify reuse potential and direct items to the correct stream. Residents are encouraged to present items clean and accessible, which increases the chance that a sofa, wardrobe or white good can be repaired or donated instead of being treated as residual waste.

Our network of local transfer stations and dedicated reuse hubs is critical to the success of the Largeitem Collection and bulky waste operations. These facilities allow the council to sort incoming items efficiently, divert goods suitable for refurbishment, and consolidate loads for specialist recyclers. Shorter journeys to nearby transfer stations also reduce vehicle emissions and help keep operating costs down while enabling faster turnaround for items destined for reuse.

At each hub we operate dedicated areas for a range of activities to maximise recovery and social benefit. The facilities include:

• repair and refurbishment workshops for furniture and appliances, increasing reuse rates;
• electronics testing and certified WEEE processing to reclaim valuable components;
• textile grading and mattress disassembly for fibre and foam recycling.

These hubs also provide space for community initiatives, social enterprises and small-scale remanufacturing that create local jobs and training opportunities.

Partnership development with reuse organisations is essential to scale. The council works with a mix of local not-for-profits and national refurbishers to ensure that good-condition household items are channelled to families in need or to low-cost reuse stores. These arrangements extend the life of goods, reduce demand for new products and lower the environmental footprint associated with production and transport.

To reduce emissions from the large-item collection service, the fleet is moving steadily toward low-carbon vehicles, including full-electric and plug-in hybrid vans. In addition to vehicle electrification, route optimisation technology reduces mileage and idling, while charging infrastructure at transfer stations ensures operational reliability. Smaller, purpose-built electric vehicles improve access on narrow streets and reduce noise and air pollution in residential areas served by the council bulky waste collection teams.

Operational best practices complement the greener fleet: consolidated pickups, scheduled bulky-item rounds and pre-sorting at community collection points increase efficiency and reduce carbon per item handled. Crew training emphasises safe manual handling, rapid assessment for reuse, and clear documentation to track whether items are repaired, donated or recycled. These measures together strengthen the circularity of the large-item programme.

Our vision for the large-item collection programme is a community-focused circular service that prioritises reuse and low-carbon logistics. By combining a clear recycling percentage target, high-quality transfer station operations, strong charity partnerships and an upgraded low-emission fleet, the council aims to show how local government can lead on sustainable waste management. Continued monitoring, transparent reporting and expanding partnerships with social enterprises will be essential to reach the target and deliver environmental and social benefits across the borough.