Bulky Waste - Residents FAQs

Why are you charging?

Glasgow City Council took the decision to introduce charges for removing bulky waste at a meeting of the Full Council in February 2020. This decision brings Glasgow into line with the vast majority of all other Scottish local authorities, where charging for uplifting bulky items is a standard feature of their waste management services.

Applying a charge for the collection of large items is also consistent with the council's new Resource and Recycling Strategy 2020-30 and 'empowering Glasgow to become a zero-waste city'.

Charging aims to change the way citizens think about resources. Assigning value to bulky items can encourage everyone to reduce the amount of waste they produce or find other ways for items to be reused where possible. Extending the useful life of bulky items will help reduce Glasgow's carbon footprint and help support the city's aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

You can find out more about the Resource and Recycling Strategy 2020-30 by following this link.

How do I make a request?

Residents can make a request using our online form on our webpage.

You can download our app from the App store and Google Play.

If this is the first time you have used our online form you will need to register at myaccount. 

We're sorry but we cannot accept requests from residents in high rise properties or properties with internal bulk chambers at this time. Residents should continue to use their bulk room.

Current Terms and Conditions (PDF, 166 KB)(opens new window) can be downloaded from our website - please ensure you retain a copy once you have placed your request.

What is myaccount?

Myaccount gives you the ability to set up an online account using a single user name and password to access a range of online public services including some Glasgow City Council services. Read more about myaccount.

What kind of items do you collect? 

Please visit our Bulky Waste Collection page for details of what we can and cannot collect.

How many items can you collect?

We do not have an upper limit of items we will collect but all must be listed on the request form.

What are the charges?

Charges are shown below:

• Standard items: £5 per item
• Large electrical item: £5 per item
• Special item: £80 per uplift

How do I make payment?

Payment should be made by debit or credit card when making the request.

What information will I be given?

When you complete your order online, you will receive a notification to let you know we have received your request. When we have processed your request we will then contact you with a collection date. This is the day we will plan to collect your bulky waste.

You should also download a copy of the Terms and Conditions (PDF, 166 KB)(opens new window) which are available on our website.

When will you collect my bulk waste?

Collection may be up to 28 days from the date of request.

Where should I present my waste?

You should only present your waste the day before your Collection Date (please refer to your email/SMS).

Bulky waste should not be placed on pavements or lanes. You should present your waste safely within your own property boundary (e.g. your back court or front garden) and must not obstruct bins or pathways. Large electrical items should be placed separately as these will be collected by a different vehicle.

An exception to this is if your property has no outside place.  Only in this case please leave your waste outside the front of your property.

Why are electrical items separate?

Our service follows the legislation on the recycling of electrical items. We collect these items separately and pass them on to recyclers.  This avoids them going to landfill. You will receive a separate email with a collection date for your large electrical items.

How do I cancel my Request?

If you need to Cancel your request, please login to your account.

We will tell whether a refund is permitted, based on our Terms and Conditions, if you attempt to cancel your request via the online portal.

We will accept cancellations of any order made within 48 hours of initial request.

In addition, if the value of your service is greater than £42 you have a right to cancel your collection at any time within your 14-day cooling off period.  This starts when you receive notification of your collection date. 

If we have already provided the service during the cooling off period, you will receive no refund.

I don't have access to the internet - how do I make a request?

A phone line will be available each Tuesday and Wednesday 9am - 3pm for those Residents who cannot access the internet. Please contact us on 0141 287 9700. We will review the opening times of the phone line and reserve the right to amend this.

What happens to the items that are collected?

The bulky items we collect are taken to the council's appointed processing supplier where recyclable material is extracted from the bulky waste. This process specifically targets the capture of metals, wood, plastics, aggregates and cardboard for recycling.

Residual materials left at the end of the process are considered a Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and thermally treated as part of an energy recovery process to generate renewable energy. A small proportion of material which cannot be recycled or recovered is disposed at landfill.

Bulky Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is kept separate from the other bulky material and processed through a compliance scheme. Contractors working on behalf of the compliance scheme collect the material, break it down to component parts, extract the recyclable elements and dispose of residual components either through energy recovery, landfill or hazardous landfill.  Further details are available on the Lets Recycle website.

The council do not collect my bins from my back-court - where should I leave my bulky waste?

We have risk assessed some properties as unsafe or inaccessible for our crew to collect bins and bulky waste.  These properties will usually have their large communal bins placed on the street instead of within the grounds of the property.  Where this is the case with your property, please present your bulky waste no earlier than the day before your scheduled collection date in front of your property.  Do not leave it in your back court as it will not be collected. Please ensure you do not obstruct the street.

I live in a flat - what does this mean for me?

Residents in flats can make requests for bulk uplift.  However, your landlord or factor may already have made arrangements for bulk waste collections so you may wish to check with them first. If your property is excluded, i.e. managed by your landlord or factor, we will advise you this on our online form.

I am a Housing association tenant - what does this mean for me?

Residents who are tenants of Housing Associations can make requests for bulk uplift.  However, your HA may already have made arrangements for bulk waste collections.

If your property is excluded, i.e. managed by your landlord or factor, we will advise you this on our online form.

I live in a factored property - what does this mean for me?

Residents who have a factor can make requests for bulk uplift.  However, your factor may already have made arrangements for bulk waste collections.

If your property is excluded, i.e. managed by your landlord or factor, we will advise you this on our online form.

I live in a high rise property - what does this mean for me?

Unfortunately we cannot take individual requests from residents in high rise properties. However your bulk chamber will continue to be cleared by either the council, your landlord or factor.

My property has a special room for bulk waste - what does this mean for me?

We're sorry but we cannot take individual requests from residents in properties with internal bulk chambers. However your bulk chamber will continue to be cleared by either the council, your landlord or factor.

What about fire risk?

We encourage all residents to be mindful of where bulk is placed.  We will engage with landlords and factors of properties with internal bulk chambers to ensure that waste is managed safely.

I haven't received an acknowledgement email

You should automatically receive an acknowledgement email when you place your request.  Please check your spam mail.

My collection date has passed and you haven't collected my bulky waste

We are working very hard to meet all demand while keeping our staff safe.  If you have received one of the emails mentioned below please follow those instructions. 

I received an email saying you couldn't collect my bulky waste - why is this?

We may not have been able to collect your bulky waste for a number of reasons such as - it was unsafe, it was inaccessible, the waste was not in the described location, the waste was not as described.  In cases like this we close the job and no refund is available.  Please refer to your Terms and Conditions. If you still require a collection, please fix any issues and place a new request.

I received an email saying you couldn't collect my bulky waste due to operational reasons and will issue me a new collection date.  Why is this?

We are working very hard to meet all demand while keeping our staff safe.  On occasion we may run out of time to collect your bulky waste.  When this occurs we will reschedule your collection and issue a further email.  Please leave your bulky waste out on your property for collection.

I received an email saying you had completed my job but some items haven't been collected.

We may not have been able to collect all your bulky waste items for a number of reasons such as - it was unsafe, it was inaccessible, the waste was not in the described location, the waste was not as described.  In cases like this we collect only what we can. Please refer to your Terms and Conditions. If you still require a collection for remaining items, please fix any issues and place a new request.

Can I get a Refund?

On occasion we may run out of time to collect your bulky waste.  When this occurs we will reschedule your collection and issue a further email.  Please leave your bulky waste out on your property for collection. 

We will consider refund requests if your order has not been completed within 28 days of receiving notification of your collection date; and photographic evidence can be provided. Please refer to your Terms and Conditions prior to requesting a Refund. You can make a request using your account.  

No refund will be given where we could not complete collection due to items not being presented correctly, items are not as described, or customer did not provide access.  Please refer to your Terms and Conditions  (PDF, 166 KB)(opens new window).

What about fly-tipping, won't it increase?

The previous system allowed for bulk to be placed at designated collection points. However, this system was open to abuse and removing these points across the city will help us to identify fly-tipping more easily.

Will we see increased enforcement?

Fly-tipping is a form of antisocial behaviour, GCC can take enforcement action against perpetrators where evidence is available. 

Is fly-tipping a statutory requirement of local authorities to resolve?

GCC and the police have statutory powers to address fly-tipping and can issued fixed penalty notices to those that are caught engaging in this activity. Residents witnessing fly-tipping should note any details, such as vehicle registration numbers, and report the incident online, by using the MyGlasgow App or via Dumb Dumpers.

If there is waste left on a pavement, footpath, road or wasteland owned or managed by GCC, should this be reported as fly-tipping?

Yes, in line with the above response. However, bulk waste awaiting a requested collection should not be confused with fly-tipping. 

How do I report fly-tipping? 

You can report a fly-tipping incident online or by using the MyGlasgow App.

How can I dispose of my household waste for free?

If you have bulk items that are in good condition, could be re-used, haven't been left outside and still have the necessary fire labels (for sofas and armchairs), simply visit the Zero Waste website. There you can search their National Re-use Tool for the re-use organisations that can collect items from your area. You will need to contact a suitable re-use organisation from the directory and arrange for your items to be collected. 

All items should be in good working condition. Examples of items that re-use organisations will accept are:

• Sofas and armchairs (fire regulation tags must be attached)
• Beds and mattresses (fire regulation tags must be attached)
• Wardrobes, chest of drawers, bookcases, dressing tables
• Dining furniture
• Fridges, freezers, electric cookers, washing machines and tumble dryers
• Bicycles

Examples of items that re-use organisations will not accept are:

• Items which are soiled, ripped or damaged in any way
• Gas appliances of any kind
• Bulky style televisions
• Large wall units
• Small electrical items (e.g toasters, kettles, microwaves)
• Items that have been left outside
• Sofa and armchairs which have had fire tags removed

Charity shops and other furniture re-use organisation within Glasgow also accept household goods for re-use.

Residents can also continue visit our Household Waste Recycling Centres to dispose of household bulky waste free of charge.

Our Household Waste Recycling Centres are open 7 days a week, 8-6pm (last entry 5.45pm).

Please visit Household Waste Recycling Centres for important access information and see our frequently asked questions for more information.

Dawsholm Recycling Centre
75 Dalsholm Road
Glasgow
G20 0TB

Easter Queenslie Recycling Centre
90 Easter Queenslie Road
Glasgow
G33 4UL

Polmadie Recycling Centre
425 Polmadie Road
Glasgow
G42 0PJ

Shieldhall Recycling Centre
Renfrew Road
Glasgow
G51

I want to use an alternative waste carrier

If you choose to arrange a waste collection by a third party we encourage you to check that they hold suitable waste carrier licences.