Collection of bulky items
Bulky Household Waste
Oldham Council is working in partnership with Bulky Bob's to collect bulky household waste. This new partnership means that not only will bulky household waste items be collected from your doorstep, but also at least a quarter of the waste will be recycled or re-used. In addition to this there will be an additional positive social impact, as training for long-term unemployed people will be provided.
There is no charge for this service. However please note that residents are limited to 5 items per visit.
Items that will be collected are:
- all furniture
- refrigerators
- freezers
- cookers
- washing machines
- dishwashers
- tumble dryers
- microwaves
- carpets
- large miscellaneous household items (e.g. televisions, vacuum cleaners, cycles)
- cardboard – squashed down
Items that will not be collected are:
- builders' and DIY waste, (e.g. general building materials and fixtures and fittings such as rubble, doors, windows, kitchen units, sanitary fittings, etc.)
- house / garden clearances
- garden waste
- ordinary domestic refuse, gas cylinders, vehicle parts, liquids, hazardous waste, etc.
If you can, try to keep the items clean and dry before collection. This will enable Bulky Bob's to re-use the items to provide cheap, good quality second-hand goods for people on a low income in Oldham.
Please call 0161 770 6644 or e-mail contact@oldham.gov.uk to arrange a collection.
Who are Bulky Bob’s?
Bulky Bob’s are an award winning social business who aim to re-use, recycle and refurbish at least 25% by tonnage of the items they collect.
Around the country, thousands of items of furniture picked up by Bulky Bob’s crews are made available to families on low income. They also have links to over 100 referral agencies. This ensures that the furniture gets to hundreds of families every month who most need it.
For more information on Bulky Bob’s please visit the FRC Group website.
If you prefer to remove any bulky items yourself, you can dispose of waste free of charge at any of the Greater Manchester Household Waste and Recycling Centres.
Other items
A skip can be hired from Oldham Council at a competitive price for the removal of other bulky items and building materials such as kitchen units, doors, bathroom suites, fitted bedroom units, hardcore, bricks, radiators, soil and garden waste can be removed by the Council with a charge.
How about donating to charity?
If items are in fairly good condition there are charities that collect items from you, e.g. Emmaus who collect for homeless people or those moving into accommodation. They collect furniture, electrical items and bric-a-brac free of charge and can refurbish items.
Computer recycling
There are some organisations/ companies that recycle home computers and some will come out to collect:
- ITUK: 0161 230 6644
- Computer Recycling Centre Salford: 0161 287 8913
Recycling bicycles and training
Gremlins is a local, not-for-profit community project whose aim is to get people riding bikes. They collect old bikes from Arkwright Street Household Waste and Recycling Centre, as well as receiving donated bikes from the general public. These bikes are then either repaired and sold, or used for spares. Refurbished bikes and spare parts are available for sale to the general public from the project's workshop (Gremlins Cycle Library & Workshop G.C.L.&W., Unit 3, Meridian Business Centre, King Street, Oldham OL8 1EZ ).
Gremlins also run a cycle library, and can offer training in bike maintenance and repair, and road safety. Training is available either at their own venue, or in the community for individuals, families, schools and community groups, and may sometimes be provided free of charge depending upon individual circumstances. To contact the project, ring Fiona Jones on 0161 284 3733 or 07789446992, or email them at inbox@gclw.org.uk.