Clearing out before a move often means dealing with furniture, old appliances, garden waste, and general clutter that won’t fit in your regular bins. In Birmingham, you have several options for getting rid of bulky items—from traditional skip hire and council services to man-and-van rubbish removal. This guide covers what’s available, typical costs, and how to choose the right option for your situation.
Skip Hire in Birmingham
Skip hire remains a popular choice for larger clearances, particularly when you need time to fill the container over several days. Birmingham has numerous skip hire companies, from family-run local operators to national providers. Prices depend on skip size, your location within the city, and the type of waste you’re disposing of.
A mini skip (2 cubic yards, roughly 20 bin bags) typically costs from £90–£130 in Birmingham. A midi skip (4 yards, about 30–40 bin bags) runs around £130–£180, while a standard builder’s skip (6–8 yards, holding 50–60 bin bags) costs £180–£280. Larger 12–16 yard skips, suitable for house clearances or major renovations, range from £280–£450 or more depending on the provider and hire duration.
If your skip needs to go on a public road or pavement rather than your private driveway, you’ll need a permit from Birmingham City Council. Skip hire companies can usually arrange this for you, though it adds to the cost and requires several working days’ notice. Skips placed on private property don’t need permits.
Local Skip Hire Companies
Bogan Skip Hire, based in Handsworth, has been operating for over 35 years and covers Birmingham, Sandwell, and Walsall. As a family-run business, they offer domestic and commercial skip hire with a focus on competitive pricing and reliable service (boganskiphirebirmingham.co.uk).
ISL Waste Services is another long-established family business with over 30 years in Birmingham. They’re notable for their commitment to zero landfill, with all waste segregated for recycling, reuse, or energy recovery. They offer mini, midi, builder’s, and 14-yard skips (isl-wasteservices.co.uk).
Martin Skip Hire provides same-day or next-day delivery across Birmingham, with 2-yard through to 16-yard skips available. They can also arrange road permits and offer competitive pricing for domestic customers (martinskiphire.co.uk).
Skip Hire Birmingham Go has been trading since 1995 and offers skips ranging from 4 to 40 cubic yards, including enclosed and drop-door options for easier loading (skiphirebirminghamgo.co.uk).
Man and Van Rubbish Removal
An alternative to skip hire is using a man-and-van rubbish removal service. These companies send a team to your property, load your waste onto their truck, and take it away for disposal—often the same day. You only pay for the space your waste occupies, rather than hiring an entire skip you might not fill.
The main advantages are convenience and speed. You don’t need to load the skip yourself, there’s no permit required since the vehicle doesn’t stay on the road, and the waste is cleared immediately. For smaller amounts or situations where you can’t physically load a skip, this approach often works out cheaper and more practical.
Rubbish Removal Companies in Birmingham
Clearabee is the UK’s largest man-and-van clearance company, with their head office based in Birmingham city centre. They offer same-day collections across the West Midlands, with over 95% of waste diverted from landfill. Their Birmingham-based teams also provide skip hire, skip bags, and specialist sofa and mattress removal (clearabee.co.uk).
Get It Tidy has over 10 years’ experience in Birmingham and surrounding areas including Solihull, Bromsgrove, and Redditch. They’re fully licensed waste carriers with prices starting from £40, and they recycle around 95% of collected waste (getittidy.co.uk).
Clearance and Clean Up describes itself as Birmingham’s largest rubbish removal company, with over 10 years of operation. They have an online booking system available 24/7 and provide paperwork confirming proper recycling of your waste (clearanceandcleanup.co.uk).
Junkbusters offers rubbish removal across Birmingham with a focus on eco-friendly disposal. They report over 90% landfill diversion and partner with The Tree Council to plant a tree for every job completed (junkbusters.co.uk).
Meadway Clearance Services, based in Solihull, has over 25 years’ experience and covers Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield. They’re a licensed waste carrier and donate reusable items to local charities where possible (meadwaycs.co.uk).
Birmingham Council Bulky Waste Collection
Birmingham City Council offers a bulky waste collection service for items too large for your regular bins. As of 2025, the service costs £49.50 for up to 10 items. Items must be left outside your property in an accessible location, and everything must be safe for two people to carry.
The council will collect furniture, mattresses, white goods, bicycles, and garden waste through this service. They won’t collect hazardous waste, building materials, or commercial waste. Booking is available online through the Birmingham City Council website or by calling 0121 303 1112.
Wait times vary depending on demand, and the service typically operates on scheduled routes rather than on-demand collection. If you need items removed quickly, private services may be more suitable.
Household Recycling Centres
Birmingham has five household recycling centres (HRCs), operated by Veolia, where residents can dispose of waste for free. These are located at Tyseley (James Road, B11 2BA), Castle Bromwich, Kings Norton (Lifford Lane, B30 3JJ), Perry Barr (Holford Drive, B42 2TU), and Sutton Coldfield.
All visits must be booked online in advance through the Veolia Birmingham website. You’ll need proof of Birmingham residency (such as a driving licence or council tax bill), and you must arrive in the vehicle registered to your booking. Pedestrians aren’t permitted—you must drive onto the site.
Opening hours vary by season: from April to October, sites are open Monday to Friday 8am–8pm and weekends 8am–4:30pm. From November to March, weekday hours reduce to 8am–6pm. There are height restrictions of 2.1 metres (6’10”) at Sutton Coldfield and Kings Norton entrances. Vans and trailers larger than 6’x4′ require separate booking through the van booking centre.
The centres accept most household waste including furniture, appliances, garden waste, wood, metal, and electronics. There’s a limit of eight 25kg bags of rubble or soil per visit. Trade waste isn’t accepted through the standard booking system—businesses must call to arrange separate appointments at a fee of £78.
Note that Kings Norton HRC is undergoing redevelopment until October 2027, with some restrictions on what can be accepted. No vans or trailers are currently permitted at that site.
What Can’t Go in a Skip
Whether using skip hire or rubbish removal, certain items require specialist disposal. These include asbestos, gas bottles (though recycling centres have dedicated areas for these), tyres, hazardous chemicals, paint, solvents, fluorescent tubes, and medical waste. Fridges and freezers need degassing before disposal, which most licensed waste carriers can handle.
Most skip companies and rubbish removal services can take mixed general waste, garden waste, wood, metal, and construction materials like plasterboard. Always check with your provider about specific items, as policies vary.
Choosing the Right Option
For large clearances where you need several days to fill the container, skip hire usually makes sense. It’s also practical if you have help to do the loading and somewhere on your property to put the skip.
Man-and-van services work better when you want everything cleared in one go, can’t load heavy items yourself, or have limited outdoor space. They’re often quicker to arrange and don’t require permits.
The council bulky waste collection is the cheapest option if you only have a few large items and aren’t in a rush. The recycling centres are free but require transport and the ability to unload items yourself.
Whichever option you choose, always use licensed waste carriers. This protects you legally—if waste is fly-tipped, the original owner can be held responsible. Licensed companies provide waste transfer notes as proof of proper disposal.
Coordinating with Your Move
If you’re clearing out before a house move, timing matters. Arrange rubbish removal or skip delivery for a few days before your moving date, giving you time to sort through belongings and dispose of unwanted items before your removal team arrives.
For items in good condition, consider donating to charity shops or using collection services before resorting to waste disposal. Many Birmingham charities accept furniture, and some offer free collection for larger items.
If you need both rubbish clearance and moving help, a man and van service for your house move can often handle both on separate days, keeping your move streamlined and avoiding overlap between waste removal and packing.
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