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Furniture dumped on the side of pavement.

How to Dispose of Large Items in Banstead & Reigate

Did you know London produces over 7 million tonnes of waste every year,  that’s around 20000 tonnes every single day? 

And while Banstead and Reigate aren’t part of London, the challenge of bulky waste, things like sofas, fridges, mattresses, and wardrobes, is just as real here in Surrey. In fact,  Reigate & Banstead collected over 56,000 tonnes of household waste last year, with just over half of it recycled . That means every small step we take to dispose of things properly makes a real difference to our community.

The good news? There are plenty of safe, simple ways to get rid of unwanted large items. From booking a council collection to donating to charity, taking things to a recycling centre, or letting ATA Transport & Removals do the heavy lifting for you.

Your Options for Large Item Disposal (bulky waste) in Banstead & Reigate

1- Council Bulky Waste Collection (Reigate & Banstead Borough Council)

What Items They Collect

The council accepts most large household items, including:

  • Washing machines
  • Sofas
  • Beds and mattresses (must be wrapped in protective plastic)
  • Wardrobes, tables, mirrors (mirrors likewise need to be wrapped for safety)
  • Fridges and freezers

What Items They Cannot Collect

Hazardous or inappropriate materials are not accepted, such as:

  • Asbestos
  • Builders’ rubble, plasterboard
  • Car batteries, oil tanks, petrol/diesel, tyres
  • Electronic screens (TVs/monitors), computer monitors
  • Cooking oil, creosote, garden chemicals
  • Pianos or other heavy/bulky musical instruments.

Booking & Collection Details

  • Collections are scheduled for set days:
    • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday for most items.
    • Wednesdays are reserved specifically for fridges and freezers.
      All items must be placed outside your property by 6 am on the scheduled collection day.
  • The crew will not enter your home or climb stairs to retrieve items.

Cost and Payment

  • There’s a minimum non-refundable charge of £43.50 per booking, regardless of how many items you request to be collected.
  • Once booked, no changes or refunds are allowed to your order.

🔗 Book bulky waste collection with Reigate & Banstead Council

2. Surrey Recycling Centres 

If you’ve got your own transport, you can take bulky items directly to a local Community Recycling Centre (CRC).

  • Most large items are accepted (small charge: about £5.60 per bulky item).
  • Vans or trailers usually need a permit.
  • You may need to show ID or proof of address.

Local Options Near Banstead & Reigate:

  • Epsom CRC (Blenheim Road, Epsom) – a popular site for residents in Banstead and nearby.
  • Earlswood CRC (Earlswood Depot, Redhill) – the closest for many Reigate residents.
  • Leatherhead CRC (Randalls Road, Leatherhead) – another option if you’re west of Banstead.
  • Caterham CRC (Chaldon Road, Caterham) – convenient for those on the eastern side of the borough.

🔗 Find your nearest Surrey recycling centre

Pros: Cheap, you control the timing, items recycled responsibly.
Cons: You need transport (and muscle power), opening hours can be restrictive, and rules on permits/ID apply.

3. Donate, Sell, or Rehome

Before sending items to landfill, see if they can be reused. Many bulky household items still have life left in them — and someone else might be looking for exactly what you want to get rid of.

Popular Platforms:

  • Freecycle – a free local site where you give things away. 
  • Freegle – very similar to Freecycle, but UK-based and active in Surrey.
  • Facebook Marketplace – quick, local, and popular for furniture. 
  • eBay – best if the item has real resale value.
  • Craigslist – less used in the UK, but still an option. 
  • Gumtree – popular for local second-hand items.

Charities and Local Options:

  • Furnistore (Reigate & Banstead) – collects reusable furniture and household goods to resell affordably.
  • British Heart Foundation Furniture & Electrical Stores – take sofas, wardrobes, beds, and working electricals (they often collect for free).
  • Emmaus Surrey – accepts furniture donations to support homelessness projects.

Pros: Eco-friendly, helps people in need, sometimes you make a bit of cash.
Cons: Takes time to list items, take photos,  wait for responses, and make sure people actually show up.

4. Licensed Waste Carriers

Professional waste carriers collect directly from your home.

  • Always check they have a Waste Carrier Licence (look them up on the Environment Agency register).
  • Ask for a receipt to protect yourself.
  • Platforms like LoveJunk match residents with licensed carriers.

🔗 Find a licensed bulky item collector in Surrey

5. The Hassle-Free Option: ATA Transport & Removals

If you’d rather skip the hassle, ATA Transport & Removals makes bulky item disposal simple and stress-free:

  • ✅ Licensed & insured — no risk of fines or fly-tipping.
  • ✅ Eco-friendly disposal — we recycle or donate wherever possible.
  • ✅ Heavy lifting included — we’ll collect from inside your home.
  • ✅ Local and family-run — based in Banstead, trusted in Surrey.

Comparing Your Options: Pros & Cons

Disposal MethodProsCons
Council Bulky Waste CollectionOfficial, affordable (£43.50), convenient bookingYou must move items outside by 6am, limited items accepted, no refunds, not flexible on dates
Surrey Recycling Centres (CRC)Low cost (~£5.60 per item), recycling-focusedNeed your own transport, permits for vans, booking/ID required, heavy lifting involved
Donate, Sell, or RehomeEco-friendly, helps others, can make moneyTime-consuming, requires buyers/collectors to turn up, not suitable for broken items
Licensed Waste Carrier (e.g. LoveJunk)Professionals handle it, legal & safe if licensedCosts vary, need to check credentials, still some organising involved
ATA Transport & RemovalsWe do all the heavy lifting, fully licensed & insured, flexible scheduling, eco-friendly disposal, local & family-runSlightly more expensive than DIY — but completely stress-free

Why proper disposal matters in Banstead and Reigate

Protecting Our Environment

When bulky waste isn’t handled properly, it can end up in landfill or dumped illegally. That’s bad news for everyone:

  • Fridges & freezers release harmful gases if not treated correctly.
  • Mattresses & sofas can take decades to break down.
  • Electronics may leak chemicals into the soil and water.

But the good news is: by disposing of waste responsibly — through the council, local recycling centres, or ATA — you’re helping keep Banstead & Reigate’s green spaces safe and clean. Every choice makes a difference.

Staying on the Right Side of the Law

UK law takes waste disposal seriously. Fly-tipping and improper disposal can lead to:

  • £400 on-the-spot fines from councils.
  • Up to £50,000 fines or even prison sentences in serious cases.

The key thing to know: even if you hire someone else to take your waste, you’re still responsible if it’s dumped illegally. That’s why choosing a licensed and insured service like ATA is so important — you can relax knowing everything is handled properly.

📍 Local, family-run business covering Banstead, Reigate & surrounding Surrey
📞 Call us today on 07838758495
🌐 Visit us at www.atatransportremovals.com 

Book ATA’s Furniture & Appliance Disposal Service in Banstead & Reigate