What we can and cannot take
Dumply collectors handle general household items and rubbish. A few things need a specialist, either because they are dangerous or because the law requires it.
Happily taken
Black bin bags and general household rubbish
Sofas, chairs, tables and beds
Mattresses and bed frames
Wardrobes and chests of drawers
Washing machines, cookers and dishwashers
Televisions, computers and small electricals
Carpets, rugs and underlay
Garden waste, cuttings and old furniture
Bikes, toys and general clutter
Cardboard, packaging and flat-pack offcuts
Shed and garage clear-outs
Full or part house clearances
Not accepted
These are refused outright. Including them in a job is grounds for the collector to decline on the doorstep, and repeated attempts can lead to your account being suspended.
Hazardous waste
Asbestos, gas cylinders, fuel and similar materials need a licensed specialist contractor.
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Asbestos
Including asbestos cement sheets, old garage roofs, artex and pipe lagging.
Instead: Asbestos must be removed by a licensed asbestos contractor. Contact your council for a list.
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Gas cylinders and canisters
Patio gas, camping canisters, helium and welding cylinders, full or empty.
Instead: Return cylinders to the supplier or a stockist. Many accept them back free of charge.
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Fuel, oil and petrol
Petrol, diesel, engine oil, paraffin and containers that have held them.
Instead: Take to a household waste recycling centre with a designated oil bank.
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Fireworks, ammunition and explosives
Any explosive or pyrotechnic item, including flares and old ammunition.
Instead: Contact your local police force, who will advise on safe disposal.
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Loose or damaged batteries
Car batteries, and damaged or swollen lithium batteries which are a fire risk.
Instead: Most supermarkets and recycling centres have battery collection points.
Chemicals and liquids
Paint, solvents, oil, pesticides and cleaning chemicals must go to a household waste recycling centre.
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Paint, varnish and solvents
Wet or part-used tins of paint, thinners, white spirit and wood treatments.
Instead: Dried-out empty tins can go in normal waste. Wet paint must go to a recycling centre.
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Pesticides and weedkiller
Garden and agricultural chemicals, including slug pellets and concentrates.
Instead: Take to a household waste recycling centre as hazardous household waste.
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Cleaning chemicals and acids
Drain unblockers, bleach in bulk, brick acid and pool chemicals.
Instead: Take to a household waste recycling centre. Never pour down a drain.
Medical and clinical waste
Needles, sharps, clinical or pharmaceutical waste must be handled by a registered clinical waste service.
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Needles and sharps
Syringes, lancets, needles and sharps bins.
Instead: Your GP, pharmacy or council can supply a sharps bin and arrange collection.
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Clinical and infectious waste
Dressings, bodily fluids, and anything from a healthcare setting.
Instead: This needs a registered clinical waste contractor.
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Medicines
Prescription and over-the-counter medication, including inhalers.
Instead: Any pharmacy will take back unused medicines free of charge.
Illegal items
We will never collect stolen goods, weapons, drugs or counterfeit items.
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Stolen goods
Anything you are not the lawful owner of.
Instead: Contact the police.
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Weapons and drugs
Firearms, bladed weapons and controlled substances.
Instead: Contact the police, who run surrender schemes for weapons.
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Counterfeit goods
Fake or pirated items intended for resale.
Instead: Report to Trading Standards.
Restricted waste
Tyres, plasterboard, soil and rubble are restricted and need to be agreed with the collector in advance.
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Japanese knotweed and invasive plants
Controlled waste that must go to a licensed landfill site.
Instead: This needs a specialist contractor.
Agree with your collector first
These can usually be taken, but they cost more to dispose of or need special handling. Mention them when you post your job so the quotes you get are accurate.
Plasterboard
Must be kept separate from other waste at the tip, so it costs more to dispose of.
Some collectors will take it. Mention it in your job description so quotes are accurate.
Tyres
Tyres carry a per-item disposal charge.
Agree this with your collector first. Garages will often take them for a small fee.
Soil, rubble and hardcore
Very heavy, and charged by weight rather than volume.
Say roughly how much there is when you post the job so collectors can price it properly.
Fridges, freezers and air conditioners
Contain regulated refrigerant gases and need WEEE-compliant handling.
Many collectors can take these. Check the quote mentions fridge disposal.
Why we are strict about this
Under UK law you have a duty of care for your own waste. If waste from your home is fly-tipped, you can be fined even though somebody else dumped it. That is why every Dumply collector has to be a registered waste carrier, and why we will not take anything that needs a specialist licence.
If you ever suspect a collector has not disposed of your items properly, report it through the app and we will investigate.