We offer a bulky waste collection service to Oxford residents. Bulky waste refers to large household items that are too big or heavy to fit into regular waste bins and therefore require special collection and disposal.
Oxford residents can book two free bulky waste collections per property, with up to three items per booking, in any 12-month period (the 12 months begins from the date of the first booking).
This page lists items we do and do not collect and how to prepare for collection day.
First - check if it could be reused or recycled
Items collected through the bulky waste service will be recycled and disposed of as waste. If your items could be reused, please consider donating them. You can reduce your waste by:
- passing unwanted items to friends, family, or neighbours
- donating items in good condition to local charities (some offer free collection)
- mending or repairing items instead of throwing them away
Further guidance on good waste management is available on our Recycling pages.
Bulky items we do collect
White goods
- air fryers
- dishwashers
- fridges and freezers (however we cannot currently collect American style fridge freezers)
- microwaves
- ovens and hobs
- tumble dryers
- washing machines
Electrical items
- computers and laptops
- screens and monitors
- desktop PC tower (monitor counted as separate item)
- lawnmowers (electric)
- printers
- televisions
- vacuum cleaners
Furniture and other
- armchairs
- bicycles
- bed bases
- bookcases
- chest of drawers
- headboards and footboards
- mattresses
- garden furniture
- sideboards
- sofas
- table and chairs
- toys (subject to approval based on weight and size)
- wardrobes
Bulky items we don't collect
In your home
- American style fridge freezers
- glass mirrors
- large metal items (e.g. filing cabinets)
- large plastic toys
- plastic storage boxes and crates
- toughened glass items (e.g. glass coffee tables or glass fronted fridges)
Garden
- animal hutches and crates
- climbing frames and swings
- fences and gates
- garden sheds and green houses
Other
- batteries with trailing wires
- car batteries
- industrial batteries
- fluorescent tubes
- strip lights
If your item is not listed (or if you want an alternative to using the bulky waste collection service):
- you can take most domestic bulky waste to Redbridge Household Waste Recycling Centre
- search for your item and get suggestions at the Waste Wizard tool at Oxfordshire.gov.uk
How to book (or cancel) a collection
Booking online is the easiest way to book a bulky waste collection.
The online form will capture your details, however, you will not be given a specific collection date at the point of booking. We will contact you by email to confirm your collection date once it has been scheduled. Collections will be made as soon as possible after booking. While we are unable to guarantee a specific time, we aim to complete all collections within 20 working days.
Book a bulky waste collection online
Alternatively, if you do not have access to the internet, contact us on 01865 249811 (during working hours only).
To cancel a collection, ring us on 01865 249811 (during working hours only) or email recyclingandwaste@odsgroup.co.uk.
You need to give at least 3 working days' notice before your scheduled collection. Cancellations after this will count towards your free collection allowance and/or may not be eligible for a refund.
Collection charges for additional or bespoke collections
Additional or bespoke bookings can still be made at the current rates:
- £23.50 for furniture (£10 concession)
- £34.50 for electrical items (£15 concession)
Collection day
We collect bulky items Monday to Friday between 6am and 4.30pm. We cannot give you a specific collection date at the point of booking - we will contact you by email to confirm your collection date once it has been scheduled.
Here's how to prepare for collection day (and avoid a missed collection):
- your items must be available for collection (visible and outside the property) by 6am on the agreed collection date
- we do not collect from inside houses, yards, gardens, sheds or garages
- only leave out the items you've booked a collection for, we won't collect different or additional items
- if the collection is from a terraced property, place items on the pavement no sooner than the night before the booked collection date
- if collection is from flats, place items by the shared bin store (if this isn't possible, speak to the customer service officer when booking)
If you prepared your bulky waste for collection properly but it was missed, you can report this on our Report missed bin collection page.
For more information see Terms and conditions of the Bulky Waste Collection Service.
Refunds for collections scheduled in March 2026
If you have already paid for a collection in March 2026 before free collections were introduced, we will refund the charge.
To claim your refund, you will need to know how you made your order.
If you booked online via the OxWaste website, request a refund via email to commercialwaste@odsgroup.co.uk, confirming the details of your collection.
If you booked by phone via the Oxford City Council contact centre, ring us on 01865 249811 (during working hours only) to request your refund.
Related content
Contact us about Recycling and Waste
Oxford Direct Services (ODS) provides recycling and waste services on behalf of Oxford City Council. These webpages reflect the collection policies agreed. If you're unable to use our online services or can't find the information you need you can email the recycling and waste team.
