Why sorting matters
A full house can hold decades of belongings. Some of it still has plenty of use left, some can be broken down into materials, and a smaller share has nowhere else to go. Our aim on every job is to keep as much as we can out of landfill, and to make sure anything that does need disposal ends up in the right place.
We sort as we go, rather than throwing everything into one load. That takes a little more care on the day, but it is the only way to separate useful items from waste properly.
How we sort what we clear
Reuse first
Furniture, kitchenware, books, toys, tools and household goods in decent condition can often go on to another home. Where items are suitable, we look to pass them to charities, reuse projects or resale. Charities have their own rules on what they can accept, so not everything will qualify, but it is always our first question.
Recycling streams
Things that cannot be reused are split into materials wherever possible:
- Metal – bed frames, old bikes, pans, radiators and garden tools.
- Wood – broken furniture, shelving, doors and timber offcuts.
- Cardboard and paper – boxes, packaging and old magazines (personal papers are handled separately, see below).
- Textiles – clothes, bedding, curtains and shoes.
- Electricals – kettles, TVs, washing machines and anything with a plug or battery. These count as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and go to sites set up to treat them.
Disposal at licensed facilities
What is left after reuse and recycling goes to authorised waste sites. We do not tip or dump anything, and we are happy to talk you through where your items are likely to go.
Your duty of care as a householder
In England, anyone getting rid of household waste has a legal duty to take reasonable steps to make sure it goes to someone authorised to take it. The government's waste duty of care code of practice explains this, including a section written for householders. If waste you handed over is later fly-tipped and you did not take reasonable care, you could face a fine.
In practice, that means checking any clearance firm, skip company or man with a van before they take anything. Ask for their waste carrier registration number and look it up on the Environment Agency public register of waste carriers. It only takes a minute. Keeping a note of the number, a receipt or a photo of the details is a sensible extra step. We would encourage you to make these checks with anyone you use, including us.
Items that need special handling
Sofas, armchairs and other upholstered seating
Many upholstered seats contain chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), often from older flame retardants. In England, the Environment Agency's guidance on waste upholstered domestic seating containing POPs says this waste must not go to landfill and must be destroyed, normally by incineration, and kept apart from other waste. It covers sofas, armchairs, sofa beds, upholstered dining and kitchen chairs, stools, futons and bean bags. Mattresses are not included. This is why we keep upholstered seating separate on a clearance. A sofa in good, clean condition with its fire safety label may still be suitable for reuse.
Fridges and freezers
Fridges and freezers contain gases and oils that have to be removed safely, so they go to specialist treatment rather than general scrap. Let us know if there is one in the house so we can plan for it.
Paint and chemicals
Half-used tins of paint, garden chemicals and cleaning products are common in garages and sheds. Some of these cannot go in ordinary waste. Please mention them when you ask for a quote, and we will tell you what we can take.
Gas bottles
Camping and patio gas bottles should never be crushed or put in general waste. Many can be returned to the supplier. Tell us if there are any on site so they can be dealt with safely.
Asbestos
We do not remove asbestos. It can be found in some older homes, for example in garage roofs, boiler cupboards, floor tiles or old panels. If you think something may contain asbestos, leave it alone and speak to a licensed specialist or your council for advice. We are happy to clear everything else around it once it has been dealt with.
Personal papers and private items
Letters, bank statements and old documents are kept apart from general paper recycling. Where possible we set them aside for you to check. Read more about how a full house clearance in Middlesbrough runs, or see the steps in how a clearance works from first call to empty rooms.
Ask us about a clearance
If you want to know what will happen to particular items before you book, just ask. You can get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote and we will explain how we plan to deal with everything.
