Bulk Waste

Illegal dumping of large items (bulk waste) - like mattresses, sofas, and chairs - can come at a big cost to South Essex Homes. These items need a special and expensive type of disposal to keep people safe and protect the environment.

With fly-tipping happening more often, we need your help to stop this issue and prevent increases in service charges. 

There are different costs to dispose of different bulky items. Some of the things we often find dumped - such as mattresses, cushions, sofas, armchairs, office and dining chairs, and headboards - are known as 'POP' waste items, which stands for 'Persistent Organic Pollutants'.

There is a duty of care and a legal requirement for us to make sure these items are disposed of safely to protect the public and the environment. So, disposing of these items as a business comes at quite a cost as they cannot be disposed of in the same way as general household waste.

Unfortunately, it is not possible for South Essex Homes to keep covering this cost if this keeps happening. So if we are overspending on bulk waste disposal in a specific area, this could lead to an increase in the service charge, sadly only because of the actions of a few.

A big part of the problem seems to be non-South Essex Homes residents also dumping things illegally at our blocks. Staff in our Estate Services team work hard along with the Council to take care of these issues but any help that residents can offer is very important.

If you see someone dumping an item in your area, make sure you report this to us with photographs as evidence so that it can be recharged directly to the person who the item belongs to, and not to you in your service charge! Evidence could be an address on a dumped box, or the number plate of a car/van that the item has come out of.

We have already had residents submit photos of illegal dumping which has led to a successful recharge, but we need as much help as possible!

If you have a large item that you don't want anymore, there is lots of help on the Council's website about the right ways to dispose of big items and how to book a collection: www.southend.gov.uk/recycling-waste-0/bulky-waste-collection

You can also use websites such as 'Freecycle' where you can give away your unwanted furniture, and some local charity shops will even come and collect your old furniture and resell it if it is in good enough condition!

You can also take rubbish to the Household Waste Recycling Area located at Stock Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 5QF.

If you use a waste removal company, please make sure they have a waste carrier registration number.