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Planned System Maintenance - Limited Service

Sunderland City Council will be carrying out planned system maintenance from 12 noon on Friday 5th June until 7am on Tuesday 9th June. During this period, we will only be able to respond to urgent enquiries. If your enquiry is not urgent, please contact us before or after these times when full services will be available. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding.

Bulky waste collections

Managing the disposal of waste upholstered domestic seating containing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Many items of upholstered household seating contain high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These are toxic chemicals that were used to fireproof covers and foams. The making, selling and use of products containing POPs is now banned.

There is a requirement to separate waste containing POPs collected through our bulky waste collection service and at our household waste and recycling centres. We might collect certain items, including sofas, suites and upholstered items and electrical equipment, separately but it will still be on the same day.

Find out more about POPs

Alternative ways to dispose of your unwanted items

If you have unwanted household items that won't fit in your green bin, or recycling items that won't fit in your blue bin, there are a number of ways to donate or recycle them without having to book a bulky waste collection:

Donate to local charity shops

  • Take your good quality unwanted items to the St Vincent's Revive Sunderland (opens new window) charity reuse shop - operated by St Vincent de Paul Society - at Pallion Household Waste and Recycling Centre. They accept a wide range of household and garden items as well as sporting and camping equipment.
  • There are lots of charity shops in the city centre and in local high streets across the city, including Oxfam, Age UK, Barnardo's, British Heart Foundation and St Benedict's and many more.
  • You can also donate clothes to charity by placing them in the charity metal containers in car parks and other sites in the city.

Recycle 

  • Recycle as many household items as you can in your blue recycling bin. Don't forget to wash and squash food and drinks containers.
  • The Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) at Pallion Industrial Estate, Sunderland and Campground, Wrekenton accept a huge range of items that can be recycled. Remember to book a free appointment before using the centres.
  • Use bottle banks in supermarket car parks when you go to do your shopping.
  • Use websites such as Freecycle and GumTree.

Garden waste collections

  • If you subscribe to our Garden waste collection service, we will empty your brown bin once every two weeks from the end of March until mid-November.
  • It's quick and easy to sign up, you can find out more on the Garden waste page.

Use our Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs)

  • The HWRCs at Pallion and Campground accept a huge range of household waste and recycling items, including large bulky items. Remember to book a FREE slot before using the centres:


Bulky waste collections for Sunderland residents

Residential properties in Sunderland are eligible for free bulky waste collections, subject to availability. This service is exclusively for private households within the city and cannot be used by:

  • Businesses or commercial premises.
  • Shops or retail outlets.
  • Landlords clearing properties.
  • Anyone disposing of waste from business activities, even if carried out at home.

We provide tailored commercial waste and recycling solution for these areas.  Visit our Commercial waste and recycling services page for full details.


We will collect up to a maximum of SIX items per bulky waste collection from your home address, per day.
 

Items we do not collect

  • Hazardous waste - including asbestos, waste oils, fuels, solvents, gas cylinders, and fluorescent tubes.
  • Other hazardous items should be taken to our HWRCs  at Pallion or Gateshead or collected by a legally registered waste carrier.
  • Heavy or oversized bags - such as dumpy bags or any bag over 25kg.
  • Contaminated items - including soaked items or affected surrounding areas.
  • Blue pallets - only two standard pallets can be collected. For more, contact the supplier or take them to the HWRC.
  • Major renovation waste - from conversions, landscaping, or large DIY projects, including builder/contractor waste.  Please take this to the HWRC or arrange a collection with a legally registered waste carrier.
  • Landlord clearances - for large removals, contact our Commercial waste and recycling services team.


Collection guidelines

  • No more than six items will be collected during each visit. For example, a three-piece suite counts as three items; a dining table and four chair counts as five items.
  • Collections are based on the city's electoral wards, with each ward area having a set collection day.
  • Items are collected between 7.30am and 5pm.
  • Upholstered furniture and electrical items (e.g washing machines and fridges) are collected by separate vehicles. 
  • Only the items listed in your request will be taken.   If there are items not listed on your request that are presented for collection, we may take photos to support any queries.
  • Please present your items for collection on the day from 7.30am at the nearest vehicle access point. We do not collect from inside homes or garages, including for assisted collections.


On collection day - what you must do

  • Only present the items you've booked.
  • Place items together, outside, near the edge of your property and closest vehicle access point from 7:30am onwards. Early placement may be treated as fly-tipping.
  • Store items safely to avoid harm, especially to children.
  • Bag or bundle loose items, each bag counts as one item.
  • Do not overfill bags or boxes that prevent the crew safely lifting them; max size is a standard black sack.
  • Large items must be safe to lift by two people.
  • Tape glass items (such as mirrors and TV units) to prevent breakage.
  • Empty fridges/freezers of all food.
  • Keep items dry and free from contamination to avoid them becoming too heavy to lift. 
  • Where items are contaminated (e.g. urine/faeces) we ask that residents wrap up and seal them to protect collection crews.


Important information before booking

  • If your items cannot be collected because the required conditions were not met,  you will need to resolve the issue and book a new collection.
  • Sunderland City Council is not liable for items left in public areas before collection.
  • Before requesting a collection, please read our Terms and conditions. You can also find more information in our Frequently Asked Questions.
  • Sunderland City Council does not accept any liability for any items stored or left in a public area prior to collection. 

We will collect up to a maximum of SIX items per bulky waste collection from your home address, per day.
 

Our online request systems have changed. When you click on the button below, you'll be redirected to the council's 'My Account' sign in page. Please sign in as usual or create an account using your email address.

Book a bulky waste collection

See our step by step guide that shows you how to book, cancel, reschedule or amend a bulky waste collection online.


Changing or cancelling your booking

You can amend the items and cancel the booking up to midnight the working day before your collection if you booked this online.

See our step by step guide that shows you how to change or cancel a bulky waste collection online.

If you booked your bulky waste collection by phone, you can amend the items up to the working day before your collection, by calling 0191 520 5550. Lines are open between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.