York City Council runs a bulky waste collection service that is good value if you have time. For same-day or next-day removal, Mukin covers the same items at a fixed price with no booking wait.
01The short answer
| Option | Cost | Wait time | Access needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| York Council bulky waste | £20–£30 per item | 1–3 weeks | Kerbside only |
| Mukin same-day collection | £40–£90 per item | Same day | From anywhere in property |
Both services cover sofas, mattresses, fridges, wardrobes, washing machines, and most large household items. The council is cheaper per item; Mukin is faster and collects from inside the property rather than requiring kerbside access.
02What counts as bulky waste?
Anything too large for your standard wheelie bin that is not hazardous or commercial. In practice:
- Sofas, armchairs, and upholstered furniture
- Mattresses and divan bases
- Beds, wardrobes, and large flat-pack furniture
- Fridges, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, ovens
- TVs and large electricals
- Garden furniture, barbecues, and lawnmowers
- Large carpet rolls and rugs
Not bulky waste: rubble, soil, plasterboard, hazardous chemicals, or commercial waste. These have separate disposal routes.
03York Council bulky waste collection
The City of York Council’s bulky waste collection service accepts most large household items for a per-item fee. Book online or by phone. Confirm current per-item rates on the council website - this guide cannot guarantee pricing stays current.
How it works:
- Book online or by phone, choose a collection date
- Leave the item at the kerbside from 7am on the collection morning
- Items must be accessible from the street - no collection from back gardens or upper floors
- Collection happens during the day; you do not need to be home
The main limitations: weekday collection only, kerbside access required, and a typical 1–3 week wait from booking depending on the time of year.
04Same-day bulky waste collection from Mukin
Mukin handles single-item collections across York on a same-day or next-day basis. Call before noon on 07857 386029 and same-day is usually available.
- Cost: £40–£90 for a single item. Lower per-item rate when combining two or more pieces.
- Access: we collect from wherever the item is - third-floor bedroom, back garden, basement. No need to get it to the kerbside first.
- What we take: everything on the council’s list, plus items some councils restrict, like heavily stained upholstery.
- Waste transfer note: included on every job as proof of legal disposal.
Waste transfer note included
Every Mukin collection comes with a waste transfer note and an itemised invoice, which is the correct documentation for deposit deduction claims or business expense records.
05Which option makes sense for you
- You have 1–3 weeks before you need it gone
- The item is already at or near the kerbside
- You are happy with a per-item booking process
- Budget is the priority over convenience
- You need it gone today or this week
- You cannot get the item to the kerbside
- You have multiple items at once
- You are a landlord between tenancies
- The item is not on the council’s accepted list
06What about garden waste collection?
York City Council runs a separate paid garden waste scheme: an annual subscription for weekly collection of a brown bin. This is for ongoing garden maintenance waste, not a one-off clearance.
If you have a one-off garden clearance - post-landscaping, overgrown hedge cut-back, shed demolition - Mukin handles that as a single job rather than an ongoing subscription. The one-off collection is typically cheaper than subscribing to the council scheme for a single load. For regular garden waste, the council scheme is the right tool. For a single clearout, contact us for a quote.
See the City of York Council garden waste page for subscription details and current pricing.