The saying; “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is” is one that you should remember when shopping around for a quote for clearances.
Local authorities have created tight controls over disposal of household waste over the last 10 years, and the rules are very different from council to council.
Waste disposal is broadly charged by weight, with some exceptions on household items where unit charges may apply i.e. fridges.
Reputable suppliers will have a waste carriage licence and will normally want to visit your property to provide an estimate, sometimes a photo will suffice – but if neither are requested there is no way that the accurate cost to dispose can be estimated.
This is a low margin service, there is very little room for guess work. Each removal requires; fuel, wages for the crew, materials and ongoing service charges.
If you are offered a low charge, ask yourself how that is viable for the business. In all likelihood, your items will not be disposed of in a lawful, environmentally friendly and safe manner.
There have been an increasing number of fines bought to customers by local councils where items have been fly-tipped, or dumped and many have been unaware that the penalty sits with the ‘owner’ of the waste.
If you have not asked for the waste carriage licence and can’t inform the police that you checked their licence, the money you saved on getting a cheap deal will very quickly turn into a hefty fine.The news is full of stories like these:
https://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/19414997.fly-tippers-risked-safety-calves-field/
https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/19393454.731-court-fines-blackburn-man-rubbish-dumped/
https://www.halesowennews.co.uk/news/19387828.resident-hit-400-fine-rubbish-dumped-oldbury/
Ask for your suppliers waste carriage licence, if they don’t share it – it’s probably too good to be true.