Junk & Rubbish Removal in Stevenage

Trucks are quoted in fractions (minimum, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, full) of a box bed that typically holds 10-15 cubic yards / 8-12 cubic metres. Crews eyeball your pile against the truck. To avoid disputes, ask what the truck's full capacity is and get the quoted fraction written on the job sheet before loading starts.

Almost always by volume — the fraction of the truck or van your junk fills — plus surcharges for heavy materials (rubble, soil) and hard-to-dispose items (mattresses, fridges, tyres). Most companies have a minimum charge for a single-item pickup. Labour to carry items out is normally included; long carries, stairs and dismantling can add fees.

They can't go to normal landfill: fridges need refrigerant degassing, TVs and monitors contain regulated e-waste components, and mattresses are bulky and increasingly required to be recycled. The surcharge (per item) covers the specialist disposal route. If a company charges nothing extra for these, ask where they're taking them.

For a one-off pile you could load yourself over a weekend, a skip or dumpster is usually cheaper per cubic metre. A collection service wins when you want the labour done for you, have no space to park a skip, need same-day turnaround, or the volume is small. Rough rule: below about half a small skip's worth, a pickup service usually costs less all-in.

Most household clearances run £65-£495. Typical tiers: single item £40-£90, small van load £60-£140, half load £150-£280, full Luton van load £250-£460. Hourly two-person clearance work averages around £60-£80 per hour including disposal.

A 6-8 yard skip costs roughly £200-£340 per week plus a council permit (£15-£100+) if it sits on the road. Man-and-van clearance includes labour and only charges for the volume actually removed, so for part-loads or where you can't host a skip, it's usually the better deal; for heavy renovation waste you can self-load, skips win.