Special Refuse Collections - Households
Items too big for disposal into your grey refuse bin can be collected through our special collection service.
Charges for the special collection of bulky items are available from the Council Charges page which can be accessed from the 'Related Links' section of this page.
Special collection of certain exceptional/large items will be charged at actual cost and will be agreed in advance of collection.
Bulky Items
Bulky items comprise items you take with you when you move house, to differentiate between what may reasonably be considered trade waste rather than household waste. As such, a typical bulky waste collection will:
Include: Furniture, household electrical appliances such as white goods, rugs, garden furniture, bicycles and other portable household items.
Exclude: Carpet or underlay, kitchen or bathroom units (i.e. those that are generally fixed to the wall), doors and windows, fencing panels or gates, greenhouses or sheds, boilers or storage heaters, gas bottles, building or refurbishment waste materials.
Please note items must be able to be safely lifted by 2 people (or the item will not be taken).
Bulky items can also be donated to charities such as Restart Orkney or maybe you could try selling the item on the Orkney Merkit Place Facebook Page (Both links are available from the 'Related Sites' section of this page).
What is Regarded as 'One Item'?
One item is regarded as a chair, a black bag, a rug, a fridge, a cooker etc., a three piece suite is classed as three items.
Arranging a Special Collection
Book and pay for your special collection online. Alternatively you can contact Customer Services on 01856 873535.
The dates for the isles special collections are detailed below.
Bookings must be placed as soon as possible and up to 2 working days prior to the week commencing collection date, any special collection bookings received after 5pm on the Wednesday prior to the week commencing collection date will not be processed and will be held over until the next available collection date.
Special collections from commercial premises can be arranged by contacting Neighborhood Services and Infrastructure on telephone number 873535 extension 2320.
- Eday - Week Commencing: 30th September 2024, 9 December 2024 and 24 February 2025
- Graemsay - Week Commencing: 14 October 2024 and 20 January 2025
- Hoy and Flotta - Week Commencing: 21 October 2024 and 27 January 2025
- North Ronaldsay - Week Commencing: 7 October 2024, 6 January 2025 and 17 March 2025
- Papa Westray - Week Commencing: 28 October 2024, and 13 January 2025 and 24 March 2025
- Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre - Week Commencing: 11 November 2024, 13 January 2025 and 10 March 2025
- Sanday - Week Commencing: 28 October 2024, 9 December 2024 and 17 February 2025
- Shapinsay - Week Commencing: 14 October 2024, 2 December 2024 and 27 January 2025
- Stronsay - Week Commencing: 28 October 2024, 2 December 2024 and 10 February 2025
- Westray - Week Commencing: 11 November 2024 and 3 February 2025
