What we can't take — and where it should go instead
A licensed man-and-van service can carry almost everything a household produces. A short list of materials needs specialist handling that a general waste carrier legally can't provide. Here's that list, with the right route for each — because "we take everything" is a claim only unlicensed operators make.
Last updated: July 2026
The restricted list
| Material | Why | Correct route |
|---|---|---|
| Asbestos (garage roofs, soffits, old floor tiles, pipe lagging — possible in any building finished before the UK's full ban in 1999) | Licensed hazardous-waste handling only; disturbing it is the danger | A licensed asbestos removal contractor; don't break it up or bag it yourself — get a survey first if unsure |
| Liquid paint, solvents, garden and household chemicals | Hazardous liquids can't travel in a general waste load | Household chemical amnesty points at recycling centres; fully dried-out paint tins we can take as solids |
| Gas bottles and fire extinguishers | Pressurised vessels — explosion risk in a compacted load | Return to the supplier (Calor and others run bottle take-back); recycling centres accept some — check when booking your slot |
| Petrol, diesel, engine oil | Flammable/hazardous liquids | Engine oil banks at recycling centres; fuel via a garage or fuel-polishing service |
| Clinical and medical waste, sharps | Requires a clinical waste contractor | Pharmacies take sharps boxes; the council arranges clinical collections |
| Japanese knotweed and invasive plant material | Controlled waste — moving it illegally spreads it | A specialist invasive-species contractor with licensed disposal |
| Car batteries and loose lithium batteries | Fire risk in mixed loads (bin-lorry fires are routinely battery-caused) | Battery points at supermarkets and recycling centres — any shop selling over 32kg of batteries a year must take them back free (Waste Batteries Regulations 2009); car batteries to any motor factor |
Things people assume we can't take — but can
- Plasterboard — yes, as a segregated load; gypsum has been banned from mixed landfill waste since 2009, so keep it separate and tell us when booking. Details on the builders waste page.
- Sofas and upholstered furniture — yes, under the POPs handling rules with a small surcharge. Explained here.
- Fridges and freezers — yes, routed for degassing at an authorised facility. Explained here.
- Mattresses, carpets, TVs and monitors — yes, all surcharge-listed items we carry daily; see prices.
- Soil, rubble and tiles — yes, on weight-priced loads.
If you're unsure about an item, send a photo with your quote request — a straight answer costs nothing. Flagging a restricted item before collection day beats discovering it on the doorstep. It's also a decent test of any waste firm you talk to: the ones who never say "no" to anything are the ones whose loads end up in lay-bys, and that can become your fine.
Restricted items FAQs
Can you take asbestos?
No — asbestos requires a licensed hazardous-waste contractor and must not travel in a general waste load, ours or anyone's. If you suspect asbestos (corrugated garage roofs, textured coatings, old soffits and floor tiles — used freely until the late 1980s and only fully banned in 1999), leave it undisturbed and get a survey or a licensed removal quote first. We're happy to clear everything else once the asbestos is professionally handled.
Can you take paint tins?
Only if the paint is fully dried out — solid tins travel as ordinary waste, and you can dry part-used tins yourself with sand, sawdust or a proprietary paint hardener. Liquid paint, solvents and chemicals can't go in a general load; Oxfordshire recycling centres accept household chemicals in sealed containers with a booked visit.
What happens if a restricted item turns up mid-clearance?
We set it aside, tell you what it is, and point you to the correct route rather than quietly loading it — that's the practical difference a licence makes. It happens most with gas bottles in sheds and chemicals under sinks during house clearances; there's never a charge for identifying something we can't take, and the rest of the clearance proceeds as quoted.
Why do some firms say they take absolutely everything?
Because they don't intend to dispose of it legally — hazardous items are exactly what gets dumped, since proper routes cost real money and unlicensed operators pocket the difference. A refusal list like this one is a feature, not a limitation: it tells you the firm's loads actually arrive at licensed facilities. Check any carrier, including us, on the Environment Agency register before they load.
Get a fixed price in minutes
Photos of the waste plus your postcode are all we need. Same-day collection is often available if you call before midday.
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