A licensed house clearance service handles waste streams that a skip or council crew cannot. Sofas and mattresses containing legacy flame retardants fall under Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) regulations – they must be dismantled by certified staff and logged. Refrigerators and freezers contain F-gas and require specialist recovery before recycling; the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 define how these are transported and processed. All electricals – TVs, microwaves, kettles – are WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) regulated, meaning they cannot go to landfill and must be recorded on your waste transfer note.
Your clearance provider will separate items for genuine charity reuse (British Heart Foundation, Emmaus, local hospices) and log the donation route. Everything else is weighed, categorised, and disposed of or recycled at licensed facilities. You receive a waste transfer note – a legal document – proving the contents left your property responsibly. This is essential if you're executor of an estate or a landlord closing a tenancy.
