Quick answer
If you only have a few eligible items and can leave them outside for collection, the council route may be enough. For indoor removals, mixed loads, urgent jobs or awkward access in Andover, private clearance is usually the more practical option.
For Andover households, bulky waste collections are run by Test Valley Borough Council. The council describes this as a chargeable service for bulky household items and large amounts of garden waste, usually collected within 10 working days of payment.
Booking information is on the official council bulky waste page:
Bulky Waste Collection Service (Test Valley Borough Council)
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Current council costs, limits and booking rules
What you can expect to pay
On the council page (last updated 20 May 2026), Test Valley Borough Council lists:
- 1 item: £39.00
- Multiple items (maximum 4): £70.00
- Large amounts of garden waste: £44.00 minimum (quote by arrangement)
The same page also confirms one free collection (up to four items) per year for households receiving Council Tax Support (excluding single person discount), or households exempt from Council Tax.
Item limits and service scope
- Maximum of four items on the standard multiple-item charge.
- Only named items in the request are collected.
- Items can be changed or cancelled up to 1 working day before collection.
- This is a domestic service; non-domestic waste can be inspected and rejected.
- If an item is over 2m or very heavy, customer services advise whether collection is possible.
Collection-day requirements you need to plan for
Placement and access rules
The council requires waste to be on your property but outside and accessible (for example, drive or front garden), at ground level with no steps or stairs. The service does not remove items from within properties.
The official page also states waste must not be left on the highway, as that is classed as fly tipping.
Upholstered seating and rejected items
Test Valley Borough Council confirms upholstered domestic seating (WUDS) is collected separately, with different collection days to other bulky items. Mattresses and upholstered items must be protected from wet weather, and any damaged or soiled upholstered seating must be properly wrapped or sealed before collection.
The council’s non-acceptable items and rejection criteria are on:
Bulky Waste Collection Service - Non-acceptable Items
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Council collection vs private clearance at a glance
| Decision point | Council bulky waste (Test Valley) | Private clearance |
|---|---|---|
| How many items | Priced around 1 item or up to 4 items per booking band | Often better for larger or mixed loads |
| Where items are collected from | Outside only, accessible, ground level, no steps | Can be arranged for indoor carry-out and full property clear-outs |
| Timing | Usually within 10 working days after payment | Often better where a faster turnaround is needed |
| Acceptable waste types | Household bulky items and large garden waste, with exclusions | Useful when loads are mixed and need sorting across streams |
| Access constraints | No property entry by crews | Usually more practical for awkward access and internal removals |
When council collection is usually enough
The council route is often suitable when all of the following are true:
- You only have a small number of eligible items.
- You can move everything outside yourself to an accessible ground-level position.
- You can work within the council collection window and item rules.
- Your items are clearly domestic and not on the non-acceptable list.
When private clearance is usually more practical in Andover
Private clearance is commonly the better fit for indoor loads and situations where moving items outside is difficult or not realistic.
In Andover, this often includes:
- Mixed waste from several rooms rather than a few single bulky items.
- Awkward access (upper floors, tight stairs, limited frontage or parking constraints).
- Urgent jobs, including end-of-tenancy deadlines and fast property handovers.
- Probate clearances where contents need to be removed from inside the property.
- Pre-sale, post-tenancy or landlord handovers where a fuller clear-out is needed in one visit.
If you are comparing both routes, treat the council service as an outside collection option for eligible items, and private clearance as the practical option for internal labour, mixed contents and tighter timescales.
Before you book: recheck official details
Council prices, item rules and collection policies can change. Recheck the official Test Valley Borough Council pages before booking:
If you need assisted collection specifically, check directly with the council when booking, as no assisted option is confirmed on the above pages.