Around Ealing April 2018 | Page 29

RECYCLING Stuck with a large problem? About to have a spring clean at home? Got an unwanted bed, sofa or freezer you do not know how to get rid of? Let the council take the strain. E aling Council provides a bulky items collection service for your unwanted furniture, from tables to armchairs; white goods like washing machines or fridges; and other household items like televisions and computers. Even bicycles can be collected. For £40 you can book a collection of anything up to eight items; or £25 per fridge or freezer. Not only is it convenient for you and saves you the trouble of hiring a van or finding people you know to help you do some heavy lifting, it is also a safe way to dispose of your unwanted stuff. YOUR RESPONSIBILITY It is your legal responsibility to make sure you dispose of things in the correct way, whether you do it yourself or employ a reputable and licensed company – or use the council’s bulky items collection service. Some people turn to rogue, unlicensed companies that offer to take things away for cash-in-hand; but this often ends in tears. More often than not, your cast- offs will end up being fly‑tipped – dumped on a roadside or in an alley. And, when the council’s enforcement team inspects the fly-tip, it can often trace it back to the household it came from – which spells trouble for you. Illegally dumped waste can result in court action and a large fine, or even prison, for the person whose rubbish it was originally. BOOK A COLLECTION n You can do it online at www.ealing.gov.uk – search for ‘bulky’ n You can call 020 8825 6000 around ealing    April 2018 29