Edinburgh / all services
The best waste companies in Edinburgh
Edinburgh's tenements, narrow streets and tight parking make access a big part of every waste job in the city. This page brings our five Edinburgh rankings together, and several of the strongest firms are based just outside the city in West Lothian and Midlothian.
Number 1 in Edinburgh / by service
| Service | Number 1 | Our score | Full ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skip hire | Midlothian Skip HireLoanhead, Midlothian | Edinburgh skip hire top 5 | |
| House clearance | NuGen Recycling & EnvironmentalBroxburn, West Lothian | Edinburgh house clearance top 5 | |
| Junk clearance | NuGen Recycling & EnvironmentalBroxburn, West Lothian | Edinburgh junk clearance top 5 | |
| Office clearance | JettisonGlasgow (covers Edinburgh and the Lothians) | Edinburgh office clearance top 5 | |
| Garage clearance | NuGen Recycling & EnvironmentalBroxburn, West Lothian | Edinburgh garage clearance top 5 |
Scores are out of 10 and use a separate weighting for each service. Checked 3 November 2026.
Best skip hire in Edinburgh
Midlothian Skip Hire ranks first for skip hire in Edinburgh. The best reviewed skip firm serving Edinburgh, with 4.8 from more than 200 Google reviews, and its own licensed waste transfer station at Eldin Industrial Estate in Loanhead, where you can also tip waste yourself.
| Pos | Company | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midlothian Skip HireLoanhead, Midlothian | 4.8 (203) | |
| 2 | EnviroworxLoanhead, Midlothian | 5.0 (24) | |
| 3 | M McKenzie Skip HireOld Pentland, Loanhead | 4.8 (40) |
Also in our top 5: Buchanan Skip Hire and Hamilton Waste & Recycling.
See the full Edinburgh skip hire top 5Best house clearance in Edinburgh
NuGen Recycling & Environmental ranks first for house clearance in Edinburgh. 5.0 from 200 Google reviews and 5.0 from 30 reviews on the City of Edinburgh Council's Trusted Trader scheme.
| Pos | Company | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NuGen Recycling & EnvironmentalBroxburn, West Lothian | 5.0 (200) | |
| 2 | Jettison ExpressGlasgow (covers Edinburgh and across Scotland) | 4.9 (54) | |
| 3 | Joe JunkEdinburgh depot (Glasgow-based group) | 5.0 (1,519) |
Also in our top 5: Your Junk and House Clearance Scotland.
See the full Edinburgh house clearance top 5Best junk clearance in Edinburgh
NuGen Recycling & Environmental ranks first for junk clearance in Edinburgh. 5.0 from 200 Google reviews and 5.0 from 30 on Edinburgh's Trusted Trader scheme, with its SEPA carrier licence and insurance listed on LoveJunk and low emission zone compliant vehicles.
| Pos | Company | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NuGen Recycling & EnvironmentalBroxburn, West Lothian | 5.0 (200) | |
| 2 | Your JunkCity centre, Edinburgh | 5.0 (141) | |
| 3 | Jettison ExpressGlasgow (covers Edinburgh) | 4.9 (54) |
Also in our top 5: Joe Junk and Moving Force.
See the full Edinburgh junk clearance top 5Best office clearance in Edinburgh
Jettison ranks first for office clearance in Edinburgh. The strongest commercial credentials available in Edinburgh: ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, SafeContractor approval, SEPA registration, WEEE compliant IT removal and a landfill diversion breakdown at the end of each job.
| Pos | Company | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JettisonGlasgow (covers Edinburgh and the Lothians) | 4.9 (58) | |
| 2 | Joe JunkEdinburgh depot | 5.0 (1,519) | |
| 3 | NuGen Recycling & EnvironmentalBroxburn, West Lothian | 5.0 (200) |
Also in our top 5: Recycle Scotland and Caledonian Waste Services.
See the full Edinburgh office clearance top 5Best garage clearance in Edinburgh
NuGen Recycling & Environmental ranks first for garage clearance in Edinburgh. A well reviewed West Lothian firm with its own unit, a garage clearance service, a SEPA carrier number and a claim that everything it collects is recycled, upcycled or repurposed.
| Pos | Company | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NuGen Recycling & EnvironmentalBroxburn, West Lothian | 5.0 (200) | |
| 2 | Joe JunkEdinburgh depot | 5.0 (1,519) | |
| 3 | Your JunkCity centre, Edinburgh | 5.0 (141) |
Also in our top 5: Jettison and Caledonian Waste Services.
See the full Edinburgh garage clearance top 5Ranked for more than one service / Edinburgh
These Edinburgh firms made our top 5 in more than one category. Ranking well across different jobs is a good sign of a consistent, well run business, but always check the full entry for the service you need.
- Jettison: 2nd for house clearance, 3rd for junk clearance, 1st for office clearance, 4th for garage clearance
- Joe Junk: 3rd for house clearance, 4th for junk clearance, 2nd for office clearance, 2nd for garage clearance
- NuGen Recycling & Environmental: 1st for house clearance, 1st for junk clearance, 3rd for office clearance, 1st for garage clearance
- Your Junk: 4th for house clearance, 2nd for junk clearance, 3rd for garage clearance
- Caledonian Waste Services: 5th for office clearance, 5th for garage clearance
What it costs in Edinburgh
Published prices from the firms in our Edinburgh rankings, plus the council skip permit fee. Most firms quote individually, so always get at least two written prices that include VAT.
- Skip hire
- Enviroworx publishes prices from £150 plus VAT for a 2 yard skip to £375 plus VAT for 16 yard, including delivery and collection. More
- House clearance
- None of our Edinburgh top 5 publish a full price list, so ask for a written quote after a visit or from photos. More
- Junk clearance
- None of our Edinburgh top 5 publish a full price list, so ask for a written quote from photos. More
- Office clearance
- None of our Edinburgh top 5 publish office clearance prices, so ask for a written quote after a survey. More
- Garage clearance
- None of our Edinburgh top 5 publish prices, so ask for a written quote from photos. More
- Skip permit
- No fee is published on the council's road occupation page.
Council bulky uplifts and charity options in Edinburgh
The City of Edinburgh Council charges £5 per item for bulky uplifts, up to five items per booking, and the service is free for households on Council Tax Reduction. The Edinburgh Furniture Initiative, run by Four Square, accepts most undamaged donated furniture. See the details.
Skip permits: The City of Edinburgh Council. Skips on a public road need a road occupation permit. The application pack is emailed to roadpermits@edinburgh.gov.uk, and you pay online once you have a reference. Most skip firms will handle this for you. Permit details.
Which service do you need?
- Skip hire: renovations, garden overhauls and heavy waste such as rubble and soil, where you load it yourself over several days.
- House clearance: emptying a whole property after a bereavement, a sale or a move, often with reuse and donation of furniture.
- Junk clearance: a few bulky items or a room of rubbish, collected quickly with the team doing the lifting.
- Office clearance: commercial furniture, IT and confidential waste, with the paperwork your business needs.
- Garage clearance: garages, sheds and lock-ups, including tools, bikes and awkward items.
- Only a few items? Check the council option above first, as it is often the cheapest.
Hiring a waste company in Edinburgh
Waste carriers in Edinburgh are licensed by SEPA. Skips on a public road need a road occupation permit from the council, and most skip firms will arrange it for you. The council also offers bulky uplifts at a low per item price.
Whoever you choose, you have a legal duty of care for your waste. Ask for the firm's waste carrier number and check it on the SEPA public register, get a written price, and ask for a receipt or waste transfer note that names the company. If your waste is fly-tipped by an unlicensed collector, you can be fined.
Waste removal in Edinburgh / FAQs
How much does waste removal cost in Edinburgh?
It depends on the service and the volume. For rubbish collections: None of our Edinburgh top 5 publish a full price list, so ask for a written quote from photos. For skips: Enviroworx publishes prices from £150 plus VAT for a 2 yard skip to £375 plus VAT for 16 yard, including delivery and collection. See each ranking for more detail.
Can I get rubbish removed for free in Edinburgh?
The City of Edinburgh Council charges £5 per item for bulky uplifts, up to five items per booking, and the service is free for households on Council Tax Reduction. The Edinburgh Furniture Initiative, run by Four Square, accepts most undamaged donated furniture. Household waste recycling centres are also free for residents taking their own household waste.
Do I need a permit for a skip in Edinburgh?
Only if the skip goes on the road or pavement. No fee is published on the council's road occupation page. Skips on a public road need a road occupation permit. The application pack is emailed to roadpermits@edinburgh.gov.uk, and you pay online once you have a reference. Most skip firms will handle this for you.
How do I check that a waste company is licensed?
Ask for its waste carrier registration number and search for it on the SEPA public register. A genuine firm will give you the number straight away and provide a receipt or waste transfer note for your waste.
Who is the best waste company in Edinburgh?
It depends on the job. Our number 1s in Edinburgh are Midlothian Skip Hire for skip hire, NuGen Recycling & Environmental for house clearance, NuGen Recycling & Environmental for junk clearance, Jettison for office clearance and NuGen Recycling & Environmental for garage clearance. Jettison, Joe Junk and NuGen Recycling & Environmental each appear in 4 of our Edinburgh rankings, more than any other firms.
Useful guides for Edinburgh
How Much Does Rubbish Removal Cost in the UK?
Real published UK prices for rubbish removal, skips and single items, plus the extra charges to watch for.
How Can I Get Rid of Household Rubbish for Free?
Free ways to get rid of household rubbish in the UK, from recycling centres to council allowances, charities and take-back.
Do I Need a Permit to Put a Skip on the Road?
Yes, a skip on a public road needs council permission. Here is who applies, what it costs in major cities and what happens if it is missed.
How Do I Check a Company's Waste Carrier Licence?
Check a waste carrier on the Environment Agency, SEPA or NRW register in a few minutes, with tips on what to look for.