London / all services
The best waste companies in London
London is the biggest and most fragmented waste market we cover: 32 boroughs, each with its own skip licence rules and bulky waste charges, and hundreds of firms competing for the same searches. This page brings our five London rankings together, so you can find a firm you can trust for anything from a single sofa to a full office.
Number 1 in London / by service
| Service | Number 1 | Our score | Full ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skip hire | Skip It Waste ManagementEpsom, Surrey (serves most of London) | London skip hire top 5 | |
| House clearance | Cullens ClearancesWallington, South London | London house clearance top 5 | |
| Junk clearance | MM Rubbish ClearanceIslington, North London | London junk clearance top 5 | |
| Office clearance | Universal Commercial RelocationGreenford, West London | London office clearance top 5 | |
| Garage clearance | MM Rubbish ClearanceIslington, North London | London 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 London
Skip It Waste Management ranks first for skip hire in London. The strongest review record of any London skip firm we checked: 4.8 stars from more than 400 Google reviews, with customers praising easy booking, polite drivers and same or next day delivery.
| Pos | Company | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skip It Waste ManagementEpsom, Surrey (serves most of London) | 4.8 (418) | |
| 2 | London Local SkipsEdmonton, North London | 4.8 (68) | |
| 3 | NJB RecyclingWimbledon, South West London | 4.6 (42) |
Also in our top 5: White Skip Hire and Link2London.
See the full London skip hire top 5Best house clearance in London
Cullens Clearances ranks first for house clearance in London. The most complete house clearance record in London: 4.9 from 220 Google reviews, 10 out of 10 from 571 Checkatrade reviews and 5.0 from 342 on Trustpilot.
| Pos | Company | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cullens ClearancesWallington, South London | 4.9 (220) | |
| 2 | Surrey ClearanceChessington (serves South West London) | 4.9 (86) | |
| 3 | MM Rubbish ClearanceIslington, North London | 5.0 (250) |
Also in our top 5: Simple As Clearance and Clearway Clearances.
See the full London house clearance top 5Best junk clearance in London
MM Rubbish Clearance ranks first for junk clearance in London. The most complete package in London: a published upper tier carrier number, £5 million public liability cover, clear starting prices and a perfect 5.0 from 250 Google reviews, backed by 4.8 from 83 on Trustpilot.
| Pos | Company | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MM Rubbish ClearanceIslington, North London | 5.0 (250) | |
| 2 | QuickwastersFinchley, North London | 5.0 (288) | |
| 3 | We Clear JunkLadbroke Grove, West London | 4.9 (281) |
Also in our top 5: Junksaway and Clear It Waste.
See the full London junk clearance top 5Best office clearance in London
Universal Commercial Relocation ranks first for office clearance in London. The best credentialled office clearance operator we found in London: ISO 9001, 14001, 27001 and 45001, FORS Gold, a secure shredding service and WEEE recycling, from its own trading estate premises.
| Pos | Company | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Universal Commercial RelocationGreenford, West London | 4.9 (12) | |
| 2 | Bishop's MoveLondon branch (head office Potters Bar) | Not found | |
| 3 | The First MileHigh Holborn, Central London | 3.9 (674) |
Also in our top 5: Harrow Green and Office Clearance London.
See the full London office clearance top 5Best garage clearance in London
MM Rubbish Clearance ranks first for garage clearance in London. A dedicated garage clearance service for tools, boxes, bikes and bulky junk, with a published upper tier carrier number, £5 million public liability cover and clear starting prices.
| Pos | Company | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MM Rubbish ClearanceIslington, North London | 5.0 (250) | |
| 2 | QuickwastersFinchley, North London | 5.0 (288) | |
| 3 | Cullens ClearancesWallington, South London | 4.9 (220) |
Also in our top 5: We Clear Junk and Clearway Clearances.
See the full London garage clearance top 5Ranked for more than one service / London
These London 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.
- MM Rubbish Clearance: 3rd for house clearance, 1st for junk clearance, 1st for garage clearance
- Clearway Clearances: 5th for house clearance, 5th for garage clearance
- Cullens Clearances: 1st for house clearance, 3rd for garage clearance
- Quickwasters: 2nd for junk clearance, 2nd for garage clearance
- We Clear Junk: 3rd for junk clearance, 4th for garage clearance
What it costs in London
Published prices from the firms in our London rankings, plus the council skip permit fee. Most firms quote individually, so always get at least two written prices that include VAT.
- Skip hire
- None of our London top 5 publish a full price list online, so ask for a written quote that includes VAT, the permit and any charges for items such as mattresses or tyres. More
- House clearance
- Cullens Clearances publishes a price list, with clearances from £95 plus VAT for the smallest loads and £400 plus VAT for a large load. Most other London firms quote after a visit or from photos. More
- Junk clearance
- Quickwasters publishes a price ladder from £60 plus VAT for one cubic yard to £380 plus VAT for 18 yards. MM Rubbish Clearance starts from £85, and single items from £65. More
- Office clearance
- None of our London top 5 publish office clearance prices. Expect a free site survey followed by a fixed written quote. More
- Garage clearance
- Quickwasters publishes loads from £60 plus VAT (one cubic yard) to £380 plus VAT (18 yards). Cullens starts garage clearances from £50 plus VAT, and MM Rubbish Clearance from £85. More
- Skip permit
- Varies by borough. Camden charges £71.50 for two weeks or £103.68 for four weeks (2026/27). Kensington and Chelsea charges £153 for a one month licence.
Council bulky waste collections in London
Every London borough runs its own bulky waste service and sets its own fees. Lambeth, for example, charges £16 for up to two items plus £7.50 for each extra item. A council collection suits a few large items; for a whole property you will need a clearance firm. See the details.
Skip permits: Your London borough. Every borough runs its own skip licence scheme, and in most of them only the skip company can apply. If the skip will sit in a parking bay you may also need a bay suspension. Several boroughs, including Waltham Forest, Ealing and Richmond, publish lists of approved skip operators, which is a useful check. 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 London
Many of the best London firms work across the whole city, but the strongest operators still tend to be best value near their own yards. When you compare quotes, check that the firm is happy to work in your borough, that it will arrange any parking bay suspension and that the price includes VAT and the permit.
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 Environment Agency 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 London / FAQs
How much does waste removal cost in London?
It depends on the service and the volume. For rubbish collections: Quickwasters publishes a price ladder from £60 plus VAT for one cubic yard to £380 plus VAT for 18 yards. MM Rubbish Clearance starts from £85, and single items from £65. For skips: None of our London top 5 publish a full price list online, so ask for a written quote that includes VAT, the permit and any charges for items such as mattresses or tyres. See each ranking for more detail.
Can I get rubbish removed for free in London?
Every London borough runs its own bulky waste service and sets its own fees. Lambeth, for example, charges £16 for up to two items plus £7.50 for each extra item. A council collection suits a few large items; for a whole property you will need a clearance firm. Household waste recycling centres are also free for residents taking their own household waste.
Do I need a permit for a skip in London?
Only if the skip goes on the road or pavement. Varies by borough. Camden charges £71.50 for two weeks or £103.68 for four weeks (2026/27). Kensington and Chelsea charges £153 for a one month licence. Every borough runs its own skip licence scheme, and in most of them only the skip company can apply. If the skip will sit in a parking bay you may also need a bay suspension. Several boroughs, including Waltham Forest, Ealing and Richmond, publish lists of approved skip operators, which is a useful check.
How do I check that a waste company is licensed?
Ask for its waste carrier registration number and search for it on the Environment Agency 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 London?
It depends on the job. Our number 1s in London are Skip It Waste Management for skip hire, Cullens Clearances for house clearance, MM Rubbish Clearance for junk clearance, Universal Commercial Relocation for office clearance and MM Rubbish Clearance for garage clearance. MM Rubbish Clearance appears in more of our London rankings than any other firm.
Useful guides for London
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.