The bulky furniture collection firm that ended its more than two decade partnership with Liverpool Council is to relaunch with a paid service.
In October, the ECHO revealed that the local authority was moving to terminate its relationship with Bulky Bob’s - part of the FRC Group - having deemed its terms to no longer represent best value. Liverpool Council had used the company to collect and dispose of large furniture items for residents for free across the city since 2000.
Ever since, the city council has provided the free service in lieu of the partnership with Bulky Bob’s coming to an end. This will continue alongside a new provision put on by the FRC Group at a cost to customers.
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In a letter seen by the ECHO, Shaun Doran, chief executive of FRC Group, said the new paid service would launch across the city from February 6. Mr Doran’s letter said: “We have taken the time to evaluate our offering and building on our 22-year history of quality, dedicated provision, Bulky Bob’s will now directly provide Liverpool residents with a collection and reuse service on a fee paying basis.
“We’ve listened to customer feedback and implemented new options such as timed booking slots, disassembly of furniture and collections from flats/apartments, ensuring wider accessibility. The ‘sustainability-first’ collection service enables customers to donate good quality furniture and white goods, while the collection fee underwrites our ability to support those facing furniture poverty with great quality, reusable items.”
Adding a “premium” on bulky waste collections was an idea mooted to bring in hundreds of thousands of pounds for cash-strapped Liverpool Council. A £20 charge for bulky waste collections from the council at weekends. It is hoped by authority officials that the additional fee could generate £200,000 a year for the next three years.
The distinctive purple Bulky Bob’s trucks have been a regular sight in wards throughout Liverpool picking up furniture from outside homes. During its tenure, Bulky Bob’s diverted an average of 1,300 tonnes of material away from incineration.
An average of 47% is sent to incineration annually and the council said despite the change in service, no increase in fly tipping was expected. When the collaboration between Liverpool Council and FRC Group ended last year, the company said it could no longer subsidise the service itself and needed the contract to cover its costs.
This led to the closure of Bulky Bob’s Furniture World on London Road. In his letter, Mr Doran said the new service would “augment” the offer provided by the council, rather than compete with it.
He said: “As the city council strives to establish a stable financial footing, bulky waste collections and furniture donations through Bulky Bob’s Liverpool will positively impact the demand on council Streetscene resources, while helping those in most need. We see our new service augmenting the great service provided by LSSL rather than somehow competing with it.”
Reacting to the news, Cllr Richard Kemp, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: "Bulky Bob's offer three features that no other provider can do; An effective and reliable collection service, reuse of goods wherever possible for low income and no income families, and a first class training programme which has brought hundreds of people from no employment to good employment over the years.
"It will be really good to see those vans back on duty keeping our recycling rates up and our streets cleaner and more environmentally friendly."
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