Liverpool Council will continue its free bulky waste collection after appointing a long-term successor to Bulky Bob’s.
After ending its more than two-decade partnership with the FRC Group last year, the city council has used Liverpool Streetscene Services (LSSL) to provide an interim service. Members of the authority’s new cabinet have now confirmed its wholly owned company will take on a £2.3m contract over the next four and a half years.
Liverpool Council had used Bulky Bob’s to collect and dispose of large furniture items for residents across the city since 2000. The partnership ended in October 2022 after the existing terms were deemed to no longer deliver best value.
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Distinctive purple trucks have been a regular sight in wards throughout Liverpool picking up pieces from outside homes. The last seven-year contract between the two partners ended after they were unable to reach an agreement.
LSSL, which is wholly owned by Liverpool Council, was awarded a temporary contract after the terms between the authority and Bulky Bob’s ended. The city council said since then, waiting times for collection had been reduced from around four weeks to 10 days, and a new practice had been adopted whereby when collection crews are unable to gain access, they will return the next working day.
Additionally, the service has sought to redirect residents wishing to ensure their items are re-used, to local charities and reuse organisations. As part of negotiations and operational data gained over the past six months, LSSL has agreed to deliver 40,000 collection slots per year at an annual contract cost of £520,000.
As part of the new service, Liverpool residents can request up to five bulky items per individual property, up to five small electrical items and up to five bags of textiles - clothes, belts, shoes, handbags - per collection.
Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, cabinet member for communities, neighbourhoods and streetscene, said the new agreement would ensure the service could remain free and improve pick-up times. Cllr Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool Council, said at the time of the partnership with Bulky Bob’s ending, political opponents had been “jumping up and down” urging the previous administration to continue.
He said to do so this would have cost the council more money and not improved the service.
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