How to get rid of rubbish in Cardiff: the free ways, and what it costs to pay someone

The free way is the council’s two recycling centres, Lamby Way and Bessemer Close: free for Cardiff residents, up to 26 booked visits a year, as long as it fits in your car. Big items the council can collect for a fee. For anything bigger, a man-and-van clearance usually works out cheaper than a skip once you add the skip permit.

Checked 7 October 2026 · Honest HQ, Cardiff and South Wales

Guide prices in Cardiff

Rubbish removal	Typical price
A few bags or one big item	£66 – £75
Quarter of a van	£135 – £155
Half a van	£225 – £260
Three-quarters of a van	£320 – £365
A full van	£415 – £470
More than a van	£770 – £870

Guide prices including VAT, worked out for Cardiff from the same price list our quotes use. Your exact price comes from a few taps.

Free: the recycling centres

Cardiff residents can book up to 26 visits a year, and up to three a day by car. Vans and cars with trailers get one visit a month. Bring your booking and proof of address, sort your waste, and expect to unload it yourself. Rubble is limited to six 20 kg bags a visit, plasterboard must be broken up, and mixed builders’ waste isn’t accepted. Full rules.

Cheap: the council’s bulky collection

For up to six big items: £5 booking plus £15, £30 or £45 depending on how many. It won’t take garden waste, soil, rubble, pianos or glass doors, and fridges are suspended for now. Bulky items.

Skip or man and van?

A skip on the road needs a council permit: £44 for 7 days or £88 for 28, on top of the skip hire, and extra if it sits in a pay-and-display bay. Skip permits. With a collection, you only pay for what’s there and it’s gone the same day, with nobody filling it overnight.

Whoever you pay

Whoever you pay to take rubbish away, check they are a registered waste carrier first. In Wales you can be fined £300 if your rubbish is fly-tipped by someone you didn’t check, and far more if it goes to court. It takes a minute on the Natural Resources Wales register.

Questions people ask

How much does rubbish removal cost in Cardiff?

It depends on how much there is. See the guide prices above: a few bags or one big item is the smallest load.

Can I take garden waste to the tip?

Yes, garden waste is accepted at both recycling centres.

Is same-day rubbish removal possible?

Often, depending on the day. Book a slot when you get your price.

Sources

Council rules change. We checked these on 7 October 2026.