Bulky Bobs extends bulky waste service to businesses

Liverpool-based social enterprise Bulky Bobsis expandingits furniture reuse and recycling service to businesses.

The organisation, which works in partnership with local authorities on Merseyside to collect, reuse and recycle bulky household waste free of charge, is now offering to collect unwanted office items for a minimum charge of 35. Every item will be reused or recycled where possible.

The service is available to companies in Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, Wirral and Halton.

We believe there has been a real gap in the market for businesses to get rid of unwanted items in an affordable and sustainable way, said Shaun Doran, Bulky Bobs chief executive.

We offer Merseyside businesses a sustainable alternative while giving us the opportunity to provide more training opportunities and divert more items from landfill.

If a large removal is required or there are specialist items to collect, Bulky Bobs will provide an overall job quote following a pre-inspection. Any small electrical items, such as kettles, toasters, or microwaves will be collected at no extra cost along with other goods.

Interest

Gerard Gibbons, chief executive of Liverpool City Central Business Improvement District (BID) and interim chief executive of Commercial District BID, which together represent more than 1,400 businesses, believes the service will be of real interest to local firms.

He said: Bulky Bobs is a brilliant Liverpool success story and has a great reputation for providing an affordable, reliable service which recycles and disposes items responsibly. I know many businesses will welcome the opportunity to work with Bulky Bobs to help reduce unnecessary waste and so support both the local economy and environment.

Bulky Bobs collects a wide range of bulky household waste from over 50,000 Liverpool homes for free every year, with collections booked through Liverpool Direct. It reuses or recycle over 70% of the weight of everything that it collects and says it is always looking for ways to increase this. For example it is now working with Liverpool City Councils Childrens Services department to help families in crisis access urgently need furniture for free.

Approximately 30 families per month are assisted with free furniture packages. All the furniture collected is assessed to see if it can be reused, and repaired where necessary, then sent to Bulky Bobs Furniture World store on London Road. All furniture sent there, from settees to wardrobes, is sold at a low price with 79% of customers from families on low-incomes and serving nearly 3,500 customers in 2009/10.