Small Items Collections

Solihull provides a free small items collection service for households in the Borough. It is a bookable service and collection dates are allocated by our collection contractor. 

The service is for the collection of small electrical items and other materials that we cannot collect as part of your kerbside collections.

As well as small electrical items we will also collect small quantities of paint, household batteries, and textiles (clothing and shoes).

In store take back schemes for electrical items and batteries

When you buy a new electrical item, don’t forget to check if the retailer can take your old item as part of their recycling scheme for unwanted electrical goods. Most retailers of electrical goods have to offer to take back your used electrical item for recycling free of charge. Visit https://www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk/ to find out more about take back schemes.

Most retailers selling household batteries are also required to provide a container in store for the collection of used household batteries for recycling.

How to present your small items

Outlined in the table below are the items which we can collect and how they should be presented for collection.

Item How to present Maximum Quantities
Batteries In tied sandwich type bag 1 bag
Paint Lid on, sealed and no wet paint on exterior of container 3 cans no larger than 10 litres
Small electrical items Need to fit inside a carrier bag, items need to be intact 3 carrier sized bags
Textiles and shoes Clean, dry and shoes to be in pairs 2 bags no larger than household dustbin bags

Please read our:

Book a collection

Frequently Asked Questions

We will accept any small household electrical and electronic items; this can be battery or mains electric powered. Items need to be intact (not dismantled) and will need to fit into a carrier sized bag. Examples of items that we will take include handheld hair dryer, iron, toaster, games console, mobile phone, laptop computers, small electronic children’s toys.

Please note that we are unable to accept microwaves and televisions as part of the small items collection service. These items can either be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre or booked as part of the bulky waste collection service. 

We will take up to 3 carrier bags full of small electrical items per a collection.

No, the service is for household electrical items only. We will not collect items that have originated from a business.

No, the collection service is for small electrical items only, if you have a large electrical item you can either book a bulky waste collection (this is a chargeable service) or you can book an appointment to take your items to Bickenhill Household Waste Recycling Centre.

If you have purchased a new electrical item the retailer may offer a take back service for your old appliance. 

Further information about reuse can be found on our website.

We will collect any type of paint (including varnishes) as long as it has not originated from a business and the can is no larger than 10 litres. 

We will take any type of household type battery including: Lead Acid Batteries, Nickel Cadmium Batteries, Lithium Ion Batteries and Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries. We will not collect car batteries, these can be taken to Bickenhill Household Waste Recycling Centre.

On the day of your booking, your items must be outside your front door or if you live in a block of flats, then please leave the items outside the main building front door awaiting collection by 8.00am.

Collections start from 8am. On the day of collection please ensure that you leave your items outside your front door or if you live in a block of flats, then please leave them outside the main building front door.

Yes, you can put up to the maximum of the items. For example if you have booked to have 1 bag of small electrical items collected, you can place out up to 3 on the day of collection. If you have not selected an item, but would like to present this, then you can as long as it does not exceed the maximum amount. 

Please do not exceed the maximum amount of items. 

Sandwich bag with batteries

Below is an example of size of the sandwich bag to be used for battery recycling. The maximum size of bag accepted is a 5 litre sandwich bag. 

Carrier bag

You can use plastic carrier bags. The image below provides an example of the types of carrier bags that are acceptable. You can also use pedal sized bin bags as long as they are not larger than 25 litres. 

Your bag will not be returned when we collect your items.

The textiles and shoes are sorted and graded. Some material is then sold directly through shops for reuse across Europe and Dubai. 

No, we will not be able to take vapes and e-cigarettes as part of the small items collections. Find out what you can do with them.