Ipswich waste disposal: Your options in order of convenience

There are many Ipswich waste disposal options for both residents and businesses, depending on the volume and type of waste you need to get rid of.

But there’s also convenience to consider, because while managing waste yourself can save you money, it’s can be a massive drain on your time, energy and fuel.

It’s important to choose the best Ipswich waste disposal solution for your specific needs, so here are all the ways you can do it in order of convenience.

Ipswich household waste recycling centres

The least convenient way to dispose of waste in Ipswich is to lug it all down to the local Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) yourself.

On top of the time and energy it takes to get it down there, you’ll also need to book an appointment and queue if there are other people waiting to drop off their rubbish ahead of you. And sometimes adverse weather conditions can close centres down altogether.

On the plus side, there are two HWRCs in the Ipswich area to choose from:

• Portmans Walk, IP1 2DW and
• Foxhall, IP10 OHT (currently undergoing improvements but still open)

Both sites are closed on Wednesdays year round, but otherwise open:

In some cases, taking waste to the recycling centre is the only option for certain waste types, such as POPs waste (upholstered furniture).

Despite the recycling centre generally being the cheaper option for Ipswich waste disposal, you’ll still be charged for taking DIY waste such as soil, hardcore, rubble, bathroom fittings and plasterboard.

Household waste collection from Ipswich Borough Council

Of course, a lot of domestic waste and recycling can be left out for collection in one of three wheelie bins:

• The blue bin is for dry recycling, including cardboard, plastics and cans.
• The brown bin is for green waste like grass clippings, leaves, dead plants and flowers.
• The black bin is for general waste that can’t be recycled, including crisp packets, used nappies and food waste.

This is pretty convenient in that it’s collected directly from your house on a regular schedule, although for larger items, this option isn’t going to work.

While household waste collections are convenient, they can sometimes be delayed due to weather, roadworks, public health alerts, or staff illness, often creating the need to find alternative waste disposal in Ipswich.

Ipswich commercial waste collection

Businesses in Ipswich have a duty of care that obligates them to make arrangements for safe and environmentally conscious commercial waste disposal.

This can be wheelie bins for mixed waste, single streams for recycling or even skips that are kept onsite.

SunSkips offers larger ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off) containers that can be kept onsite for more efficient waste removal that requires fewer collections. Smaller skips with lockable lids to prevent fires and are also available on request.

Recycling centres are for household waste only, so taking business waste to a HWRC under the pretence that it’s domestic waste could land you with a hefty fine.

MORE: 5 huge risks of improper waste management

Follow the five R’s to avoid waste disposal altogether

Often the easiest way to get rid of something is to not get rid of it at all.

The five Rs of waste management are refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle, so whenever possible, look for ways in which you can get more value out of your waste before you decide to dispose of it.

Think carefully about whether you need to create so much waste in the first place. For example, jars can be reused as food storage containers and empty wine bottles make handy outside candle holders. Choosing rechargeable batteries removes a difficult-to-dispose-of item from your waste list and swearing off disposal cups and plates saves creating even more rubbish.

Buying products in bulk makes for less unnecessary packaging, while saying no to plastic bags at the supermarket can reduce the amount of rubbish you need to get rid of. But supermarkets don’t make it easy for consumers to cut down on waste, so it pays to seek out eco-conscious shops that allow you to refill containers or bring your own:

• Lucy’s Unwrapped and Refill on Woodbridge Road is a zero waste shop in Ipswich that allows you to shop for loose food items like pulses, grains and even sweets using your own containers.
• Ipswich Ripple Wholefood Co-op on Tower Street is a non-profit organisation that offers loose food items to both members and non-members that bring their own containers. Brown bags are available, but containers are strongly encouraged. Annual membership costs £12 (£6 for students). Non members are charged £1 per shop (50p for students).
• Zest is a second-hand shop on Queen Street with a twist. On top of offering great quality fashion and homeware items, shoppers can also bring their own empty bottles to fill up on household cleaning products.

Composting is another way you can get some extra use out of your food waste. Ipswich residents can pick up a quality composting bin for only £10.

Skip hire: the most convenient Ipswich waste disposal option

There’s no more convenient method for getting rid of waste in Ipswich than hiring a skip.

With SunSkips, you can book online in a few simple steps. Your container will be delivered anywhere in the Ipswich area on the agreed date, leaving you to fill it at your leisure during the seven-day hire period before it’s collected.

MORE: SunSkips expands to Ipswich with Cooks acquisition

Everything is sorted at our recycling site, so there’s no need to pre-sort waste, making it even more convenient while still being as sustainable as possible.

SunSkips is the Ipswich skip hire firm that prioritises great customer service and value for money, offering a wide range of skips from two yards all the way up to 40-yard ro-ro containers for commercial and industrial waste management.

SunSkips recently acquired Cooks Waste Kare in Ipswich (Raeburn Road South) and will continue operating under the well-established brand while also relying on the SunSkips Group’s considerable resources for collecting and recycling waste.

Book your skip online today or get in touch with our friendly team to confirm your skip over the phone.