In January 2019 the 大象传媒 Shared Data Unit reported on the postcode lottery of council charges to collect unwanted furniture and other large waste items.
Data was gathered and analysed from 391 councils across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and we found:
- Prices across the UK range from just a few pounds for a single item to 拢44. For multiple items, charges go up to 拢100 in some areas
- Householders in the south of England have to pay on average three times as much as those in the North East, the cheapest region for bulky waste
- A quarter of councils in England have extra charges to collect white goods
- Only a third of councils in England offer reductions for pensioners, disabled residents or people on benefits
- Only 15 councils in England currently provide free bulky waste collections, while half of local authorities in Northern Ireland do not charge
The average price per item at first collection:
- England 拢11
- Wales 拢6
- Scotland 拢6
- Northern Ireland 拢2
This content was produced by a regional newspaper reporter working alongside 大象传媒 staff.
The Shared Data Unit makes data journalism available to news organisations across the media industry, as part of a partnership between the 大象传媒 and the News Media Association. Stories generated by the partnership included:
- Yorkshire Evening Post : 9 January 2018
- Kensington Chelsea and Westminster Today : 9 January 2018
- The Scotsman : 10 January 2018
- The Bolton News : 10 January 2018
- Blackpool Gazette : 10 January 2018
- Wigan Today : 10 January 2018
- Bury Times : 10 January 2018
- Hereford Times : 10 January 2018
- Worthing Herald : 10 January 2018
- Chronicle Live : 10 January 2018
- The News : 10 January 2018
- Derbyshire Live : 10 January 2018
- Surrey Live : 10 January 2018
- Stourbridge News. : 10 January 2018
- The Buteman : 10 January 2018
- Kent Online : 10 January 2018
- Northamptonshire Telegraph : 10 January 2018
- Kidderminster Shuttle : 10 January 2018
- Redditch Advertiser : 11 January 2018
- Swindon Advertiser : 11 January 2018
- Buxton Advertiser : 11 January 2018
- North Wales Live : 11 January 2018
- Inverness Courier : 11 January 2018
- Lancashire Telegraph: 11 January 2018
- Northumberland Gazette : 11 January 2018
- Eagle Radio : 11 January 2018
- Northampton Chronicle and Echo : 11 January 2018
- Worcester News : 15 January 2018
- Richmondshire Today : 15 January 2018
Non partner coverage:
- CIWM Journal Online: 10 January 2018
- Gateshead Council: 11 January 201
The story was also used by the 大象传媒 News Northern Ireland, 大象传媒 News Wales, 大象传媒 Newcastle, 大象传媒 Surrey, 大象传媒 Berkshire, 大象传媒 Tees, 大象传媒 Shropshire and Lincolnshire and 大象传媒 Hereford & Worcester.