Hiring a Van for a Garden Clearance or Tip Run in Norfolk

Summer is the time most of us actually use our gardens. BBQs, family visits, kids playing out; suddenly the space matters in a way it does not in January. However, that usually means that you look around and realise the garden needs a good sorting.

Overgrown hedges and flowerbeds, a winter’s worth of garden waste, an old fence panel that never got replaced, and a shed full of things that you’ve promised will be “going to the tip soon” every year for the last five years. When guests are coming round, you want your garden looking warm, welcoming and inviting, and that means getting rid of the things that don’t go in the brown garden waste bin. 

The good news is that one day of a good garden clear-out with a run to the tip will fix it. Most people, though, find that their family car simply isn’t the best candidate for the job, and this is where hiring a van for a day makes the whole thing straightforward.

Why your car is not enough

Most garden clearance jobs involve some combination of bulky, awkward, or dirty waste. Usually this consists of fence panels, lawn cuttings, old pots, bags of soil, broken garden furniture, or that old football goal frame. None of it fits neatly into the boot of your usual runaround, and this could mean you end up making three or four trips to the tip, losing half the day to queuing and travelling, and getting the car filthy in the process. Bag up enough grass cuttings and the smell lingers for days.

Hiring a van solves all of this. You can load it all up in one go, hopefully get it all done in one trip, and then hand it back clean without your own car taking any of the punishment.

What kind of waste does a summer garden clearance actually produce?

When you start clearing any area of your house out, it always generates more rubbish than people expect. There’s also a host of items that can’t be put in the garden waste bin, which can make it more difficult when you’re trying to organise what goes where. Norfolk County Council’s rules mean that none of the following can go in your brown garden waste bin: 

• Kitchen waste or food
• Large garden waste, for example tree trunks or fencing
• Soil, compost, or rubble
• Bags, pots and trays
• Animal bedding or waste
• Packaging of any type, including biodegradable and compostable items
• Diseased plants
• Garden turf

Some of these can be pretty heavy items, as well. Wet soil, paving slabs, and lengths of fencing can all add up quickly, and loading these into a van is far easier than trying to fold it into a car. 

Which size van do you need?

This can depend on the size of your garden and the scale of the job.

If you have a small garden, such as in a terraced house, a small or medium van will handle most light clearance jobs. This would consist of a few bags of green waste, some garden furniture, or a load of general rubbish. If the job is straightforward and you are not dealing with fencing or large structures, a small van is often enough and the most cost-effective choice, but take into account that people often underestimate just how much rubbish they’ll end up collecting.

If you have more ground to cover, you’re clearing a patio area or replacing only a couple of fence panels, step up to a larger van. Our extra large and super large both give you the capacity to load a full clear-out in one trip rather than two.

These include bigger jobs, like clearing out old sheds, hauling away multiple fence panels, or a full landscaping clear-out. However, if you have tall or especially awkward items, the Luton’s extra height is particularly useful for long or awkward items like decking boards or trellis panels that would not lie flat in a standard van.

We also have 3.5 tonne tippers for hire, which are perfect for trips to dispose of your garden waste at the tip and may well end up being the best choice for every size of job. 

The good news is that across the Norfolk County Council recycling centres, there are no height or weight restrictions in place for vehicles, so all of our vans are able to access the sites. 

Not sure which van is right for your garden waste disposal? Give us a call before you book. A quick conversation about what you are clearing can help narrow down your requirements straight away.

Before you go to the tip: what you need to know

All Norfolk household waste recycling centres now require an advance booking. Slots are available in 15-minute windows and can be booked up to seven days in advance through the Norfolk County Council website, and are free of charge (unless you go over the household waste limit). 

You can only book one slot at a time, but you are able to book multiple slots on the same day. Turning up without a booking means you may be turned away, which is frustrating when you have already loaded a full van.

Make sure you book your slot before you collect the van. That way your day is planned and you’re not scrambling to find an available time later on in the day whilst the van is on your drive.

If you are arriving in a hired van, just update your registration on your booking via the link in your confirmation email. If you do forget, just let staff at the recycling centre know when you arrive at the recycling centre, and they can change your booking for you. 

Recycling centre visits are free for Norfolk residents for household waste – up to a limit. You may need to show proof that you are a Norfolk resident, so bring a council tax bill or your driving licence. You may need to pay a fee if you bring certain waste materials, items, or go over the household waste limit, so it’s always worth checking the Norfolk County Council website before you set off. 

Norfolk recycling centres by area

There are plenty of household waste recycling centres across the county, all operated by Norfolk County Council. Here are the most relevant ones based on geographical area, so you can choose the nearest one to you. 

Norwich

• Norwich North: Morse Road, Horsham St Faith, NR10 3JX
• Norwich South: Ipswich Road, Keswick, NR4 6FA

Norwich North is worth noting if you are collecting from Trott Rentals, as it’s only a few minutes from our depot at Hurricane Way. 

North and North-East Norfolk

• Sheringham: Holt Road, East Beckham, Sheringham, NR26 8TW
• Worstead: Sandy Lane, Worstead, NR28 9LX
• Hempton: Hellhoughton Road, Fakenham, NR21 7DY
• Heacham: off A149, Chalk Pit Road, Lynn Road, PE31 7JE

East and South-East Norfolk

• Strumpshaw: Stone Road, Strumpshaw, NR13 4HR
• Caister: Pump Lane, Caister-on-Sea, NR30 5TE
• Bergh Apton: Wellbeck Road, Bergh Apton, NR15 1AU
• Morningthorpe: Bungay Road, Morningthorpe, NR15 2LJ

South and West Norfolk

• Wymondham: Strayground Lane, Wymondham, NR18 9NA
• Attleborough: Buckenham Road, Attleborough, NR17 1NB
• Thetford: Burrell Way, Thetford, IP24 3RW
• Hempton (Fakenham): Helhoughton Road, Hempton, NR21 7DY
• Snetterton: Heath Road, Eccles, NR16 2JU
• King’s Lynn: Willows Business Park, Saddlebow, PE34 3RD
• Ashill: Swaffham Road, Ashill, IP25 7BT

Sites are usually open on weekends, but it’s always best to check opening times when you book your slot. Opening hours are typically 9am to 4pm, though this can vary on bank holidays, so check before you go.

You can find opening times, booking links, and a full list of accepted materials at norfolk.gov.uk.

Ready to get the garden sorted?

Hiring a van for a day is one of the most efficient ways to get a garden clearance done. To get everything done in potentially one trip, with no mileage to worry about – just load up and go, then return the van with a full tank of fuel.

Remember to check our blog on what to bring when you hire a van, and remember your driving license, ID, and license check code with you to our site. 

All our vans are automatic, so if you are not a regular van driver, there is nothing to worry about. We have a guide on our website, and will walk you through the vehicle before you leave so you’re comfortable. You’re also covered by 24-hour UK breakdown support throughout your hire. 

Give us a call on 01603 426487 or book online to check availability. Our depot is at 21 Hurricane Way, Norwich, NR6 6EZ, which is just a short drive from Norwich North recycling centre if you are planning to combine your collection and tip run in the same morning.