Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about booking a clearance with A Star.
Help
Answers to common questions
These are the questions we are asked most often about rubbish removal, clearances, pricing, recycling and booking. If you cannot find what you need, call the office on 01903 962 492 or send us a WhatsApp message, and we will be happy to help.
Each of our service pages also has its own detailed FAQs, and our area pages answer questions specific to each town.

How do I get a quote?
Send photos of the waste and the route to the road on WhatsApp to 07376 429757, call 01903 962 492, or use our quote form.
How is the price worked out?
Mainly by volume and weight, plus the type of items and how easy they are to reach. Fridges, sofas, mattresses and heavy materials cost more to dispose of.
Are there hidden charges?
No. We quote before we start. If there is significantly more waste on the day than in the photos, we agree any change with you first.
Do you charge for travel?
No separate travel charge within our coverage area.
Is it cheaper than a skip?
For many household jobs, yes, because the loading is included. We will tell you honestly if a skip would suit you better.
How quickly can you come?
Often within a day or two, sometimes the same day, depending on the diary.
What are your hours?
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Do I need to be home?
Not necessarily. We can collect from an agreed spot and send photos of the finished job.
Do you collect from inside the house?
Yes, from any room, loft, garage, shed or garden.
Do I need to bag everything?
No. Bagging loose items helps, but we will load it as it is.
What can you take?
Household rubbish, furniture, electricals, white goods, garden waste, builders waste, hardcore and commercial waste.
What can you not take?
Asbestos, clinical waste, gas bottles, liquid chemicals and paints, and some hazardous materials. Ask us if you are unsure.
Do you take fridges?
Yes, for specialist recycling where the gases are captured.
Do you take sofas?
Yes, disposed of under the rules for upholstered seating.
Do you take plasterboard?
Yes, kept separate from other waste for gypsum recycling.
Are you licensed?
Yes. We are a licensed, insured waste carrier.
Where does my waste go?
To licensed transfer stations and recycling facilities.
Do you recycle?
Yes. We separate metal, timber, cardboard, green waste and electricals as we load, and set aside reusable items where possible.
What is the householder duty of care?
A legal duty to make sure your waste goes to an authorised carrier. If it is fly-tipped, you can be fined. Always check a carrier is registered.
Do businesses get paperwork?
Yes, a waste transfer note with every collection.
Which towns do you cover?
Worthing, Lancing, Shoreham-by-Sea, Southwick, Portslade, Brighton and Hove, Littlehampton, Rustington, Angmering and Chichester, plus the villages in between.
Do you cover villages outside those towns?
Usually, yes. We regularly work in places such as Ferring, East Preston, Sompting, Findon, Bosham and Selsey. Send us your postcode to check.
Is Chichester booked differently?
Because it is further from our base, we group Chichester jobs into planned days, so booking a few days ahead helps.
Do you work in Brighton parking zones?
Yes. We plan the loading point before the day and may ask you to arrange a visitor permit if your street requires one.
Do you work with letting agents?
Yes. We can collect keys, clear properties between tenancies and send photos of the finished job.
Can you set up regular collections?
Yes, for builders, shops, offices and other businesses that produce waste regularly.
How long should businesses keep waste transfer notes?
At least two years. We provide one with every commercial collection.
Can you work outside normal hours?
Our standard hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, but we can arrange early, late or weekend work for commercial jobs.
FAQs
Service questions
A selection of the most useful questions from our individual service pages.
Can't see your question? Call 01903 962 492 or message us on WhatsApp.
How quickly can you collect?
We often collect within a day or two, and sometimes the same day, but it depends on the diary. Tell us how urgent it is and we will give you our earliest slot.
Do I need to bag everything up?
No. Bagging loose items helps, but we will load loose rubbish, bulky items and mixed waste as it is.
What is the difference between waste clearance and rubbish collection?
Rubbish collection is usually a straightforward pick-up of bags and items. Waste clearance covers bigger jobs, such as emptying a whole property, garage, garden or business premises, often with a mix of materials and more planning.
Can you clear a whole house in one day?
Most homes can be cleared in a day, sometimes with two vans. Very full properties can take longer, and we will tell you what to expect when we quote.
Do you recycle the waste?
Yes. We separate recyclable materials as we load and take everything to licensed facilities that recycle as much as possible.
How long does a house clearance take?
Most houses can be cleared in a day, depending on size and contents. Larger or very full properties may take two days. We will give you a realistic timescale when we quote.
Do I need to be there during the clearance?
No. Many clearances are done while the family is elsewhere. We can arrange access through a key holder, agent or solicitor and send you photos when we have finished.
Can you clear a property for probate?
Yes. We regularly work with families and executors, setting aside paperwork and personal items and clearing the property in time for sale or handover.
Do you take garden waste bags?
Yes. We can empty your garden waste bags or take them away, along with loose cuttings and branches.
Can you clear a completely overgrown garden?
Yes. We cut back overgrowth, clear brambles and remove the waste, along with any rubbish in the garden.
Do you remove sheds?
Yes. We dismantle and remove sheds, summerhouses and greenhouses. See our shed removal page for details.
Can you collect during the job, not just at the end?
Yes. Many builders book regular collections so the site stays clear.
What counts as hardcore?
Concrete, bricks, blocks, rubble, stone, paving, tiles and similar inert materials. Soil is often collected alongside it.
How much hardcore fits in your van?
It depends on weight rather than space. Send us photos and we will tell you how many loads it is likely to be.
Do you take soil?
Yes, loose or bagged.
Do I need to defrost the fridge?
Yes, please switch it off and defrost it at least 24 hours before we collect.
Can you take a fridge from an upstairs flat?
Yes. We carry it down safely and protect floors and walls on the way.
Do you take American-style fridge-freezers?
Yes. Let us know the size so we can bring enough people.
Can you take a single sofa?
Yes. We collect single items, although for one piece the council bulky service may sometimes be cheaper.
Do you dismantle furniture?
Yes, where it is needed to get it out safely.
What is a soft strip?
The removal of non-structural items such as fittings, partitions, ceilings and flooring, leaving the building shell ready for refit.
Do you do structural demolition?
No. Our strip-outs are non-structural. Structural work needs an engineer and the appropriate contractor.
Can you work outside business hours?
Yes, where access allows, so neighbouring businesses are not disrupted.
Can you clear a property without the landlord being there?
Yes. We can collect keys from an agent and send photos when the job is done.
How quickly can you clear a rental property?
Often within a few days, sometimes sooner. Tell us your deadline.
Can you remove belongings left by a former tenant?
Yes, once the landlord has confirmed the correct process has been followed and the items can be removed.
Do you provide waste transfer notes?
Yes, for every commercial collection.
Do you do regular collections?
Yes. We can arrange regular or on-call collections for businesses.
Can you remove a shed and its contents?
Yes, in one visit.
Can you remove the concrete base?
Yes. We can break up and remove shed and patio bases.
Services
Service pages with more detail
Rubbish collectionBags, junk and bulky items loaded and taken away, usually from a few photos and a single visit.
Waste clearanceLarger mixed clearances for homes, gardens and businesses, loaded, sorted and responsibly disposed of.
House & flat clearanceFull and partial property clearances handled with care, for families, executors, landlords and agents.
Garden clearanceGreen waste, overgrown gardens, sheds, fencing and garden junk cleared and composted responsibly.
Builders wasteRubble, plasterboard, timber and old fittings removed from renovation and building sites, fast.
Hardcore collectionHeavy inert waste such as rubble, concrete, bricks, soil and paving collected by tipper van.
Fridge & freezer collectionFridges, freezers and white goods collected from inside your home and recycled safely.
Furniture collectionSofas, beds, mattresses, wardrobes and tables carried out, dismantled if needed, and disposed of properly.
Strip-outsNon-structural strip-outs of shops, offices, warehouses and homes, with all waste removed.
End of tenancy clearanceRental properties emptied fast between tenants, for landlords, letting agents and outgoing tenants.
Commercial clearanceOffice, shop, warehouse and yard clearances with waste transfer notes for your records.
Demolition & dismantlingSheds, summerhouses, garden walls, outbuildings and internal non-structural work taken down and cleared.



