The popular free bulky waste drop-off service known as The Crunch returns to Basildon on Saturday 25 April 2026, offering residents a chance to dispose of large household items while supporting local efforts to reduce illegal dumping.
Organised by Basildon Borough Council, the event will run from 9am to 12:30pm at six locations across the borough: Chalvedon Pub, the George Hurd Centre, Rookyards, Somercotes, Bourne Close at Victoria Park, and Wick Country Park. This session is part of a broader series of events funded by the council after the cabinet approved £9,000 in the 2026/27 budget to support the initiative.
The council has increased capacity for this weekend’s event to encourage responsible waste disposal. This move coincides with a heightened focus on tackling fly-tipping, with the council increasing its use of closed-circuit television and other enforcement measures, including £1,000 fixed penalty notices, to deter illegal dumping in the area. Councillor Aidan McGurran, Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure, stated that the council is determined to crack down on fly-tipping, noting that it is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
The Crunch has become a significant part of the borough’s waste management efforts since its launch, with a total of 426.75 tonnes of waste collected across the programme to date. At the most recent event on 21 March 2026, residents dropped off 54.27 tonnes of waste, 52 per cent of which was recycled.
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