Skip Hire: Everything You Need to Know

Highlights:

• Skips cannot contain hazardous materials like asbestos, paints, and electrical equipment. See our hazardous waste disposal page for more information on how to safely get rid of these materials.
• Skips can be placed on private property without permits, but public replacement requires a council permit to avoid fines
• A skip’s weight limit depends on the size (typically one tonne per cubic yard).
• Benefits of hiring or going to a tip solely depends on budget, time and amount of waste. Skip hire services, such as Woodford Recycling, offer convenience and safe disposal for large waste.

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Whether you’re carrying out a spot of DIY, completing a home refurbishment or simply having a clear-out, hiring a skip is often the most efficient and convenient way to dispose of your waste. 

Skip hire is a relatively straightforward process, but if you’ve never hired a skip before then it can seem a little daunting. That’s why the team here at Woodford Recycling has compiled this comprehensive guide detailing everything you need to know.

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What size skip do I need?

It can be hard to gauge what size skip you’ll need, particularly if you’re in the midst of a construction project and you’re not sure how much waste you’ll need to dispose of. 

Here at Woodford Recycling, we stock a range of skip sizes, from 4-yard mini skips to huge 16-yard skips that are best suited to disposing of bulky items. If you’re working on a large commercial project, it’s probably best to opt for a different style of skip altogether – ideally, a Roll-On Roll-Off (RORO) skip as this extra-large container can accommodate an extensive amount of waste. To get a better idea of the right skip for you, check out our skip size guide.

What can and can’t I put in a skip?

Skips are incredibly versatile, so it’s much easier to explain what you can’t put in your skip, such as:

• Asbestos
• Paints and solvents 
• Oil, petrol and diesel
• Electrical equipment (WEEE waste)
• Toxic materials
• Gas canisters or bottles
• Vehicle tyres
• Household appliances
• Medical waste
• Fluorescent materials
• Plasterboard
• Most liquids

Most of the waste listed above is classed as hazardous and, therefore, requires specialist waste disposal. Disposing of this waste improperly can have a detrimental effect on the surrounding environment and pose a potential health risk. Any other waste should be good to go in your skip, but always check with your skip company if you’re unsure. By understanding what items you can and can’t put in your skip, you’ll hopefully avoid any unexpected charges or issues.

Where can I put my skip?

As long as there is suitable access, you can place a skip on your private land – such as your garden or driveway – with no paperwork required. But what happens if you don’t have the necessary outside space? 

If this is the case, your skip will need to go on the public road outside your property; however, this will require a permit. Before issuing this, your local council will confirm that the road is suitable and that the skip won’t disrupt traffic flow or cause a threat to public safety. Should you fail to obtain the necessary permit, you could be fined up to £1,000. Here at Woodford Recycling, we’ll arrange all the necessary permits when you hire a skip from us – that way, you don’t need to worry about any time-consuming paperwork.

It’s important to note that skip lorries are substantial vehicles that require the appropriate space to manoeuvre. If you live in an area with limited access, it may be best to opt for a wait and load skip.

What’s the maximum weight a skip can hold?

As you might expect, the answer to this depends entirely on the size of the skip in question. However, the general rule of thumb is that a skip’s weight limit is determined by its cubic yard capacity. One single cubic yard can hold around one metric tonne of waste; for example, an 8-yard skip can typically hold a maximum of 8 tonnes of waste. 

It’s important to note that if you’re planning to fill your skip with dense waste, such as soil and rubble, then you’re limited to an 8-yard skip limit. This is because if the skip was any bigger, the weight would be too great for the collection trucks to manage. Similarly, it’s also vital to avoid overloading your skip and keep all waste below the skip walls to ensure collection can go ahead safely.

Should I hire a skip or go to the tip?

The choice between skip hire and disposing of waste at your local tip can be dependent on a number of factors, such as budget, time constraints, and the amount and type of waste you need to get rid of. 

Skip hire offers a multitude of benefits to any project, such as:

• Convenient: There’s no doubt that skip hire is incredibly convenient, allowing you to dispose of waste without delay at any time of the day or night.

• Cost-effective: Although a trip to the tip might be cost-effective if you’re disposing of a small amount of waste, repeated trips soon add up. For larger projects, skip hire often works out as more economical as delivery, collection and disposal are all included in your fee.

• Saves time: A skip can save you valuable time and effort by eliminating the need for multiple trips to the tip, meaning you can focus solely on your project.

• Safer: Large and awkwardly sized objects can cause injury and be a struggle to transport to the tip yourself.

How does skip hire work?

If you’re looking to hire a skip, you’ll first need to find a reliable local skip hire company, like Woodford Recycling. You can read our advice for choosing the right skip company, but it’s essential to ensure your chosen company is fully licensed by the Environment Agency.

Next, you should contact your chosen skip company and explain your needs in a little more detail; they should be able to provide advice on the most suitable skip and offer a quote. Once you’ve agreed upon a hire period, your delivery date will be scheduled. When your skip has arrived and been positioned in a convenient location, you’re free to fill it up with all suitable waste. Then, once you’re done, your skip will be collected at the agreed-upon date and your skip company will responsibly dispose of all the rubbish inside. 

What happens to the waste from my skip?

When you choose a reputable waste disposal company like Woodford Recycling, you can rest assured that your waste will be handled in the most environmentally friendly way possible. 

After your waste has been collected, your skip company will transport it to a waste management facility. Here, larger items will be separated and your waste will be sorted into different categories, such as scrap metal, building materials and garden waste. Sorting may be done mechanically or manually and this process ensures that no hazardous materials have been inadvertently disposed of in the skip.

Once the waste has been sorted into its different categories, it then must be treated. Each waste category is usually treated in a different way and this process can involve compacting, shedding, screening and more. After treatment, the waste can then be recycled; this may be done in-house or the waste might be transported to a specialist facility where it can be repurposed into new products.

Here at Woodford Recycling, we’ve been operating independently of landfill sites for several years now, so you can have peace of mind that 100% of the waste we take from you will be recycled.

Which is the best skip hire company to use in the South East?

This one’s easy! Woodford Recycling provides domestic and commercial customers across Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough and beyond with the highest quality skip hire services at the most competitive prices. Not only do we perform a full delivery and collection service, but we also run an efficient waste management facility where we recycle 100% of the materials we collect.

For more information or to request a quote, don’t hesitate to contact the team at Woodford Recycling today.