A Comprehensive Guide to Garden Waste Skip Hire
Highlights from Woodford Recycling
- Garden waste is suitable for skips and is recycled into compost, while soil is screened for reuse.
- Mixing garden waste with general waste is usually allowed, but verification is recommended to avoid extra charges.
- Correctly filling skips avoids overloading and potential additional fees.
With spring fast approaching, you may be planning to revamp your garden in time for the warmer weather. Garden waste removal can be a significant challenge to manage, especially if you have completed a large amount of landscaping work. You might be wondering how to dispose of your garden waste efficiently whilst avoiding paying a large fee to a waste collection company. A skip could offer a convenient answer to this problem.
With this in mind, the team here at Woodford Recycling is here to offer you this comprehensive guide to garden waste skip hire, helping you make an informed decision on whether it’s the right solution for your needs.
What is considered garden waste?
Gardening is a popular pastime for many, however, it is a hobby that can generate a lot of waste. The term ‘garden waste’ covers any compostable materials produced by your garden, including grass clippings, leaves and branches.
Can you put garden waste in a skip?
Yes, your garden waste can be disposed of in a skip. Once the skip is full, green waste will be separated out and taken to a composting facility, where it will be mulched and used for agricultural fertiliser. The exception to this is soil, which is screened at a specialist site that grades the soil based on particle size. Once screening is complete, the soil can be reused for topsoil, landscaping and other construction projects.
Most skip hire companies will allow you to mix your garden waste with general waste, but you should always check if you’re unsure to avoid any additional fees.
What garden waste can’t go in a skip?
Although most of your garden waste is permitted, certain items are forbidden from being disposed of in a skip, including:
- Herbicides – If not disposed of correctly, herbicides can be toxic to wildlife and flora. Therefore, they must be handled properly to protect both public health and the nearby environment.
- Paints and solvents – Many paints and solvents contain a multitude of harmful chemicals that can be fatal if ingested. Consequently, there are legally regulated disposal procedures that must be followed.
- Garden appliances – All electronic waste is banned from skips due to the hazardous materials that it comprises. All appliances must be recycled properly to conserve resources and protect the environment from contamination.
How do you load a skip with garden waste?
At the end of a long day of gardening, it can be tempting to just toss all garden waste into your skip without thinking too much about it. However, it’s important to load your skip efficiently to avoid overfilling and paying additional fees, and this can require some prior planning.
You should always dispose of your lightest green waste first: grass cuttings, leaves and plant waste. Then, bulkier items can be used to weigh down this bottom layer, maximising all available space inside the skip. If you have any flat or slender items, such as fence panels or branches, these can be placed along the edges. They may need to be broken into smaller pieces in order to fit. Finally, if you have any granular materials, such as soil or sand, these can be poured in to fill gaps and anchor the waste below.
Why choose skip hire for garden waste?
Choosing skip hire for garden waste comes with many benefits, including:
- Convenience – Instead of having to take frequent trips to the local waste disposal facility, you can dispose of all your garden waste in one go without having to leave the house.
- Saves money – Skip hire can be cost-effective when compared to the cost of a waste disposal service or numerous trips to your local waste centre.
- Sustainable – When you use a reputable skip hire company, they will dispose of all your waste correctly, reducing landfill waste whenever possible.
- Greater freedom – By using a garden skip, you have the freedom to tackle your garden whenever you wish, without being at the mercy of the opening times of your local waste disposal facility.
Woodford Recycling provides a quick and efficient domestic skip hire service for all your garden waste clearance needs. Our team is committed to disposing of all of your green waste in a convenient and sustainable manner, so that your gardening project can go ahead without a hitch.
We serve homes and businesses across Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough and beyond — get in touch with our friendly team today for more information.
