Hiring a skip is a great idea when you are planning a home renovation or cleaning out the house. However, it is important to know what can legally and safely be disposed of in skips. If you’re considering skip hire, be sure to use a reputable business, such as The Skip Company.
In this article, we will take a look at what exactly you can and cannot put into a skip.
Acceptable Waste for Skips
1. Household Waste: You can put items from your household cleanout into a skip, such as furniture, clothes, toys and kitchenware.
2. Building Materials: Common construction materials such as bricks and concrete, tiles and ceramics are usually allowed. The most common types of debris from home renovations are these.
3. Green Waste: Garden cleaning can generate a large amount of waste. Skips are allowed to contain organic waste such as grass clippings and branches.
4. Metals and Wood: These materials can be found in large quantities in construction or demolition projects and can be placed in skips to recycle.
5. Non-Electrical Fittings: Items like plastic plumbing, door frames, and window frames, as long as they are not electrical, can be thrown in a skip.
Items that Cannot be Placed in a Skip
1. Electrical Appliances: Due to strict disposal regulations, you cannot place any waste electrical or electronic equipment, such as microwaves, fridges, freezers and TVs in skips.
2. Hazardous Materials: Paints and solvents are hazardous materials. They pose a danger to the environment.
3. Rubber tyres: Tyres are not suitable for disposal in skips. They will require special recycling methods.
4. Medical Waste: All medical waste including syringes and medications as well as biological waste must be handled separately because of the health risks.
5. Gas Cylinders and Batteries: These items, whether full or empty need to be disposed of in a special way to prevent harm.
Best Practices for Skip Usage
Load Efficiently: To maximise space, break items down where possible and put flat items on the bottom. Make sure heavier waste goes in first and then lighter waste on top. This will compress the materials to create more space.
Do not Overload: It is illegal to transport overloaded skips. The skip filling level must not exceed the height.
Select the Right Size: Calculate your waste volume before you hire a skip to choose the right size. This ensures you’re not paying for extra space that you don’t need or that you run out of space prematurely.
Permit requirements: You will need to obtain a permit if you plan on placing the skip in public areas, such as sidewalks, roadsides, or even the sides of streets. Contact your local council to enquire about this.
Conclusion
By managing waste responsibly and efficiently, you can ensure that your project is compliant with the local regulations as well as being environmentally friendly.
It’s important to think about the type of waste that you will be disposing of when hiring a skip. You can rest assured knowing that by using a reputable company, you will be provided with the best service and guidance tailored to your specific needs.
Plan your waste disposal accordingly to avoid any potential fines and contribute to a cleaner environment.