Do you have large amounts of waste to dispose of? If so, hiring a skip is a convenient and cost-effective option.
Whether you’re renovating your property, revamping your garden or having a good clear-out, managing your waste responsibly is important. Your skip hire provide will ensure as much of your waste as possible can be recycled, too, rather than all going directly to landfill.
If you want to get the most out of your skip and avoid any delays, it’s important that you fill it up correctly. No matter what type of waste you have or what you’re using the skip for, using the right technique will ensure that you can fit as much waste as possible into your skip while adhering to the load capacity.
It’s also important to bear in mind the items which are prohibited from a skip. Any mistakes may again mean that your skip cannot be collected – or you might face a hefty bill or fine when the skip arrives back at your skip hire firm. Such mistakes take extra time and can be costly, too. That’s another reason it’s important to cover your skip overnight and when it’s unmonitored, to make sure other people don’t fly tip any unwanted items into your skip.
Ensure you fill up your skip correctly and efficiently with our top tips below, helping you save money and avoid any problems down the line.
When hiring your skip, it’s really important to choose the right size. That means taking some time to consider how much waste you’re likely to generate.
If you hire a skip that’s too small for your needs, you could end up paying for a second one – which is very cost inefficient and inconvenient too, when perhaps the next size up might have sufficed.
Your skip hire company will be able to advise you on the correct size to choose based on your project, and the quantity of waste you’ll produce. As a ballpark figure, the waste you can put in the smallest four sizes of skip is:
Most skips come with a fill line – a red line marking on the sides of the skip, which shows you how far up you can fill your skip. Never over-fill a skip – it could be dangerous, and your skip hire firm is likely to refuse to pick it up until it’s been loaded to a safe level. Overfilling your skip is not a way to save money – in fact, it could end up costing you more down the line!
You should also consider weight, as even if the contents of your skip sit beneath the fill line, there is a maximum weight capacity that you cannot exceed – again, for the purposes of safe removal.
Filling a skip efficiently is a bit of a Tetris game – you can fit in plenty if you don’t just chuck it in, willy nilly. Check out our blog here for a reminder on how to sort your items for best fit, and layer them efficiently to make the best use of your skip space.
As mentioned above, there are weight restrictions on your skip load too. It’s always important to discuss weight restrictions with your skip hire company to make sure your waste is likely to sit within safe limits. Many companies have weight restrictions in place based on the size of the skip. You should never exceed this restriction; if you do, the skip hire company will likely refuse to take your skip. Instead, take the time to discuss the weight restrictions with your company and make sure you stick to them. Again, as a ballpark:
4-yard skip will hold 4 tonnes (4,000kg) of waste (about 8 wheelie bins)
6-yard skip will hold 6 tonnes (6,000kg) of waste (about 12 wheelie bins)
8-yard skip will hold 8 tonnes (8,000kg) of waste (about 16 wheelie bins)
12-yard skip will hold 12 tonnes (12,000kg) of waste (about 24 wheelie bins)
Appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, ovens and washing machines can’t be put into your skip. That’s because they have to be stripped down into their constituent parts to safely and responsibly dispose of them, as hopefully some parts can be recycled. Some constituent parts may be hazardous too, to the planet and to people who might handle these items if they were to be found in landfill. Smaller electrical items face the same challenge – your skip hire firm will not take electricals such as computers, laptops and TVs, or microwaves.
Perhaps surprisingly, most skip hire firms won’t take tyres. This is because of their rubber content, which is hard to handle and recycle. If you have old tyres, you should approach a tyre collection and recycling firm, who will remove any oil and dirt from your old tyres and then shred them. This shredded rubber can be recycled, used for construction, road surfaces, or AstroTurf.
Your old tyres got recycled into AstroTurf – so it’s that pesky rubber content which means that AstroTurf cannot be skipped. Check with your firm, as some will collect AstroTurf for an additional fee, but many won’t take it.
Unfortunately, mattresses are one of the most illegally fly-tipped items in the UK. They exceed the fill line of most skips, and are difficult to maneouvre.
If you have an old mattress to get rid of, some companies will collect them and strip them down, recycling their components. If the mattresses is in a decent condition, some charities can make use of them too, such as shelters, as they can be steam cleaned and then used for someone in need.
Batteries may seem so small and everyday, but they are full of harmful chemicals. That’s why they aren’t allowed to be disposed of in your skip. You’ll find battery recycling points at most supermarkets and local disposal centres, so if you’ve got a collection, that’s where to take them. There, they can be safely disposed of, and some parts can even be used – to manufacture materials like plastics, and even to be turned into more batteries.
Gas cylinders contain highly pressurised gas, making them potentially very dangerous should the cylinder become compromised. These should never be disposed of in a skip. Many camping stores, or the store where you initially purchased the gas cylinder, will take them back, where they can be reused, or refilled.
It should be obvious, but harmful and contaminated medical, clinical waste is a big no-no for your skip. Items such as needles can be massively harmful for the person going through your skip waste. This is another really important reason to keep your skip covered when unmonitored, because any waste a passing stranger has deposited in your skip becomes your responsibility.
These are classed as hazardous wastes. Most skip hire companies don’t have the licenses to dispose of these liquid-based solvents. You can sometimes dispose of the containers in a skip, if they are well cleaned out. It is classed as hazardous waste.
Plasterboard seems like a harmless material, but actually it gives off harmful gases. When these mix with other items in a skip, they can cause contamination and can be harmful.
There are a lot of strict skip hire rules and regulations that determine what you can and can’t put in your rental skip. But the good news is that you can use a skip to get rid of most waste.
While you can dispose of most general waste in a skip, there are some things that shouldn’t go in your skip – and it’s important that you know what these are.
Chemical waste should not be disposed of in your skip, along with laptops, batteries, paint, glue and tyres. If you’re not sure if something can go in your skip, it’s always best to get in touch with your skip hire company. Below is a list of common, safe to skip items, but the list isn’t exhaustive:
There are also some items that can be put in a skip but with limitations. For example, while most skip hire companies are happy for you to dispose of a small amount of glass, there may be a limit on the amount of glass you can get rid of for safety reasons. Some skip hire companies will also accept mattresses for a surcharge, while others won’t.
If in doubt, get in touch with your skip hire provider of choice and they will be happy to answer all your questions.
Skip hire can be a real godsend, especially when disposing of your waste during a clear out or move, or during building works.
They come in a variety of sizes, so you can choose exactly the right skip for the job.
It’s worth totting up what you want to get rid of because if you choose one that’s too small for your needs, you’ll be at risk of overfilling it.
It’s really important not to overload your skip – nothing should protrude beyond its maximum load capacity. Not only could it be really dangerous for yourself and any passersby, but you could also wind up with a hefty fine. It also won’t be collected! So overall, it’s worth avoiding this scenario!
Here is a further explanation of the dangers of overloading your skip:
The maximum capacity line on your skip is the highest point at which your waste remains stable – and if it topples, it should do so within the skip. If you overload that maximum capacity level, you risk objects falling out of the skip, potentially being dangerous. Even if they don’t hit anyone, they may damage other people’s property, or block pavements and access routes.
Removing, and then transporting, an overflowing skip is extremely dangerous. Any good skip company will refuse to transport an overflowing skip, as it poses a danger to themselves and others. You’ll have to remove any overloaded waste before they consent to remove your skip.
Filling your skip above the maximum load capacity point is against the law. You will be hit with a heavy fine if caught doing so. And if your waste injures somebody, you could face serious legal action. The fine is there to deter people from overloading their skips. You could also be charged with littering if your litter falls out!
All skips have a maximum fill line. For many, this is the top of the skip. The maximum capacity for your waste is indicated by a thick red “fill line” on the inside of the skip. Your waste should be level; even small protuberances over this line will likely be problematic.
If you’ve filled to maximum capacity and you still have waste to get rid of, you’ll need to hire another skip.
That always ends up more expensive than if you had just hired the next size up n the first place, which is why it’s a great idea to work out how much waste you have to dispose of before you hire.
Just because you only have to the maximum capacity line, it doesn’t mean you should chuck it in willy-nilly! You’ll be surprised just how much more you can fit in a skip if you load it intentionally and with a bit of forethought. The key is to break items down into their flat parts where you can. Separate them into four categories – flat items (eg cardboard, paper), tesselates (eg bricks, tiles), bulky items (eg appliances, furniture), and debris (sand, soil).
Start with your flat items. Lay them into your skip to cover the entire base. Then layer a second layer of flat items on top, and keep going until all your flat items are layered, filling the entire base each time.
Then move on to the tesselates. Lay these objects out across the whole base, covering all available space. Then layer up. These items are usually heavier so will weigh down the card and paper beneath, making more space.
Third, start the bulky items. Deconstruct them as far as possible – eg, remove chair legs from the base, break shelving into its constituent flat boards. Then lay this waste into the skip in layers, filling all available space. This is a bit like a game of Tetris – it might take a little thought to get all of these bulkier items fitting in the best possible way to maximise your space. Finally, your debris. This can be poured in, as it will run through and fill in any pockets of space in the skip.
If you’re looking for a skip in the Oxford area, look no further than Hazell & Jefferies – a family-owned business with over fifty years of experience. We offer skip hire along with roll-on roll-off bins, and all of the waste we collect is taken to our recycling centre in Oxfordshire where it’s sorted through. Learn more about our skip hire services here.
