Hiring a skip is one of the simplest ways to deal with waste from a house clearance, renovation, garden project or building job. Most everyday materials can be collected through skip hire, including general household rubbish, timber, furniture, rubble and old fixtures.
However, not every type of waste should simply be thrown into a mixed skip without telling the provider first. Some materials need different handling because of the way they are transported, sorted or processed after collection.
Skip hire companies can arrange disposal for a very wide range of waste, but certain items and substances must be declared in advance. This includes things such as electrical appliances, tyres, plasterboard, mattresses, gas cylinders and hazardous materials.
Telling the company what you intend to dispose of when booking allows them to explain any special requirements and helps avoid problems when the skip is collected.
What Can You Normally Put in a Skip?
Most general household, garden and building waste can usually be placed into a skip without requiring unusual disposal arrangements.
Typical examples include furniture, wood and timber, garden cuttings, metal, packaging, old cupboards, flooring, bricks, concrete and general waste produced during a property clearance. This makes skips useful for everything from clearing out a spare bedroom to stripping an old kitchen before a refurbishment.
Weight still needs to be considered, even when the material itself is suitable for skip disposal. Soil, concrete, bricks and rubble become extremely heavy when loaded in large quantities, so filling a large skip with these materials may not be appropriate.
If your project involves substantial amounts of heavy waste, mention this when booking so the skip provider can recommend a suitable size and explain any weight restrictions that may apply.
What Waste Do You Need to Tell the Skip Company About?
Some types of waste can be collected but need to be mentioned before the skip is delivered or collected.
Tree roots, plasterboard, tyres, mattresses and food waste are common examples. These materials may have different recycling or disposal requirements, which means they cannot always be processed alongside ordinary mixed waste in exactly the same way.
Plasterboard is a particularly good example because it generally needs to be kept separate from certain other types of waste. Mattresses and tyres can also require separate processing, while large tree roots can be difficult to handle because of their size and weight.
Rather than putting these items into the skip and mentioning them afterwards, tell the skip company about them when requesting your quote. They can then advise on the most suitable arrangement.
Electrical Appliances, Batteries and WEEE Waste
Electrical items fall under what is commonly known as WEEE waste, meaning Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. This can include televisions, computers, microwaves, small electrical appliances and other unwanted equipment containing electrical components. Fridges and freezers also require particular attention because they can contain refrigerants and other materials that need to be dealt with correctly during recycling or disposal.
Batteries and fluorescent light bulbs should also be declared beforehand rather than being hidden amongst general rubbish.
Different types of batteries contain materials that can create risks if they are damaged during waste processing, while fluorescent lamps require more careful handling than ordinary household waste.
If electrical appliances form part of your clearance, give the skip company a rough idea of what you have before your collection is arranged.
Hazardous Materials, Chemicals and Pressurised Containers
Hazardous and chemical waste should never be treated in the same way as ordinary household rubbish.
Asbestos, clinical or medical waste, gas tanks, gas cylinders, aerosols, liquids, petrol or gasoline, paint, empty paint cans, glues and solvents should all be declared before disposal. Depending on the material involved, separate containers, specialist collection or another disposal method may be required.
Pressurised containers and flammable substances deserve particular care. A gas cylinder may appear empty but can still contain residual gas, while petrol, solvents and aerosols can create obvious risks when crushed or processed alongside other waste.
Asbestos also has strict handling requirements because disturbed fibres can be hazardous. Never place these materials underneath other rubbish in the hope that they will simply be taken away. Tell the skip provider exactly what you have so the correct disposal route can be arranged.
Why Should You Declare Certain Waste Before Hiring a Skip?
Waste collected in a skip does not simply disappear once the lorry leaves your property. It will normally be taken to a waste transfer or processing facility, where different materials can be sorted and directed towards appropriate recycling or disposal routes.
Certain materials cannot safely or practically follow the same process as general mixed waste, which is why the skip company needs to know about them beforehand.
Being clear about your waste can also make choosing a skip much easier. For example, a bathroom renovation containing plasterboard may require different advice from a straightforward furniture clearance, while a project involving rubble and soil needs greater consideration of weight.
If you are unsure about an item, ask before putting it in the skip. A quick conversation when booking is far easier than discovering during collection that something needs to be removed or handled separately.
Conclusion
Skips can be used for an enormous range of household, garden, commercial and construction waste, so there is usually a practical disposal option available.
General rubbish, furniture, timber, metal, garden waste and many common building materials can normally be collected without difficulty. The important distinction is that some waste needs to be identified beforehand rather than simply mixed into the skip.
Items such as fridges, freezers, electrical appliances, batteries, plasterboard, tyres, mattresses, gas cylinders, chemicals and hazardous materials should always be mentioned when arranging your hire.
If you are uncertain about anything you intend to throw away, check with the skip company first. Giving them an accurate description of your waste from the outset helps make collection easier and ensures the materials can be dealt with through the appropriate disposal route.
