What is a Skip?
A skip is a large open-topped waste container designed to accommodate waste by loading it onto a truck or a lorry. The term ‘skip’ is commonly used in European countries. However, the North American equivalent is a dumpster or a debris box.
Skip bins are long elongated trapezoidal containers that use special lorry and cranes to help to load the waste onto the bins. Skips are durable and sturdy made to withstand rough usage by laborers or tradespeople.
Hiring a skip is ideal if you have space to put it on at your property to accommodate the messy, heavy waste that may be created over days. For instance, if you plan to renovate your bathroom or redesign your living room, hiring a skip would be an effective solution. It enables you to keep your waste contained, keeping your driveway and gardens free from the trash. Unlike a man & van waste clearance, skip hire eliminates the need for worrying about overloading or being charged extra depending on the kind and the weight of the waste.
Things you can put in a Skip
The most common items that cannot be disposed of in a skip due to safety reasons are asbestos, batteries, clinical or medical waste, including syringes, electrical appliances & equipment, fluorescent tubes, fridges, freezes, and air conditioning units, gas canisters, and gas bottles, hazardous and toxic materials, liquids, petroleum, oil, petrol or diesel, paints and paint cans, plasterboard, tires, and electronic screens such as TVs and computer screens.
If any restricted substances are found while emptying the skip, you will be fined and charged extra, and the restricted items will be returned to you. You need to keep vigilance while loading your waste onto the skip in a public place because others might put their rubbish in your skip. Even if someone else is responsible for placing prohibited items in your skip, you will be held accountable.
Local skip hires are used for waste accumulation and take materials used in remodeling and construction such as bricks, rubble, wood, metal, furniture, packaging, plastic, cardboard, and soil. Please consult your skip hire company and adhere to the skip hire rules to avoid fines. You can always opt for lockable skips to have peace of mind when you aren’t around to keep watch.
Skip Sizes and Types
There are several skip sizes such as 4,6,8,12,14,16, 20, and 30 yards. Each yard can accommodate around ten large bin bags. You need to be mindful when choosing the correct skip size, keeping in mind the task and amount of waste required to pick up. If you select a bigger skip size, you may have to pay for space since you won’t have enough waste to fill the skip. If you order a smaller size skip, you may have to order another skip to accommodate the leftover debris. Skips come in fixed sizes that limit overfilling of the skip with your waste, unlike man & van clearance that adjusts the cost according to the amount of garbage.
You can use 4 yards skips for Home DIY and refurbishing projects. 6-yard skips can be used for home extensions, while 8 yards can be used for garden projects. 12 yards skips are used for house clearance and commercial use. 14 yards skips are used to accumulate driveway waste. 16 yards skips are used for building and structure-related projects and 20/30 yards skips are used to pick up demolition and builders’ waste.
There are two types of skips available for hire in the current UK market- open and closed. Open skips as the name suggests, have no roof or lid in while closed skips have a covering lid or roof in place to protect others, adding their trash to your skips for hire. Open skips enable the loading of waste and are usually found around construction sites. Closed skips ensure the volume of waste does not exceed the maximum limit and offer a sense of security for the user. Roll-on/roll-off skips are similar to open skips, but instead of being lifted onto a skip loader wagon, they are rolled on with a hook, making them unsuitable for domestic use. The larger the skip and the bigger the size of waste, the cheaper it is going to be for you when measuring the waste removed in the cubic yard/meter.
Limitations of Skip Hire
Skip hires require serious elbow grease as you are responsible for all the waste loading and docking onto the skip. You may end up paying more if you choose the incorrect skip size. Conduct thorough research and talk to a skip hire company before choosing what size and type of skip you need. You cannot put appliances in a skip, and the cost of hiring a skip is higher than man & van clearance, especially if you have to get a skip permit or CPZ suspension.
