I need to hire a skip – where do I start?

I need to hire a skip – where do I start? Whether you’re tearing out your old bathroom to build a new one, or you’re just carrying out basic garden maintenance, it’s always better to hire a skip than to wrestle with waste in your car, making multiple trips to your local waste centre.

But where do you start once you’ve made the realisation that you need a skip? This month, we’ll take you through the key considerations when hiring a skip, helping to make the process as smooth as possible and ensuring you get the most out of your skip hire.

Which skip size should I choose?

This is the first question you should ask yourself. While you don’t want to get a larger skip than you need and waste space, you also don’t want to get too small a skip and need to hire a second one. Getting the size right can save you time, money and whole lot of hassle.

At Beta Skips, we provide the following skip sizes, giving you a great choice:

• 4 cubic yard
• 6 cubic yard
• 8 cubic yard
• 10 cubic yard
• 20-40 cubic yard

The larger 20-40 yard roll-on roll-off skips are better tailored for large, commercial projects, while the 4-10 yard skips are helpful when matched to the size of any domestic project.

Do I need a permit to have a skip?

This question all depends on where you live. Councils vary on their stance and so you’ll probably need to get in touch with them to find out.

The two most common scenarios are that either you need to get the permit, or your skip hire company will need to have a permit. It’s always good to have a skip placed on your drive where possible, as this helps you to get around the need for a permit.

Can a skip be delivered on my road?

There are lots of different types of roads, but each will have different things to consider when hiring a skip. Here are some of the key considerations and items to make your skip hire company aware of when placing an order:

• Overhead cables and trees – Are there phone lines, power lines or trees at a low height which might impede a vehicle delivering a skip?
• Manholes and drains – These are weak spots in some roads, so if your property has multiple manholes and drains outside on the road, it’s worth mentioning as a skip might cause permanent damage.
• Parked cars – Often, streets empty out during the working day, but if you’re having a skip delivered or collected and you know there are often lots of parked cars in the way, let your skip hire company know.
• Gates and access – If you want your skip delivered onto your property directly, you’ll need to make sure there is access for the skip hire team.
• Turning space – A vehicle delivery a skip of any size will need adequate room to turn around if there is no through-route. This is a common issue for small cul-de-sac, with the limited room causing issues on the day.

What can’t I put in a skip?

You can put plenty of rubbish in your skip, and if you’re unsure it is advisable to speak with your skip hire company before ordering, but here is a list of items and materials which definitely can’t be disposed of in a skip:

• Rubber tyres
• Asbestos
• Fridges/Freezers
• Televisions
• Medical waste
• Flammable or toxic materials
• Car batteries
• Oils, paints and solvents

This is not an exhaustive list, and often it involves using common sense when it comes to dangerous or hazardous materials, so it’s always best to check if you’re unsure.

Contact Us

For more information regarding skip hire, or to speak to a friendly member of our team about your individual requirements. You can  simply contact us here today and we’ll be happy to help.