The Dos & Don’ts of Skip Hire

Skip hire doesn’t need to be complicated. Whether you’re looking to do a little bit of refurbishment work in your home, or you have a large summer project planned to overhaul your landscaping, we have the dos and don’ts to keep in mind for skip hire.

Helping you to keep your waste in one place, skip hire is a great idea. There’s no running to and from the local authority waste centre, and you won’t end up making a mess of your car.

This might be your first time hiring a skip, or you might be a seasoned pro, either way, we’ve put together some simple dos and don’ts to help you understand how to get the best from your skip and stay within the law.

Dos

Do: Get the right size skip

Most skip companies will offer a wide range of skip sizes for you to choose from. The idea is that you choose the size which best suits the amount you’ll be wanting to dispose of. If you order a skip which is too large, you’ll have wasted money, while a skip that is too small will mean you have to order multiple, costing you more. Try to calculate which size you need to save yourself time and money.

At Beta Skips, we supply 4, 6, 8 and 10 cubic yard skips, with 20-40 yard skips for large scale works.

Do: Get a permit where required

Whether you need a permit or not will depend on the area you’re in. It’s always best to establish this first, as in some areas a skip placed on a road will require a permit. We can provide more information and assistance on this aspect of skip hire when you call to book, helping you ensure that your skip is legally placed.

Do: Think about safety and positioning

There are several options available for where to place your skip. As discussed above, skips on the road will likely require a permit, but you could also opt to have it delivered onto your driveway, front or back garden if there is space and enough access. These options would eliminate the need for a permit so it is worth taking the time to assess your options before hiring a skip.

Don’ts

Don’t: Put hazardous waste in your skip

Safety and legal regulations dictate that only certain types of waste can be accepted in skips. While your standard home or garden renovations probably won’t include a lot of hazardous waste, you should still be aware that we do not accept certain items, including:

• Fridges and freezers
• Oil and paint cans
• Rubber tyres
• Medical waste
• Batteries
• Food waste
• Electronics
• Mastic tubes

If you’re unsure about what you can and cannot place in your skip, please contact your skip hire company for more details.

Don’t: Burn waste inside the skip

There are a number of reasons you shouldn’t do this, the most important one being that it is against fire regulations as it can be dangerous – it may lead to your being reported to the Environment Agency. You could also cause damage to the skip and end up paying a hefty price for the skip to be replaced.

Don’t: Overfill your skip

The general rule is that your waste should not come up higher than the top of the skip container. Too much waste in one skip – known as overfilling – means the maximum weight is likely to be exceeded and means the driver could be prosecuted because of the dangers this represents. Any overfilled skips could be subject to an extra charge, with the driver refusing to take the skip.

Don’t: Just go with any old skip hire company

It can be tempting to simply use the first company you find, but the best advice is to go and find several quotes so you can compare the price and the service on offer.

At Beta Skips, we’re always happy to talk to you about you skip hire requirements and provide a quote. We book delivery and collection times to suit you and provide competitive prices. So for your next home project, contact us for a fast delivery and excellent service.