Skip Hire: A Guide for Beginners

Whether you’re renovating your home or decided that it’s time for a massive clear out, hiring a skip is the best move to take. This container is perfect for the large waste you need to get rid of, but for those who have never hired a skip before, it can be confusing to know what to do and to find out the necessary information. So, here’s a skip hire guide for beginners.

What to put in a skip

You may think that you can put anything in a skip, but this is usually not the case. There are certain items you should avoid throwing in a skip, such as:

• Asbestos
• Liquids
• Tyres
• Batteries
• Explosives
• Plasterboard
• Solvents (e.g. paint or glue)
• Fluorescent tubes
• Gas canisters and bottles
• Medical waste (e.g. syringes)
• Toxic and hazardous materials
• Oils (e.g. cooking oil, petrol, diesel)
• Computer equipment
• Electrical equipment and appliances
• Paint tins (unless they’re completely empty)
• Fridges, freezers and air conditioning units

However, what you can and can’t put varies depending on the skip hire company you go for. It’s also good to note that if any prohibited items are found in your skip, you may be charged and these items will most likely be returned to you. Therefore, you should keep an eye on your skip if it’s out in the open because people can throw their rubbish inside it.

What size should you get?

This is probably a difficult question to ask yourself since you’ll have to rely on your judgement. The size of the skip will depend on how much waste you have. However, you don’t want to hire a large skip and realise you don’t have enough to fill it, but you also don’t want to hire a small skip and be left with some waste you can’t get rid of.

If you’re only trying to get rid of household waste, you probably only need a 2 yard mini skip. If you’re a tradesman, specifically a builder, doing a project, an 8 yard large skip is probably best. For more information on skip sizes, sites like Mackers Total Recycling Ltd have a section on skip sizes to help you figure out what size to get.

Will you need a skip licence?

If you plan to put a skip on the road, you’ll have to apply for a skip permit or licence through the government website. However, if you plan to put it on private land, you won’t need to apply for one. The permit or licence can either be arranged by the skip hire company or yourself.

When placing a skip on the road, safety precautions are needed such as lights or reflective markings. If you don’t have a permit or licence and you fail to use the right markings, you can face a fine of up to £1,000.

How long can you hire a skip?

The usual time period for hiring a skip is between 1-2 weeks. If you’ve consulted a skip hire company, it’s possible to get a skip for an unlimited amount of time. This is perfect for any home renovation projects that might take a long time to complete. However, this can get pricey, so make sure that you have enough money to spend.

One route to take is filling your skip straight away, which can then be collected by the skip hire company sooner. This means that you can book in another skip if you need to. It’s also a good idea to note that a permit or licence is only valid for a certain amount of time, so make sure you don’t go over the time limit.

How much will hiring a skip cost?

If you’re worried about costs, it’s worth noting that the cost of hiring a skip will vary depending on where you are in the country. If you live in London, you’ll have to pay 10% more. If you’re outside of London, these are the range of prices you’re expected to pay.

• For a mini skip – £90-£130
• For a midi skip – £200-£250
• For a large skip – £250-£340

How do you hire a skip?

You’ll usually have to contact a skip hire company to get a skip. There are companies such as Skip Hire UK and Bookaskip that will be able to help you find the best size. Alternatively, you can get in touch with any of our skip hire services from our directory here.

This is a beginner’s guide to hiring a skip, which hopefully helps you to understand what you should do and given you all the information you need to know. If you need help, advice, or for any enquiries, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our skip hire experts from our directory here. Alternatively, you can also contact our waste disposal specialists from our directory here.

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