Skip Hire for Beginners

When you have large quantities of waste you need to get rid of – whether it’s from a household, garage or garden clearout – your best bet will usually be to hire a skip. After all, there’s only so much you can fit into a wheelie bin, and do you really want to spend all day going backwards and forwards to your local recycling centre, moving it bit by bit in your car?

Once you’ve established that a skip is going to be the most effective way of dealing with your waste, the temptation might be to just get straight onto the phone and get one ordered. But if you’ve not hired a skip before, there are a few things you need to think about first.

What size skip do I need?

Ordering the right skip for your waste is important for a number of reasons, because the larger the skip you hire, the more it will cost. So if you order one that’s way too big, you’ll end up paying more than you need to.

On the other hand, if you overcompensate in the other direction in an attempt to save money, you might order one that’s too small. You can’t overfill a skip (see the question on weight limits for more information on this subject), so you might then need to order a second skip to take up the remaining waste.

To help you decide the right skip for your amount of waste, we have an online skip size calculator – all you need to do is estimate the number of filled bin bags your waste equates to and we’ll be able to tell you the best sized skip for that quantity.

How long can I hire a skip for?

Essentially, you can hire a skip for as long as you need it. Our standard hire periods are anything from one day to two weeks, but if you think you’ll need one for longer, just give us a call and we’ll help in any way we can. 

Do I need a permit?

If you can fit the skip onto your own land – such as a driveway or front garden – then you won’t need a permit. However, if the skip needs to go onto a public highway, such as the road directly outside your property, then you almost certainly will. We can sort that out for you, but it can take about a week, so you’ll need to allow some time before the skip can be delivered.

What can and can’t I put into a skip?

The list of items that you can put into a skip is fairly extensive, so it might be easier to list those you can’t. These include:

• Any liquids
• Asbestos (this can’t go in a skip, but do ask us about our asbestos disposal service)
• Batteries
• Solvents
• Medicinal and clinical waste, including syringes
• Electrical appliances and equipment
• Paint cans/paint
• Fridges and freezers
• Gas canisters and bottles
• Pressurised containers
• Tyres
• Oil, petrol, and diesel
• Plasterboard
• Any hazardous or toxic materials
• Fluorescent tubes

Although this isn’t a 100% exhaustive list, it does cover most of the things likely to be found in the average UK home. However, if you’re at all unsure whether certain items you want to dispose of can be put into a skip or not, just give us a call and we’ll be able to advise.

Is there a weight limit?

There’s no weight limit – but there is a height limit which is indicated by a line on the inside of the skip. It’s important that you don’t go above this line, and the driver may well refuse to take the skip away if you do. That’s because transporting a skip with waste sticking out can be dangerous to the driver, to pedestrians and to other road users.

What will happen to my waste?

As long as you only put into the skip what you’re allowed to, then pretty much all of it will go for recycling. We are fully licensed and accredited waste carriers with our own waste transfer station and we are committed to the environmental responsibilities that go with the industry. Of all the waste we collect from all streams, we aim to recycle at least 90%.

 

If you’re happy with all the above, then you can order your skip online now, but if there’s any further help or advice you need first, please give the friendly team at Enfield Skips a call and we’ll help you in any way we can. We operate in and around Enfield, Hoddesdon and Cheshunt.