6 Top Tips for Hiring a Skip

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Posted by Keith Hirst on 31 October 2016

Whether you’re moving home or having the builders round, skips are a convenient and cost-effective way to manage the waste produced. But if it’s your first time making use of this service, you may not know what steps to take or what rules to adhere to. That’s why we’ve put together this simple guide to hiring a skip, giving you some top tips to how you can navigate this process safely, legally and with minimal hassle.

Find the perfect location

Obviously your skip will need to be positioned as closely to your domestic or commercial premises as possible for easy loading. If you choose to position a skip directly on your driveway or your property, then you will not require a skip permit. However, skips can become heavy and could potentially damage a driveway, so putting stabilising equipment below a skip may help alleviate this problem. If your skip needs be positioned on a public road or pavement, this will require a skip permit, something that your skip hire company will apply for. Generally these permits have an expiry date after a few days, so make sure you renew them if needed. Check your local council’s rules on skip hire permits for more information.

Think about accessibility

The skip hire truck will be heavy, and therefore, consider the logistical issues of how it will deliver and pick up your skip. Most skip hire companies are used to maneuvering down a variety of road types, but it’s still worth recceing your neighbourhood and telling the driver what to expect in advance. Try and keep everyone safe when the vehicle arrives, and make sure that there are no children or pets in the vicinity.

Select the perfect size

Choosing the size of your skip is not an exact science, but do try and be realistic when you estimate your potential waste production. Overfilling a skip is illegal, and therefore it’s always better to overestimate your skip size – otherwise you might find yourself paying out for a second skip. Skips are measured in cubic yards, and the general rule is 1 yard = 10 bin bags of rubbish. For a full guide to skip sizes, take a look at last month’s blog.

Load your skip smartly

Sometimes the chaos of a construction project can make it difficult to apply logic to filling a skip, but try if you can. Load bigger, heavier items first, and place lighter items on top – these smaller items should fill gaps, making for a more tightly packed skip. It’s also important to keep your own health and safety in mind when loading, so make sure to keep your back straight and legs bent when lifting heavy items.

What can’t you put in a skip?

The rules may differ depending on your local council’s policies and also the conditions of the particular company that you are hiring from, so check with both before you hire.

Generally, you cannot load a skip with:

  1. Hazardous materials or items
  2. Asbestos
  3. Electric items
  4. Batteries
  5. Tyres
  6. Gas bottles
  7. Solvents and other liquids
  8. Oil/petrol/diesel
  9. Clinical or medical waste
  10. Oil based paint/paint cans

Please note that some companies will remove fridges/freezers and old style TVs for an extra charge.

Find a reliable company

Choosing a reliable skip hire company can make the whole process go much more smoothly. Make sure to select a dependable firm who can offer great customer service along with advice and guidance – a company like Thompson Fuels & Skip Hire Ltd.

 

If you’re looking for some trustworthy professionals to manage your waste, then look no further than Thompson Fuels & Skip Hire Ltd. Serving Doncaster and surrounding areas, our accredited skip hire service has satisfied a range of domestic and commercial clients. If you want to find out more about what we can offer, simply get in contact with one of the team – we’re always happy to help.

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Get in touch today to speak to a member of our friendly team about skip hire, solid fuels or waste management in the Doncaster and Epworth areas.

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