Things to Consider When Hiring a Skip

When you’re undertaking a major domestic or commercial building or refurbishment project, in all probability you’re going to be creating a lot of mess that you’re going to need to get rid of.

The simplest way to do that is to hire a skip – then, all you need to do is throw your rubbish into the skip and wait for the hire company to come and collect it, right? Well, sort of.

It’s very rarely that straightforward, so before going ahead and hiring a skip from the first company you find on the internet, here are six things you need to consider when hiring a skip:

Where can I put my skip?

If you have a flat and solid surface such as a drive, then that will be the best place to put it. Don’t put it onto a lawn, because it will kill the grass underneath. It also needs to be easily accessible so that it can be dropped off and picked up. If you have nowhere suitable at your property, then it may well have to go on the road outside.

Will I need a skip permit?

If your skip has to go on to a public highway, then you’re almost certainly going to need a permit from your local council. Although you will have to pay for the permit, if you use a reputable and helpful skip hire company such as CSH Environmental, you shouldn’t need to worry about organising it. They can do that for you and add the cost onto your hire bill.

What size skip will I need?

The size of the skip will naturally depend on how much you need to dispose of. Skips are measured in yards. At CSH Environmental, we have a wide range of sizes from small 2 yard skips to huge 40 yard skips. As a very rough guide, if you multiply the size of a skip by 10, you can fit that many filled black bin bags into that skip. For example, an 8 yard skip will hold approximately 80 filled black bin bags.

What can and can’t I put in a skip?

• Things you can put in a skip: soil, rubble, bricks, garden waste, wood, metal, plastic, carpets, mattresses, furniture, tiles, ceramics, cardboard, polystyrene, non-electric fixtures & fittings
• Things you can’t put in a skip: hazardous & toxic waste, electrical items, liquid waste, batteries, plasterboard, solvents, oil, petrol, medical waste, fluorescent tubes, tyres, paint

This isn’t an exhaustive list – if you’re unsure, it’s always best to ask first.

How high can I fill a skip?

You cannot fill a skip any higher than its sides – it needs to be a level load, otherwise it might be unsafe to transport. If your skip has been overloaded, then the driver who comes to take it away will almost certainly refuse to do so and you’ll probably end up with extra costs as a result. It is therefore very important that you are realistic when it comes to estimating what size skip you’ll be needing. 

What will happen to my waste once it’s taken away?

When you hire a skip from CSH Environmental, and do everything they can to recycle as much of your waste as possible. Their state-of-the-art recycling centre is currently allowing them to recycle about 98% of the waste they receive. However, they do have a goal of “zero to landfill” and with your help, their sure they can get there sooner rather than later.

So no matter where you are, whether you’re looking for Skip Hire in Colchester, Leicester or Glasgow ensure you choose a reliable and cost-effective local commercial and domestic skip hire company.