Skip Hire Waste Restrictions Guide

What are Our Restrictions? 

All companies set their guidelines for what they do or don’t allow in their skips so it’s worth calling the exact provider if you have any questions. We’ve set out ours in hopes we can lower the levels of confusion. Failure to follow these can result in legal action. Here’s what can’t go in our skip.

Upholstered Furniture (POPs)

This category of waste includes upholstered items such as sofas, armchairs, and footstools. Persistent Organic Pollutants don’t break down properly in our environment which can leave dangerous chemicals in the fatty tissue of humans and animals. The way that these items are stored, processed, and disposed of has changed since January 2023. We can help by sending these items to a proper disposal facility, however, we may need to charge a POP fee. Please contact our customer service team for further information.

Electrical Appliances and Equipment

This seems like the most common item that everyone tries to dispose of in a skip. Yet, they are prohibited due to being highly dangerous if disposed of improperly. This covers all equipment that needs batteries or has a plug or charger. They all must be taken to a specialist centre or sometimes named an electrical recycling point and you can find your local one here.

Mattresses

We can responsibly dispose of your mattresses for an added cost of £45 – £50 + VAT per mattress. We ask that you inform us before placing the mattress in your skip.

Plasterboard

Drywall or plasterboard are restricted from all skips as they can be a big health risk if contaminated with water, or other bio-degradable materials. It can create toxic fumes that can be highly dangerous to our customers and skip operators’ health. If you have a very small amount of plasterboard, no more than 2 bin bags worth, then that can be placed on the top of your full skips wrapped in those bags. If you have more, we can discuss a plasterboard-only skip, but please don’t just put it all in your mixed skip because then you will be charged a fine of around 50% of the hire price.

Batteries

It’s common knowledge that batteries can’t simply go in your normal household bin. The same goes for skips. They contain harmful substances such as lead, meaning they have to go through a cleaning process before ending up at the landfill. This is why it’s best to take them to their appropriate disposal bins which can be found at your local garages and supermarkets. This way people stay out of harms way, and the batteries can be responsibly disposed of and recycled.  If you’d like to find your closest disposal site, you can click here.

Asbestos

Asbestos is up there as one of the most hazardous materials we find as it can cause many health problems. If you face exposure without protection, you can end up facing increased chances of lung disease and cancer. If you find asbestos contact a specialist remover right away.

Gas Cylinders

Unfortunately, gas cylinders are never as empty as we think they are. This makes them a huge risk when needing to dispose of them because done improperly could cause combustion and injury. If you need to get rid of your old gas cylinder then we suggest calling up the manufacturer who will be able to point you in the right direction. In some other cases, you can contact specialists who will take and re-use the old cans.

Medical Waste

This is a broad term that covers a lot of different items including, needles (unused or used), bodily fluids, and any other bits of equipment of that kind. These pose major risks to others which is why there are specific rules on how to get rid of them. We don’t want any of our skip operators getting harmed which is why we prohibit all these items. For more information about the risks of medical waste and how to dispose of it waste visit the Department of Health.

Glass

It’s fine to chuck the odd mirror and piece of glass into the skip but unfortunately, we can’t accept a considerably large amount of glass in our skips as it can be quite dangerous in a general mixed waste skip. Glass also has to be separated from all other waste as it needs to be disposed of differently to the other waste. If you wish to rid of a large amount of glass then you can contact us to discuss a glass-only skip. The price quotation for these is done on a weight and transport basis.

Tyres & Other Items

We can help with some other rubber items like tyres, again like the Mattresses, for an added cost. If you have any items on the list that you’re not sure about placing in the skip then you can always contact your local council. They will be able to give you more advice about what’s accepted at the landfill. All companies have their own rules and regulations, and they will also be able to explain what they accept and don’t.

Paint, Solvents, and Fuels

These 3 items are a big no when it comes to skips. They all can be highly dangerous if you come into contact with them resulting in chemical injuries and burns, and also they are highly combustible too. This means that all of them need to be disposed of properly and responsibly. They must all be taken to a licensed disposal center.

Are You Ready To Book Today? 

Even with the restricted items, skips are the most useful tool in ridding of all your waste, no matter the amount of it. So whether you’re going to be undertaking a spring clean or renovating a large commercial building, hiring one of our skips will save you money and time when needing to manage your waste. Due to them being a general mixed waste, you can also get rid of garden waste and household furniture in one of our skips. 

We have a wide array of skip sizes so there is a skip for anyone, no matter the size of the project. We can guarantee that your skip will be delivered and collected when you want it. So why don’t you check out our latest prices to book your convenient, reliable skip today!