Skip Hire Guide from the Skip Company

How much waste do I need to dispose of?

The Skip Company offers many sizes of skips for hire in and around the UK, ranging from 2yd mini skips all the way up to 16yd skips. To get maximum value for money you need to work out how much waste you plan to dispose of.

Probably the simplest way is to visualize your waste as wheelie bins. Then check The Skip Company’s comparison table to hire a skip suitable for your  requirements.

It is often good practice to hire a skip that’s the next size up from the skip you think you require just to be sure, as we cannot legally collect an overfilled skip. The cost difference between the larger skip is much less than ordering two smaller skips.

What skip sizes are there?

Skips are measured by volume (cubic yards), our skip sizes comparison table will give you a rough idea of what skip can do what and the amount of waste it can take away.


Skip Sizes Comparison Table

What can I put in the skip?

Skip hire legislations state that some hazardous waste cannot be disposed in a general waste skip. Please check that the contents of your skip will not contain:

• Batteries
• Electrical appliances
• Fluorescent light tubes
• Paints (including residues inside paint cans)
• Solvents
• Aerosols and gas canisters
• Liquids
• Oil, fuel and other automotive fluids
• Plasterboard
• Asbestos
• Fridges, Freezers and Air-conditioning units
• Tyres
• TV’s and Monitors
• Clinical or Medical Waste
• Toxic materials
• Large tree trunks

Unless you have notified us prior to ordering, an extra disposal fee may be charged if unsuitable waste is found in a skip. This is because our skips are normally hired for general waste, and hazardous waste requires alternative disposal methods.
Don’t worry – The Skip Company offers a hazardous waste disposal service, to enquire please call our Hazardous Waste specialists on 0844 742 4455 or email info@theskipcompany.co.uk

Where will I put the skip?

As well as the skip’s size and the type of waste you want to dispose of, you will also need to think about where you will put the skip. A typical skip lorry is roughly 9ft wide, 22ft long and weighs around 17 tonnes. You will need to bear this in mind if you require the skip placed in a confined or weak space (such as very narrow streets or weak bridges, behind houses etc). Otherwise, you may need to consider placing the skip in another location, such as on the public highway.

A permit is required if the skip is to be placed on a public highway. The Skip Company’s team are able to provide permits anywhere in the UK when you place your order, for a small additional fee. Permits are normally available in 3-5 working days, in some cases sooner.

We must always be advised of any manhole covers that are at or close to the intended location of the skip.

If accessibility is a problem, then contact a member of the team on 0844 742 4455, as we can still offer alternative waste disposal services apart from skip hire.

Who is responsible for the skips waste?

You are legally responsible for the contents of the skip you hire. You need to ensure that the waste disposed in the skip is suitable for general disposal and that the skip is not overloaded. If you are sharing a skip with a neighbour, you will also need to ensure that their waste is suitable.

What happens if I overload the skip?

An overloaded skip is a hazard. The lorry may struggle to lift the skip, and your overfilled waste can be dangerous to other people as the skip is being lifted or transported. The contents of a skip should not exceed the height of the skip’s sides.

If your skip is overloaded, the skip lorry driver reserves the right to either remove the excess waste from the skip, or refuse to remove the skip altogether. The latter may incur a wasted journey charge.

Anything else I need to be aware of?

Never set fire to the waste in your skip
•    Skips cannot be placed directly below low trees
•    Heavy wastes such as soils, bricks or concrete must not be placed in any container larger than an 8 yard. Larger containers are for larger light bulk materials
•    Collection services may be limited during Sundays and Bank Holidays. Please call our  team on 0844 742 4455 beforehand if this will be an issue
•    If you have any queries while hiring a skip through The Skip Company, then please don’t hesitate to call a member of the team on 0844 742 4455 or email us at info@theskipcompany.co.uk and we will try to resolve any issues you may have

How do I organise collection?

You don’t – we do, simply call us on 0844 742 4455 or email us at info@theskipcompany.co.uk, and we will arrange the collection from there. When booking a  collection, please mention the address of the skip’s location and order number. On the day of the skip collection, please ensure that adequate access to the skip is available for the skip lorry to load the skip.