Hiring a skip can be quite convenient for you and your waste, allowing professionals to take and sort out your rubbish. However, it’s important to think twice about what you can and can’t put in a skip. It’s worth noting that skip hire companies may have specific items they can’t or won’t take, or there are particular skips for more hazardous types of waste.
It’s best to scrutinise the material and components of the item you’re throwing away before
putting it into a skip. Ideally, you should contact your skip hire provider if you ever feel unsure of
disposing something into the skip. As a general rule, ensure that the item is not harmful to the environment and that it’s not illegal to dispose of it.
Plus, you’ll need to think about whether the skip has enough space in it to accommodate the items that you’re going to throw into it. Explore different sizes from your skip hire company if you feel like a bigger and more spacious skip is needed.
Here’s a list of items that you should think about before putting it into your skip:
1) Carpet
Carpet is a sturdy material, so it can take some damage. However, it can be quite heavy, so it can occupy a huge amount of space in your skip. You’ll need to ensure that your skip is big enough to accommodate the floor covering. Prior to throwing away the rug, get a skip that’s big enough for the carpet you intend to dispose of.
2) Clothes
Clothes are made up of different materials, and so it is possible that some may contain material that is toxic to both humans and the environment. Consider finding an environmentally friendly way to recycle your clothes, but always check with your skip provider if you are not sure. If you are happy that the material is safe, you could also consider donating them to charities or repurposing the fabric for something else instead.
3) Garden Waste
Garden waste can seem difficult to get rid of sometimes, especially if you’ve got a lot of weeds and large plants to dispose of. For the most part, garden waste is ok to throw into a skip, however, as always, check with your skip provider if you’re not sure.
4) Soil
A skip can potentially hold a lot of soil, however as it is very heavy you need to ensure that you order the correct size and type of skip.
You’ll also need to ensure that there isn’t anything else mixed in within the soil, such as rocks or stones, and always ensure that the soil hasn’t been contaminated with anything, such as pesticide.
5) Glass
Glass can be hazardous because it will potentially smash into pieces when thrown into the skip. Apart from this being potentially dangerous, it also makes the glass a lot harder to recycle. If you’re planning on disposing of any glass in a Skip, try to ensure that the glass remains intact, and be sure to wear protective gloves when handling it.
6) Paint
You are not allowed to throw paint, thinner or any other solvents into a skip, so these items will need to be disposed of at your local recycling centre. You can however throw away any empty paint tins into a skip, but be sure to check the contents before you do.
7) Tyres
Tyres are something else that can’t be disposed of in a skip, however you will be able to take them down to your local recycling centre, and dispose of them there.
8) Electronics
Electronics are not allowed to be put into a skip as their disposal is controlled by the WEEE directive. The best thing to do with any Electronic items that you wish to dispose of is to take them to your local recycling centre, as it’s quite likely that a high amount of the contents will be recyclable.
9) Appliances
You cannot put household appliances such as fridges, washing machines and tumble dryers into a skip. Some councils offer a free collection service for refrigeration units, otherwise you may have to take it to your local recycling centre or pay for a specialist collection.
10) Mattress
Mattresses have to be disposed of differently to general waste. If you put a mattress into your skip, you will be charged extra at the time of collection to cover the skip operator’s additional disposal costs. Prices vary by location, so please contact us in advance if you would like to know the exact supplement that will be charged per mattress.
11) Liquids
You are not allowed to put liquids into a skip, as there is a high likelihood that they will leak out and potentially cause a hazard. Some skip hire companies may offer a hazardous liquid collection and disposal service, so it always worth checking to see with your local company.
12) Food
Food waste is something else that shouldn’t be put into a skip. Domestic waste food can be put into the household composting bin, but commercial food waste will need to be collected by a specialist organisation who will be able to dispose of it properly.
13) Wood
Skip hire companies can usually take wood for you, but if you are planning on disposing of any wood that has had any sort of treatment applied (such as creosote or paint) it’s always best to check with the skip hire company first.
Conclusion
Skip hire can be quite convenient, especially if you’re trying to clean up the mess at home or work. You can dump all your rubbish and they’ll take them away for you, but just be mindful of the regulations and ethics of throwing your items away.
Looking to hire a skip in Newcastle? Enviro Skip Hire is a family-run skip hire and aggregate company servicing Staffordshire, offering different skip sizes and aggregates. Get in touch with us today!
