You’re all set to fill your skip with whatever debris your project creates, but you’re wondering just how full you can make it. Here are some key things to remember about skip hire so that you can make the most of it while staying safe.
How Full Can a Skip Bin Be? (What You Need to Know)
How full you can fill a skip is dependent on the size of the skip you’ve gone for and the weight of the materials you intend to put in it. While your skip will come with a maximum volume capacity, this isn’t an indication of how much it can carry. The maximum volume of a skip is usually dependent on the size of the skip, but it’s also worth looking at how much the skip will weigh when it’s filled to capacity.
Selecting the Right Skip Size
If you’re not sure how much your debris will weigh, it’s worth using Enviro Skip Hire to book a larger skip. It’s always better to go for a larger skip than you need rather than one that’s too small, and you find yourself having to return to the site to have it emptied.
A skip bin of 8 cubic yards is suitable for carrying around 150 litres of soil. If you need to dispose of excess soil, you can double the size of your skip to 16 cubic yards. Bear in mind that you should only fill the skip bin a third of the way full, as this is the maximum that most skips can take when it comes to weight.
Don’t forget to ask what the maximum weight the skip will hold is. You can then fill the skip with material up to this weight, and you will be able to dispose of anything up to this weight.
Health and Safety Considerations When Filling a Skip
1 – Lighter Items Might Get Blown Away
If you’re disposing of lighter materials, such as soil or building rubble, you might need to keep an eye out for strong winds. When strong winds are predicted, you may need to consider putting up some tarpaulin as a precaution. As long as you don’t fill the skip to the top and roll the tarpaulin over the top, it should provide enough protection to stop the light materials from being carried away with the wind.
2 – Items Sticking Out of the Skip May Injure Pedestrians
If you’re going to fill your skip with items that are sticking out of the top of the skip, it’s worth making sure the skip is roped up, as if these items fall on a passer-by, it could lead to an injury. If you want to fill the skip with items that stick out, it’s a good idea to make sure that it’s roped up and covered with a tarpaulin.
3 – Stacking High May Cause Items to Slide or Fall
If you need to stack items on top of each other, make sure that you don’t overload them. This can cause them to slide and fall on the ground. It’s much better to spread the items out so that they can be stacked with a lower risk of them falling.
4 – An Overfilled Skip May Become Imbalanced
If you try to fill your skip with too many items and it becomes too heavy, it may become unbalanced and tip over. All skips have a maximum weight capacity, and you should make sure you don’t exceed this. When hiring a skip, you should find out what your weight maximum is and then keep this in mind.
Tips to Maximise Space in Your Skip
There are a few things you can do to maximise how much you can put in your skip.
1 – Remove Wheels From Large Items
Items such as furniture and large timbers sometimes have wheels on them. If you want to make the most of your skip by filling it to the top, it’s worth removing the wheels from these items. This will also make it easier to move them into the skip.
2 – Fill the Skip Laying Flat
Metal and plastic items are easier to dispose of if you fill your skip flat. If you can fill your skip with these items by laying them flat, then you will have more space available to you.
3 – Stack Items on Edges
If you have items that will stack nicely on the edge, it can give you more space in the skip. This is especially true of plastic carriers. By stacking items on edge, you will make the most of the available space in your skip.
4 – Place Light Items at the Bottom
If you are disposing of light materials, such as soil or rubble, it’s worth placing them at the bottom of the skip. This will give you more room to fill with heavier items and will also help to balance out the weight of the skip.
5 – Break Up Bulky Items
Heavy items are more difficult to dispose of. If you want to dispose of these items but don’t have enough space in your skip, it’s worth breaking them up into smaller parts. For example, if you have a large piece of furniture that you can’t fit into your skip, you can break it up into smaller items that can fit. This can lead to a reduction in the amount of space you need and make disposing of your items easier.
Why Choosing the Right Size for a Skip is Crucial
If you want to make the most of your skip hire, it’s essential that you choose the right size for your project. A skip that is too large will go to waste, and you won’t have the space to dispose of your items properly. A skip that is too small will mean that you have to bring it back to the site to have it emptied.
You should always use Enviro Skip Hire to hire a skip. We have a wide range of skip sizes for your disposal and can advise you on the best option for your project. Contact us today!
