A Guide to Skip Hire

Hiring a skip is one of the easiest and most effective ways to clear waste from a house or workplace. The skip is dropped off at your destination, you can fill it with pre-agreed waste, and it is then collected to be disposed of (or recycled).

But to ensure you don’t incur additional charges and are going to be able to get rid of everything as planned, read our guide to skip hire below, including the options available to you and any additional issues which may need covering.

 

Hire Skips from Speedy Hire

 

The different types of skip

You can’t just hire a skip and throw everything you deem as waste into it. Due to how the waste is processed after collection, mixing waste must be minimised. Skip companies will deal with the waste on your behalf but must follow guidelines.

Therefore, segregating waste is vital. Specialist waste will have to be sent to a dedicated disposal site. This includes hazardous waste and builders’ rubble. General waste or gardening waste will be separated at a waste management facility.

When hiring a skip, it is your responsibility to ensure nothing ends up in the skip which shouldn’t be there. This includes from your site or from passersby. When hiring from Speedy Hire, your order confirmation will contain details of the type of waste to be disposed. Any waste type outside of the agreement will result in additional charge.

The most common types of skip are:

General Mixed Waste Skip

This skip gives you the most flexibility. Anything from a household clearance can usually be accepted, as well as everyday waste, but there will be limitations.

Any waste requiring a dedicated skip (such as those below) and items such as mattresses, builders’ rubble, and electronics are usually off limits as these need to be recycled separately.

Read more about what you can’t put in a skip in our blog:

 

What You Can (and Can't) Put In a Skip

 

Green Waste Skip

This is for twigs, branches, leaves, grass cuttings, weeds, and other waste. These are especially needed during large garden renovations, or if working on a big post-winter clear of a public space. Green waste can be composted, so will be dealt with properly.

Avoid adding artificial grass to this. It is treated as end-of-life waste as it cannot be recycled. Soil can also not be composted, so avoid adding rolls of turf or old compost.

Hardcore/Builder’s Rubble

Hardcore, bricks, and rubble from a home renovation or clearing a waste site needs a hardcore-only skip. These skips are heavy-duty, so will withstand the weight of the materials when collected again.

Always look at the specific materials allowed, but it often also includes items like paving stones, plasterboard, and potentially wood too. You’ll be limited on the size you’re able to hire due to the weight of the skip once filled, and there will likely be weight restrictions in place.

Hazardous Waste

Examples of this includes chemicals, tyres, car batteries, explosives, and gas cylinders. Dedicated asbestos skips can also be hired.

These skips will be covered and taken to a hazardous waste plant when collected. Skip companies need to be made aware of what it in the skip before collection.

 

Skip sizes

Skips generally come in four different sizes:

4 Yard

Also known as a Midi skip, these can hold around 30-40 bin bags of waste. They are good for smaller scale DIY projects or renovations.

It is a compact size which will be able to fit on most driveways and roadsides. This will be the most budget-friendly option but do ensure all your waste would fit inside the skip as it may be more economical to hire the next size up for the price difference.

6 Yard

A Small Builders skip can hold 50-60 bin bags and is the largest option available for heavy-duty waste such as builder’s waste, soil, rubble, and concrete. This is so the skip isn’t too heavy to be lifted upon collection.

It is the most popular option for residential waste projects.

8 Yard

A Large Builders skip can hold 60-80 bags of waste. These are ideal for initial house clearances or building projects where there will be a lot of waste in a short time.

This is the largest size of skip you can have on the highway or roadside with a permit.

12 Yard

Maxi skips can hold 80-110 bin bags in total. This means they’re best for lightweight waste, so this may mean your everyday household waste or lightweight garden clearance material.

Most of these will have to be placed on private property, but some councils will allow permits for roadside placement under specific circumstances, so check before you hire.

 

Skip hire cost

Skip hire prices can vary for different reasons.

It depends on the size of the skip you’re hiring, the length of time you’re hiring for, the waste you’re disposing of, and the actual area you’re hiring from (which may factor things in such as local demand).

You can also add more than one skip to your order from Speedy Hire, which will be priced individually, and VAT will be charged at the current rate.

Additional costs will then apply if there are permits to be arranged, and if the end skip has items in which was not pre-agreed.

You can read more about skip permits in our guide below:

 

Skip Permit Guide

 

When hiring through Speedy Hire, we are transparent about the costs of the skip hire for the duration agreed and will also confirm the price in email correspondence.

On average, a 4-yard skip can cost around £200, a 6 yard £250, an 8 yard £300 and a 12 yard £350 for your hire period. A council permit can then be anywhere between £15 and £60 for the week depending on your local council, if needed.

Additional costs may be incurred if you require a lockable skip.

 
Skip hire time limits

Generally, skips can be hired for between 2 to 4 weeks. This gives you time to hopefully fill them and make the most of the space, whether you’re taking part in a quick renovation and stripping a property or garden, or you’re DIYing after the 9-5.

Not quite finished the job? Contact us, and we can arrange to extend the contract for an additional fee.

If you only need to hire the skip for a day, we can also look at quotes, but often a minimum term of at least one week is in place with most companies. Therefore, you may have to still pay a full price. So, it is often not practical to do so, unless you really require the space back for a quick turnaround.

 

FAQs

How can I reduce skip waste?

Skip companies usually ask that waste doesn’t overflow and go beyond the lip of the skip. This would make it dangerous to transport back to the disposal site.

Struggling to keep the skip waste at a minimum? If hiring another skip later isn’t an option, think about what is in the skip waste.

Could any furniture be given away for free, even as a restoration project? Electricals which are still in good working order and safe to use can also be given away.

Could bricks and rubble be given away to anyone wanting to build a temporary wall or fill in excavation work? Would charity shops be appreciative of some furniture?

Could some waste be taken to the tip in a car? Even a few bin bags could be the difference between an overflowing skip and one safe for collection. You should also bear in mind to dismantle any bulky items before throwing them in the skip, to reduce wasted space. Give bulky items priority, as smaller items can then fit around these.

Read our guide on how to get rid of waste for free.

Why is skip hire so expensive?

Skip hire will factor in transport and delivery of the skip to your site, unloading the skip, and picking it up again, where it will be transported to a disposal facility. The distance to the facility and the time it takes can all be factored in too, as well as any additional costs which may occur disposing of a particular type of waste.

When dealing with a skip hire company, be assured your waste is being dealt with in the appropriate manner. Always ensure waste carriers have a permit, and you use a reputable business.

Why choose a skip to dispose of waste?

A skip is a form of registered waste carrier. That is, a reputable company offering to collect and dispose of the rubbish.

Choosing a registered waste carrier eliminates the risk of fly tipping, follows legal obligations for the disposal of rubbish and fulfils environmental obligations too. Fly tipping is bad for both the environment and local facilities, and if you’re found to have hired somebody who has not provided you with a waste transfer note to prove where your waste has gone, it’s not only the disposers who can be fined, but you can be too.

Skips are also convenient. No loading up the car for trips to the tip or having to stagger this in stages.