21-10-2022

Garden Waste Clearance Guide

Transforming a garden takes a lot of hard physical work. There will probably then be a lot of waste once the job is done. Even just a regular post-winter tidy of your outdoor space can result in heavy tree branches, loads of grass and weeds to dispose of.

Green waste can usually be composted, and some stonework or paving can be recycled to make aggregate.

So, it is really important to ensure everything is disposed of correctly. This will keep your carbon footprint low and reduce the amount of waste produced. But if you’re wondering how to get rid of excess garden and green waste, we have some answers.

Hiring a skip may be your best option; if you hire a skip through Speedy, we will be able to recommend a size and can tell you what can and can’t be put in the skip.

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Do I need to separate my garden waste?

Depending on the job at hand, you may have to separate everything you need to dispose of into green waste and rubble. Speedy can advise you when you enquire.

Green waste, such as branches, grass cuttings, and shrubbery, can often be composted. This will therefore need to end up in a dedicated area. However, rubble such as bricks, paving, and old furniture usually needs to be dealt with separately. You may have additional materials too, such as plastic plant pots or wire hanging baskets.

This applies whether you hire a skip, use your local bin collection, or take everything to the tip yourself.

 

How can I get rid of garden waste?

1. Hire a skip

A skip will be placed on your driveway or the roadside if you have a permit. This gives you really easy access to your disposal method; no need to bag everything up, and then transport it. It will speed things up and you don’t even have to deal with the waste once it has been picked up.

However, as mentioned, green waste and general waste will need to be separated. You may need two separate skips for this but ask Speedy how best to deal with what you will have. It may be easier to have a skip for general rubble, and then a bag for garden green waste.

 

Can I put soil in a skip?

Soil is classed as general waste, not green waste. It will affect the quality of any compost produced, as the soil is a mineral and could contain potentially toxic elements such as metal.

So, you cannot put soil in a green waste skip, but it can go in general rubble.

 

2. Use your local bin collection

Most councils will provide a green waste bin which will be collected weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, usually in the spring/summer seasons. You may have to pay extra for this service with some councils, but it won't be much, and will come as a one-off payment at the beginning of the green bin collection season.

This is a good way of getting rid of small green waste such as leaves, grass clippings or branches, on a fortnightly or so basis. Depending on how much green waste you have, it could take a while for you to get rid of it all completely. You also can’t add soil or other materials to your green waste bin.

 

3. Use a local recycling centre

Most council-run recycling centres will have a dedicated green waste skip. If you can use a car to transport the greenery, you can dispose of it here.

You can buy strong rubble or green waste sacks from most hardware stores or use standard black bags. Just ensure no bags are thrown away with the greenery.

Most other materials will also have a dedicated waste point, whether it be plastic for plant pots, rubble for brick and paving, or wood for furniture, fencing and similar.

 

4. Compost

Making your own compost is great for so many reasons. You have a ready supply of what can be an expensive thing to buy, you’re reusing what you already have and you’re not buying anything in plastic bags.

But we know not everyone has the space to do this. So, ask neighbours or a local neighbourhood page on social media if anyone can make use of what you have to add to their existing compost pile.

 

5. Reuse

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. If you’re getting rid of what you deem as old paving slabs, somebody could still make use of those for a patio, path, or driveway. If it is bricks, someone may need to build a wall, create a driveway, or even want to build an outdoor pizza oven.

If anything is in good enough condition to be used again, never see disposal as the first option. Reusing should always be the first resort.

The good news is, however, that even if you do end up throwing bricks and paving into a skip, most building materials can be turned into aggregate that will be used on roads and paths.

 

How can I make my garden waste less bulky?

For branches and twigs, use a chipper shredder. This will cut everything down into chippings, which are not only easier to dispose of and take up much less space in disposal, but also can be reused of their own accord.

Or you can cut big branches down into smaller sections using a saw, but this will take a bit more time.

You can technically burn green waste such as leaves and grass clippings, but we would not recommend it. Firstly, it instead could be turned into peat-free compost which then has further use in the world. Secondly, burning anything can release harmful smoke and fumes into the atmosphere. And thirdly, unless you know what you’re doing in a controlled environment, burning anything can be a fire risk, especially if the material is very dry.

Always choose to see how green waste or rubble can be repurposed or recycled before completely getting rid of it.

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Is There Skip Hire Near Me?

Thank you for reading our blog on how to get rid of your garden waste.

Please contact Speedy Skip Hire today on 0345 600 3546 to enquire about hiring a skip.

At Speedy Skip Hire we have got a great range of skips available and will be happy to talk you through all of the information you need to know.

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