How to Cut Down Bulky Skip Waste

Cutting Down Skip Waste

Hiring a skip is a useful, simple way to dispose of waste from a renovation project or home clear-out. They’re situated close by, so disposal is easy and hassle-free.

They’re also picked up once you’re finished with them, with all contents disposed of or recycled by your chosen skip provider.

But often, we can underestimate just how much waste we have to get rid of. If this happens, we risk overfilling our skip. This could mean we chance the skip not being collected or being charged a higher cost for additional waste.

• Most skip companies will say that your waste must not breach the top level of the skip

Likewise, nobody wants to pay more for a skip which ends up being larger than what they need. So, you may need to be careful about what you dispose of and what you use the skip for.

Don’t just throw everything into it. You still need to be cautious not to take advantage of the ease of clearing out your home or outdoor space. Think about the skip as a last resort instead, and about how the materials could be repurposed.

HIRE A SKIP

How to cut down on bulky skip waste

1. Can it be reused or rehomed?

Old furniture in your eyes is an upcycling project for someone else, or even just something that will give someone a few months of use before they can afford a replacement.

Sofas, appliances, and general furniture such as TV or coffee tables, can all be given a new home by somebody else. Old bedside tables, chests of drawers or outdoor furniture, can all be upcycled or repaired by someone who knows what they’re doing.

If something is still in good working order, and safe to use (which is particularly relevant if the item is electrical), there may always be someone who can take it off your hands for free. Advertise it online or donate to a charity.

The same applies to garden waste, such as old bricks, paving slabs, and even rooted plants. Whether someone is starting to build a garden or needs to build a wall or driveway and isn’t concerned that their masonry isn’t perfect, there will be people out there looking for a bargain who will happily take it off your hands.

2. Take large waste to the recycling centre

Do you have single bits of furniture, carpet, or other upholstery which can’t be rehomed or reused? If so, and you have access to a car, take it to your local council recycling centre.

These can often take up loads of room in a skip and can’t be cut down in any way without making more mess. Take a look at the skips available at your local centre, and then think about whether there is anything you can take straight there.

Try not to use a van; most councils have height restrictions on vehicles to prevent waste removal companies from disposing of goods for free.

Local councils can also offer a collection service for particular products, such as old sofas or appliances, but be aware this can be quite slow and there are restrictions. Some will also charge a collection cost.

3. Dismantle items

A chest of drawers from IKEA can be dismantled into several smaller flat pieces of MDF. This will mean no wasted, unused space in your skip or car. It also means you could potentially reuse certain things from the furniture, such as screws, handles and runners, elsewhere.

Is there anything that can be squashed? Cardboard boxes, plastic and even fabrics can often be flattened to take up much less room. If you’re getting rid of cushions, mattresses or similar, they could be stripped down.

4. Start with the larger items first

If you fill the base with the largest items which can’t be broken down any further, you can fit the smaller waste items around this. Smaller items are also easier to dispose of by yourself, should you run out of space. Give anything bulky priority placement.

5. Ask if anyone wants your garden waste

Certain items can be turned into compost, woodchips or even used to develop natural environments in areas such as woodland. Ask neighbours if they could make use of it or advertise it on local social media pages.

If not, chop everything down. Large branches can be turned into chippings using a chipper shredder, and even just manually cutting them down with a saw can make a big difference.

5. Don’t fill with restricted waste

You may think putting batteries, tyres, or other restricted items into the base of your skip will be a great way to disguise them, even though they aren’t allowed. This is a bad idea for several reasons.

Firstly, restricted items are restricted for a reason. Whether they pose a danger to health if handled, or to the environment if not dealt with properly, it is unsafe. Secondly, it will take up valuable space in your skip. Thirdly, the waste management company will discover them when unloading the skip and can charge you for this.

If you stick to what can be recycled in a skip and is safe to put in a skip, you’ll be able to manage your waste much easier.

HIRE A SKIP