What can’t you put in a skip?

Hiring a skip is a convenient and cost-effective way to get rid rubbish whether it’s to declutter your home, remove garden waste or keep a construction site clear. It’s fair to say you can put just about anything in a skip except items which are classed as hazardous waste and or could harm the environment. However, it’s recommended you check with your skip hire company as the items may vary from one company to another.

Choose a reputable company

When you’re considering hiring a skip It’s important to choose a reputable skip hire company. One who is committed to recycling their collected skip waste rather than putting it in the landfill. At David Brown Skip hire we are committed to recycling over 95% of the waste collected in our skips. Find out what happens to the waste we collect in our skips here.

Items that can go into a hired skip

You have hired your skip so what can you put into it. Here is a list of items the majority of skip companies including David Brown Skip hire, will allow you to put in your skip.

Food and food packaging
Gas cookers
Furniture and sofas
Mattress
Carpets
Metal items
Woods
Tiles and ceramics such as a sink
Rubble, Bricks and concrete
Cardboard
Polystyrene
Plastics
Non electrical fixtures and fittings such as lampshades
Garden waste for instance sand, compost, soil, garden furniture

Items that can’t be included in skip

To help you understand what can’t be disposed of via a skip or household waste bin we have created a list below:

Electrical items

Such as cookers, microwaves, fridges, freezers, dishwashers, televisions, laptops, iPads, mobile phones and computers. These should be taken to specialist companies who dispose of electrical waste. To locate your nearest company, contact your local council or search recycle your electricals here.

Fluorescent bulbs

Unfortunately, fluorescent bulbs contain harmful mercury and can’t be discarded in a skip. Talk to your local council to dispose of your light bulbs.

Garden waste

Whilst sand, compost and garden furniture can go into a skip. Other garden items such as lawn cuttings, leaves, branches, any vegetation, wood waste and wood chippings can’t. These should be put into your domestic brown bin and collected as part of your council refuge collections.

Medical waste

No medical waste such as sharp items like needles and biological waste which is anything contaminated with a biohazardous agent such as blood or body fluids can’t go in. Among other things petri dishes, surgical bandages, syringes, contaminated absorbent material and personal protective equipment. To dispose of medical waste, contact your local council or a medical waste disposal company to arrange specialist waste bins and a regular collection.

Asbestos

Asbestos can’t go into a standard skip, it can’t be recycled or reused. It should be collected and disposed of by a specialist company. At Dave Brown Skip Hire we provide an Environment Agency approved asbestos disposal service. If you wish to dispose of asbestos complete our contact form or call 0800 9981216.

Batteries

Batteries are full of hazardous chemicals such as lead, mercury and lithium and can’t go into a skip. This includes all batteries from the small ones for your TV remote control to large car batteries. Batteries should be recycled via collection boxes found in public places such as supermarkets. For large batteries like car battery these should be taken to a scrap metal facility.

Tyres

Most skip companies do not allow tyres to be put into their skips. You can dispose of old tyres by recycling or repurposing with a tyre company. Alternatively, some people recycle their tyres and use them around their home for things like plant pots in their garden.

Gas cylinders

Whether you have a full or empty gas cylinder it can’t be put into a skip. These should be either collected or taken to specialist collection company or take it to a shop where they can refill and reuse it.

Plasterboard

Plasterboard gives off a harmful gas which is colourless and therefore it can’t go into a skip. It can be disposed by a plasterboard recycling centre these can be located via the internet.

Fuel, paints and solvents

Most skip hire companies do not accept paints, fuel and solvents unless they have a specialist licence. We recommend you check with your skip hire company before you hire if you’re looking to dispose of these.

We hope you found this helpful as it’s so important to understand what can and can’t be disposed of in a skip. As including the wrong items in your hired skip could lead to your skip company not accepting your full skip or even criminal charges. If you’re still unsure whether an item can be included then contact our office on 0800 9981216. We will be happy to advise you and recommend where and how any non-skips items can be disposed.