Skip Hire Waste Restrictions Guide

Why Are There Waste Restrictions?

Hiring a skip is a great way to dispose of your large amounts of rubbish. Their cost-effective and make sure that all your waste is disposed of quickly and in an eco-friendly way. Although we strive to dispose of all the waste you put in your skip, there are some items that we prohibit from going into the skips. This is because we put safety first and some items pose a high risk to you and our skip operators. This is a simplified list of the main items we restrict, if you want the full list then you can head to our Terms of Business page.

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Our Waste Restrictions

Each company will set its guidelines, so it’s always best to double-check before hiring your skip, especially because legal action can be taken if rules aren’t followed. Here are the few that we implement:

Sofas/Upholstered Furniture (POPs)

New government legislation was introduced at the beginning of 2023 to ensure the proper disposal of items including sofas, armchairs, and footstools. These include Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) which means they do not break down in our environment. If they are disposed of them incorrectly they can cause serious damage to our environment and the health of all animals and humans. They should be processed, stored, and destroyed in a certain manner. If you have any of these items for your skip, please contact us so we can provide further information including POP charges which will apply.

Electrical Appliances and Equipment

All equipment with a plug, batteries, or charger are strictly restricted from being put into a skip. They are seriously high risk and pose many potential hazards to skip operators. This does include all kitchen appliances such as fridges, washing machines, dishwashers, etc. All electrical goods have to be disposed of at an electrical recycling point and you can find your local one here.

Mattresses

We are more than happy to responsibly dispose of your mattress for you via our skips. We do ask for an added cost of £45 – £50 + VAT per mattress. If you’d like to use our skips for this purpose, you have to inform us before you put the skip in the mattress.

Plasterboard

Plasterboard can end up being a very dangerous material if it is mixed with water or other waste items in a skip. That’s why it is not accepted at all in a skip and can land you with a fine of around 50% of the original price of the skip. We can accept 1 or 2 bin bags of plasterboard placed on top of your skip but any more is an offense. If you have large amounts of plasterboard, you can call and book a plasterboard-only skip.

Batteries

Unfortunately, batteries can’t be put in a normal bin or skip as they contain harmful chemicals. If these batteries leak, especially, they can cause serious chemical burns to people that come into contact with them. This goes for all batteries no matter the size of them. They all have to be thoroughly cleaned before going to landfill. Batteries need to be disposed of at battery bins which you can find at the local garages, petrol stations, and supermarkets. Find your local one here.

Asbestos

Asbestos is one of the most dangerous and hazardous materials that we have found in our skips. If exposed to it without the proper precautions and protection it can increase your chances and lung disease and cancer. If you find asbestos anywhere, we suggest calling a specialist right away.

Gas Cylinders

Unfortunately, there is always some residue left in gas cylinders, even when you think they’re empty. These are hazardous as gas is flammable and so to just toss them into a skip would be irresponsible and dangerous. If you give the manufacturer of your gas cylinder a call, they should be able to advise you on how to dispose of it.

Medical Waste

This is a broad umbrella term that includes lots of different medical items such as bodily fluids, needles (used or not), and any other piece of medical equipment/waste. They pose very high risks for infection and contamination to all persons involved with the skips. Safety is our main priority which is why we will never put anyone at risk. If you’d like more info, please visit the Department of Health.

Glass

When it comes to the odd bit of glass or mirror then that’s acceptable to put into one of our skips. However, we can’t accept large amounts of glass and mirrors as it can become very dangerous for our skip operators. Glass has to be separated from other general mixed waste and if there is a large amount of it, this can become a risk. If you need to get rid of that much glass, you can give us a call on 01233 270015 and we can discuss hiring a glass-only skip.

Tyres & Other Items

Rubber items such as tyres and others we will be happy to take care of. Like taking care of a mattress though, we do ask for an extra sum of money if you need that service. Any other items that you’re not sure are hazardous, you can contact your local council about what’s acceptable or not. Also, individual skip hire companies will be able to say what items they restrict.

Paint, Solvents, and Fuels

All 3 of these items are an obvious no, when it comes to deciding if they can go into a skip. They pose a serious risk as they can all be combustible, meaning they can cause serious harm. Not only this, but they can cause serious injury and chemical burns. This means that they can’t be placed in a skip and need to be disposed of properly and responsibly at a licensed disposal center.

Book Your Skip in Kent Today!

Restrictions can be annoying, but it doesn’t make hiring a skip any less helpful and convenient. They are the best solution to managing your waste and rubbish, and when you book with us, they’re also the most cost-effective.

We provide several different sized skips that suit any situation where a considerable amount of waste is produced. Click here to book yours today!