What can go in commercial skips?

Commercial skips can handle a wide range of waste materials.

It is important to know what is appropriate for them and the forms of commercial waste that need to be managed differently (such as hazardous waste).

When choosing a commercial skip hire size, it is necessary to think about the form factor of refuse you intend on using it for.

For example, if it is for a construction site service, there is no financial benefit in hiring multiple small skips when a larger range one would be more appropriate.

Dive into this article to find out everything there is to know about a commercial skip.

What can be placed in a commercial skip?

If you have too large or bulky items to dispose of in your regular waste disposal, hiring commercial skips is a great solution. Ensure you are only filling your skip with the right types of refuse before you start loading it up. Here’s what to keep in mind:

Prohibited waste

• Plaster and Plasterboard*
• Contaminated Soils
• Asbestos
• Batteries
• Electrical items (WEEE)
• Fluorescent bulbs
• Chemicals
• Paint
• Tyres
• Clinical and Medical Waste
• Compressed Gas Cylinders
• Hazardous waste
• Oil, petrol and diesel
• Industrial Hoses

* Plasterboard, which is primarily made of gypsum, is prohibited from being mixed with biodegradable materials according to UK regulations. Plasterboard can be accepted if the material is bagged separately and placed on top of the skip. Make sure to notify us about it before collection takes place.

When would I need to hire commercial skips?

There are many reasons behind hiring commercial skips in a variety of skip sizes. This could be for your business or for personal use to remove bulky waste. 

Home use

If you are moving house and intend on throwing a lot of rubbish away, it can be beneficial to hire a commercial skip in order to lessen the amount of waste being disposed of. This is also known as domestic skip hire.

This can also save time as you won’t have to make multiple trips to disposal centres or recycling services. Simply fill the skip with the appropriate amount of bags and InspireWaste will handle the rest, allowing you to focus on what matters.

During a home improvement project, a range of trash can be produced, and it may be difficult to get rid of with traditional bin removal methods.

Construction skip hire

Inspire Waste Management offer skip hire services for large scale construction operations and other forms of building project. These skips are specifically designed for waste that can’t be put into a regular skip, such as asbestos and contaminated soil, as well as to accommodate heavier materials. Disposal of these materials are usually managed at a waste management facility due to specific regulations and not by builders or other members of the construction team.

This is an industry that will most likely need a large outdoor bin container and more frequent collections with the waste builders produce while working.

Commercial sectors

Any waste produced by a commercial business is considered to be business waste.

This could be large quantities and many different types of product packaging and may require bigger bins than domestic waste.

Disposal in this industry is important to maintain health and safety standards.

Inspire Waste Management can hold business waste, provide efficient and reliable service and manage disposal according to client wishes.

What are the rules on skip hire?

The rules and regulations on skip hire vary upon what form of waste is being handled and removed and the skip sizes but most are consistent across the UK.

It is important that the skips are filled level with the top of the container. Overfilled skips can cause vehicles to exceed the weight limit, which might in turn, impose liability on the driver. Skips that are overflowing may also pose a danger for other road users. For that reason, drivers may refuse skips that are overfilled. You can avoid this problem completely if you ensure that you get the skip that is the right size for your needs.

Fill your skip with heavy, bulky items first, laying them flat and working your way up from the bottom, leaving any small, loose items until the end. If you have large items such as chairs and tables, break them down safely to save space in your skip. Other items such as cardboard boxes can also be broken down. After loading your skip, ensure it is levelled and items do not stick out beyond the skip walls. Your driver will not take your skip and will have to return another day if you don’t “level load” it.

There are limits to the number of bags that can be placed in skips of particular sizes, as well as the locations of the skips themselves.

You can be fined for placing the incorrect forms of waste into a skip without permission, especially if they are dangerous to the environment like asbestos, electrical appliances like fridges or certain forms of oil and paint.

If you’re using the skip service specifically for domestic use, it is possible to place it in your driveway but not on public paths or roads.

Individuals who place skips on roads without a skip hire licence can be fined up to £1,000 by the local authority.

The skip company you hire from should be capable of providing a skip permit and a rights reserved registered number for the skip.

What do skip companies do with waste?

It is important to hire a commercial skip hire company with a positive reputation for disposing of waste correctly once it’s in a skip.

These companies should be licensed and explain where they placed the waste and how it was disposed of after taking away the skip. 

It is a priority of skip companies and the government to try recycling as much of the waste as possible before it is destroyed via incineration or other disposal methods.

This is because people and businesses are trying to be more aware of their environmental impact when disposing of commercial waste. 

Less reputable companies may take your rubbish directly to a landfill site without correctly sorting it into the right categories, which is not disposing of waste efficiently.

This is also known as flytipping and is illegal. Flytipping can lead to extreme fines or imprisonment.

The main difference between reliable good service and convenient removal is that a company will usually have accessible certifications and reviews on their websites.

What information should be on a waste transfer note?

In order to dispose of industrial rubbish or commercial waste, it is necessary to have a waste transfer note. You have to sign and keep this note for two years after skip hire and disposal, even if there is a short period between collection and disposal.

Certain companies (like Inspire Waste Management) will provide this note when hiring out their commercial skips, and will handle the maintaining of regulations. It is also possible to download a transfer note directly from the government website for this service.

The information included should be:

• Description and properties of the waste
• How it is stored (e.g. skip, bags)
• The full name of the owner of the waste, the collection team and who will dispose of it.

How can Inspire Waste Management help you with commercial skips?

The Inspire Waste Management team prides itself in offering excellent service and frequent collections according to your needs throughout the UK.

Our roll on roll off skips for rent and sale and other forms of waste management consultancy benefits businesses and individuals in England. The range of services offered are flexible depending upon you and your business’ needs.

Contact us for further information

Contact the Inspire Waste Management team at 0800 002 9282 or get a quote below for commercial skips.