Whether you’re clearing out the loft, sprucing up your garden or having a new kitchen fitted, hiring a skip will allow you to get rid of the items you no longer want or need quickly. You won’t need to stop what you’re doing and make countless trips to the local tip, either.
Problem is, hiring a skip can be daunting – especially if you’ve never hired one in the past.
With various companies offering skip hire in Canterbury and beyond, you’ll never be short of options. But you might be unsure about what type or size of skip you need, and worried if you’ll have enough room on your drive for the skip to be placed.
Don’t panic. Read on to find out everything you need to know and discover how to get the most out of skip hire.
1. Skips need to be booked in advance
Spring is often the busiest time of year for skip companies, with people working to get their annual spring cleans done and their gardens ready for the summer months ahead.
Booking your skip hire in plenty of time (whatever season you need it) will help to avoid disappointment – giving you a selection of skip sizes and delivery dates to choose from.
In most cases, you can book online or over the phone. Either way, they’ll need to know your preferred skip size, when you need it and where you’d like it delivered.
Some companies also ask if you have a collection date in mind and will return to collect the skip at the agreed time.
2. Skip hire costs can vary
Skip hire prices differ from company to company, so it’s always a good idea to request a quote before you commit to anything.
Your required skip size and the length of your hire can impact the price, with larger containers costing more than smaller ones. If you need to extend your hire, most companies will allow you to do so – but this will be added to the overall cost of your rental.
Skip hire prices can fluctuate from region to region – with the South of England being pricier than areas in the North. That means, skip hire in Canterbury will be more costly than skip hire in Manchester but less than London.
Have you got space on your private land for the skip to be delivered? If you haven’t, the fleet driver will have to place it on the road near your property and you’ll need to obtain a permit for the duration of your skip hire – costing you more.
3. You can’t put everything in a skip
As a general rule of thumb, skip companies will accept anything that isn’t hazardous, toxic or explosive.
Feel free to load your skip with garden waste, leftover construction materials, old toys, unwanted clothes and shoes. But please make sure you keep the following out:
- Asbestos
- Batteries
- Electricals like TVs, fridges, freezers
- Fuels
- Gas cylinders
- Liquids
- Mattresses
- Medical waste
- Paint
- Solvents
- Tyres
If you’re unsure whether something can go in your skip, don’t just assume it can – contact the skip company. They should be able to advise you.
4. Skips are not to be overloaded with waste
Though you might be tempted to fill waste to the brim, it’s not recommended – especially if you don’t want to be fined for not adhering to stringent skip hire regulations!
Skips often include a maximum fill level which should be used as a guide. If you exceed this limit, or your skip is too heavy to lift, the fleet driver might refuse to collect it, as they won’t be able to transport it safely without anything sliding off and risking damage or injury.
Therefore, you must choose your skip size carefully.
- 4-yard skips can fit up to 30 bin bags of rubbish (or 4 tonnes).
- 6-yard skips can fit up to 50 bin bags of rubbish (or 6 tonnes).
- 8-yard skips can fit up to 60 bin bags of rubbish (or 8 tonnes.
- 12-yard skips can fit up to 100 bin bags of rubbish (or 8 tonnes).
5. Skips that are on public roads require permits
If you plan on leaving your skip on private land, you won’t need to acquire a permit for your skip hire.
But if you don’t have room , or you’d prefer to leave it on the road outside your property, you’ll need to visit your local council and file the necessary paperwork.
A skip company will only be able to deliver the skip and place it on public land when your permit application has been approved.
Depending on who you hire a skip from, they may offer to obtain the permit on your behalf for a small fee.
6. Skip companies will sort through the waste in your skip
As soon as your skip is full, let the skip company know and they’ll come and collect it as soon as possible.
Once they’ve loaded it onto the back of the lorry, they’ll transport your skip (and the waste materials inside) to the nearest waste management facility.
Here, recyclable materials will be separated from waste that requires special disposal or treatment. They’ll do everything they can to reduce the volume of waste that’s dumped at landfill sites – having a positive impact on the environment.
For more news click thebritaintimes.co.uk