What Can You Put In A Skip?

When embarking on home improvement projects, decluttering your space, or managing construction waste, hiring a skip is a convenient solution to dispose of large volumes of waste efficiently. However, not all items can be tossed into a skip due to environmental, health, and safety regulations. Understanding what you can and cannot put in a skip is crucial to avoid additional charges and ensure your waste is disposed of responsibly.

Accepted Materials for Skip Disposal

Below is a comprehensive list of materials that are typically acceptable for skip disposal, ensuring that users can plan their waste removal with clarity and compliance.

• Wood: We welcome all types of wood, including naked (untreated) wood, as well as wood that has been treated or painted.
• Glass: Glass materials, whether they are in the form of sheets or part of window frames, can be placed in skips. However, laminated glass requires separate billing based on its tonnage due to its special handling and recycling process.
• Fabric: An often-overlooked material, fabric from shop cleanouts or unwanted clothing and textiles, is accepted.
• Metals: We accept a variety of metals, including copper, aluminium, and iron. These metals are commonly found in building waste, old piping, and even in household items being thrown away during cleanouts.
• Concrete: Dry concrete that has been suitably broken up is accepted for handloading. This is particularly relevant for construction and demolition projects where concrete waste is inevitable.
• Paper: From unwanted documents to old brochures and magazines, paper is fully acceptable in skips.
• Tiles: Skips are an excellent option for such materials, whether they’re from a kitchen, bathroom, or roofing project.
• Soil: Whether you’re removing excess dirt or making way for new landscaping features, soil is accepted.
• Plastics: A common waste product during store clearances and retail refurbishments, plastics of all types can be placed in skips.

By adhering to these guidelines, you can ensure that your waste disposal efforts are both effective and environmentally responsible. Remember, properly segregating and disposing of waste not only aids in recycling efforts but also minimises the environmental impact of your project.

Special Handling for Hazardous Waste

Certain items require more than just being thrown into a skip due to the special processes involved in their disposal or recycling. These materials, while not always hazardous in the traditional sense, necessitate additional steps to ensure they’re handled responsibly and in compliance with environmental regulations. As a result, disposing of these items incurs additional charges. Below is a breakdown of items that fall under this category and the processes they undergo:

• Mattresses: The disposal of mattresses involves a detailed process where they are first broken down. This includes removing the springs and separating the materials for recycling or waste reduction.
• Tyres: Used tyres pose a significant environmental challenge. They must be quarantined and then transported to a dedicated facility for recycling or safe disposal. This process ensures that tyres are managed in a way that does not harm the environment.
• Fridges and Freezers: They are quarantined upon collection and then dismantled. Each component, from the metals to the hazardous gases, is recycled or disposed of according to specific guidelines to prevent environmental damage.
• Sofas, Sofa Beds, Armchairs, etc. (POPS): Upholstered furniture, often referred to as POPS (Persistent Organic Pollutants), undergoes a complex disposal process. This involves breaking down each piece to remove timber, while foam, textiles, and fabric are separated for RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) incineration.

The disposal of these items requires specialised knowledge and facilities, reflecting the additional charges associated with their handling. By ensuring these items are processed correctly, we can significantly reduce their environmental impact, aligning with our commitment to sustainability and responsible waste management. If you’re planning to dispose of any such items, it’s essential to factor in these considerations and plan accordingly for their proper disposal.

Guidelines for Specific Waste Types and Loading Skips

It’s important to note that there are limitations on the quantity of certain waste types we can accept. Specifically, we only accept up to 10% of the following materials in any general waste container: artificial surfacing, carpet (including tiles, rolls, offcuts, and underlay), felt, plasterboard, rubber matting astroturf, vinyl, and wet waste resulting from flood damage. Should you need to dispose of larger volumes of these specific types of waste, we can accommodate such requests on a per-tonne basis, ensuring a tailored solution for your disposal needs.

When loading your skips, it is essential to ensure that the loads are level. This is not only a safety measure but also a regulatory requirement. Overloaded skips pose significant risks during transportation and may result in extra charges. By adhering to these guidelines, you can ensure a smooth and efficient disposal process, avoiding any unnecessary complications or fees.

Items to Avoid Putting in a Skip

When utilising a skip for waste disposal, it’s crucial to be aware of the materials that are not permitted. Certain items pose significant environmental risks, require specialist disposal methods, or are prohibited due to regulations.

• Chemical and Liquid Waste:

  Due to the high risk of spillage during transit and the complexities involved in segregating liquids at our transfer station, we cannot accept any form of harmful chemicals or liquid waste. This includes paints, solvents, and other hazardous liquids.

• Oil: Regardless of whether it is in a sealed container, all types of oil are prohibited. Oils need to be disposed of in a secure and environmentally friendly manner, which can be done at your local recycling centre.

• Biological Waste: Lunnon Waste does not handle the disposal of human waste. This encompasses a wide range of waste including septic tank content, chemical toilets, medical waste, radioactive materials, and even empty containers that previously held hazardous substances.

• Animal Waste: Our regulations and the potential for contamination prevent us from accepting any animal products. The disposal of such materials requires specific conditions that our service cannot provide.

• Food Waste: Food disposal requires a specialised license and adheres to strict disposal regulations, hence it cannot be included in skip loads. For disposing of food waste, please use your regular waste collection service provided by your local authorities.

• Asbestos: As a hazardous waste, asbestos is strictly prohibited in our skips. Its removal and disposal should only be handled by specialised firms equipped and certified to deal with asbestos safely.

• Tree Trunks: While we do accept garden waste, there are restrictions on the size of tree trunks that can be included. It’s best to contact our team for detailed information on diameter limitations and any possible acceptance under specific conditions.

• Lithium-Ion Batteries: Found in a wide array of electric devices, from mobile phones to power drills, lithium-ion batteries pose a significant fire risk and are not accepted in our waste containers or at our transfer station. If batteries cannot be removed from devices, the entire device is, unfortunately, unsuitable for skip disposal. Special care must be taken to ensure these batteries are recycled or disposed of through appropriate channels.

Adhering to these guidelines is not only a matter of following the law but also about ensuring the safety of our communities and the environment. If you’re unsure about a particular item or waste type, we encourage you to reach out to our team for clarification before placing it in a skip. This proactive approach helps in preventing potential issues and ensures that your waste disposal process is smooth and compliant.

Efficient waste disposal is key to managing the environmental impact of our activities. While skips offer a convenient solution for handling large amounts of waste, it’s imperative to adhere to the guidelines on what can and cannot be placed in them. By understanding these rules, you can avoid unexpected charges and contribute to a safer, cleaner environment. Remember, proper waste segregation and disposal not only benefits the environment but also enhances the efficiency of recycling processes, paving the way for a sustainable future.