Skip hire permits
If you are hiring a skip that is to be positioned on private land (a driveway for example) you do not have to worry about a permit. However, it may be worth checking that you do actually own the land before you go ahead and have it ordered.
If you do not own the land where the skip is to be delivered then you must make sure that you have a road permit from your local council. You should be able to find a skip company that sorts the permit out for you though for a small fee on top of, or included in, the hire price.
There’s nowhere to put it!
In certain busy urban areas such as central London it may not be practical to have a skip sitting outside for five days, or even one day for that matter, as there is simply not the room.
Local skip companies will of course be aware of this and will offer alternative rubbish collection schemes such as skip bags or a wait while you load service.
Things you can’t put in a skip
It pays to be aware of the things that you cannot put into a skip to avoid complications and inefficiency. If, for example, you are out when the skip is to be collected and it is full of inappropriate objects your skip hire company, unable to take it away, may expect you to pay for the additional time needed to empty it of the problematic items.
And if your skip has an inappropriate object, clearly visible, but at the bottom of your skip, under a pile of bricks, soggy carpet and splintered wood, you will not be best pleased that you have got to partake in an unpleasant, potentially dangerous, removal operation. The following items should
not be disposed of in a skip:
Fridges
Car batteries
Fluorescent Tubes
Freezers
Asbestos
Light Bulbs
Televisions
Tyres
Vehicle Batteries
Clinical Waste
Medical Waste
Gas bottles
Oil
Paint
Solvent
Hazardous Waste
Flammable Material
Toxic waste
If you need to dispose of any of the above items your local skip hire company should be able to advise you of an appropriate place.
Safety Precautions
Your skip may well be in an awkward place that is potentially a hazard, you should try to make its whereabouts as obvious as possible with cones, reflective materials or lights.
You must also remember to avoid overspill, as it is illegal and dangerous. Poles or sharp objects sticking out of a skip can be extremely troublesome to pedestrians or drivers.
And generally just apply some common sense; do not obstruct any manholes, the pavement or your neighbour’s driveway!
And finally, make sure that the company you choose to hire your skip from are registered as
Environment Agency approved.