Commercial Skip Hire – an Essential Guide
Whatever line of business you’re in, there’s likely to come a time when you need to clear a significant amount of waste. You could be completing a construction or demolition project, be refitting or renovating a commercial premises or simply have general business waste that you want to dispose of.
Whatever the reason, commercial skip hire is the quick, clean and low-cost solution. But what factors should you take into account when booking your commercial skip hire, and what size of skip are you most likely to need?
The good news is that hiring a skip couldn’t be easier. Just read our commercial skip hire guide to clear your waste safely, efficiently and legally.
What can I put in a commercial skip?
You might assume that once you’ve hired a skip, you can throw anything you like in it. However, that’s not actually the case. As a general rule of thumb, you cannot use a skip to dispose of waste that is toxic or harmful or that cannot be recycled. That includes items such as:
- Paints/solvents/aerosols
- Asbestos
- Tyres
- Plasterboard
- Oil
- Batteries
- Clinical or medical waste
- TVs, electronics, WEEE equipment
- Mattresses
- Fridges/freezers
- AstroTurf
- Fluorescent tubes
- Unshredded paper
- Hard drives containing personal data
If you think your waste might be toxic and is not on this list, please get in touch with our team. We’ll be able to tell you what can and can’t be disposed of so you won’t end up with a skip full of waste that your skip hire company refuses to take.
Alternatively, take a look at our comprehensive guide on what you can and can’t put in a skip.
When should I hire a commercial skip?
Commercial skip hire is likely to be the most appropriate and cost-effective form of waste removal when you have a volume of waste that is larger than you’d usually produce in day-to-day operations. That could be due to:
- An office clearout
- Moving to new premises
- Demolishing or refurbishing work
- Revamping an office or retail unit
- Landscaping projects
- Disposing of large amounts of product packaging
What size of commercial skip do I need?
Selecting the size of commercial skip you want to hire can be a balancing act. You don’t want to pay more than necessary, but equally, you want a skip that’s big enough to hold all of your waste. These are the skip sizes we offer and the amount of waste they can hold.
4-yard mini skip
Ideal for a small office clearout or refit. Has a 3m3 capacity and holds 40 black bags.
6-yard builder skip
Suited to soil and rubble only from construction or demolition work. It has a 4.6m3 capacity and holds 60 black bags.
8-yard mixed waste skip
Our most popular skip for full office clearance and refurbishment work. It has a 6m3 capacity and holds 80 black bags.
12-yard mixed waste skip
For light waste only and no soil or rubble. Suited to commercial landscaping work. It has a 9.2m3 capacity and holds 120 black bags.
20-yard roll-on roll-off (RoRo) skip
This roll-on roll-off skip, known as a RoRo skip, is suited to larger sites with heavy mixed waste. It has a 15.3m3 capacity and holds 200 black bags.
30-yard roll-on roll-off (RoRo) skip
A RoRo skip for construction debris, heavy materials and bulky items. It has a 23m3 capacity and holds 300 black bags.
40-yard roll-on roll-off (RoRo skip)
This is the largest of our RoRo skips and is suited to large commercial clearouts. It has a capacity of 30.6m3 and holds 400 black bags.
Still not sure what size skip you need? Then speak to one of our helpful advisers on 0330 660 0827 or email [email protected] today.
Do I need any permits or licences?
If the skip can be placed somewhere on your commercial site, then no permits or licences will be required. In that case, we can advise you on the safest and most practical location for your skip.
If you don’t have private land that the skip can go on, leaving it on a road, pathway or pavement may be your only option. In that case, you must get permission from whoever owns the land, whether that’s the local authority or a private landowner. To do that, you must apply for a permit.
Most councils allow skip hire companies to apply for a permit on your behalf, and that’s something we can do for you. However, some require private registration. If they do, you must make sure that a permit is in place before your skip arrives. You should allow seven days to arrange a permit and permits are valid for 14 days.
These are the common rules that skip hire permits include:
- Your skip should not completely block the pavement or the entrance to a building or property
- Utility access points, such as drains and manhole covers, should not be covered by your skip
- Skips cannot be placed within 15m of any junction so as not to obscure motorists’ vision
- You may need to arrange a suspension of parking laws if your skip is placed on yellow lines or in a pay and display parking bay
How can I keep my skip safe?
As well as abiding by the rules on your permit, there are also some additional steps you can take to make your skip safe for your workforce and members of the public alike. That includes:
- Applying reflective markings to the edge of the skip, particularly if it’s placed at the side of the road
- Using traffic cones to guide vehicles around the skip if it’s actually in the road
- Ensuring the name and number of the skip hire company are displayed clearly on the side of the skip
We’ll provide you with everything you need, as well as helpful advice, to ensure your compliance with the relevant skip hire safety regulations.
Can other people use my skip?
When you hire a skip, you are legally responsible for all of the waste that is put in it. If hazardous waste is thrown into your skip or it becomes overfull, it can be refused collection and you could end up with a fine from the local authority. Similarly, if waste is taken out of your skip and not disposed of properly, you could receive a fine.
For that reason, it’s advisable to only use the skip yourself. Using a cover is an effective way to prevent passersby from rummaging in the skip or dumping their own waste. We can provide commercial skips with lockable lids for a completely secure solution.
How else can AMA Waste help?
We offer a broad range of products and services to meet your commercial waste management needs. Find out more about our commercial skip hire, waste reports and waste management services or get in touch to discuss your requirements with our team.
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