Skip hire: questions to ask

What size skip do I need?

Skips come in different sizes, so check with the skip hire company about what size you are likely to need and what it will cost. Make sure the size you choose will fit on your driveway, in the road outside your house, or wherever you want the skip to stand.

Is the skip hire company authorised?

You need a skip permit to put a skip on the road. Normally the skip hire company arranges this with the local council, but it's important to double-check that the skip hire company has this covered.

Where can I have my skip delivered?

Skip hire companies can deliver skips to your driveway, the space outside your house, even to your garden or your building site. Remember, however, they will need access in order to deliver it.

How full can I load the skip?

Most skip hire companies will ask you to level-load the skip and not fill it higher than the level of the top of the skip itself.

Can I put anything in a skip?

Almost anything can be placed in a skip. However, there are some exceptions, including asbestos, fridge-freezers, car batteries, tyres, gas cylinders, paint tins, television sets and computer monitors. Always check with the skip hire company, as each has its own policy and the rules sometimes change with new legislation.

Will the skip hire company provide road cones?

Some skip hire companies provide road cones and flashing lights to warn oncoming traffic. If you're planning to put your skip on the road, check whether the skip hire company provides these extras.

Will the skip hire company recycle the contents of the skip?

Some skip hire companies sort and recycle items placed in a skip. If you want to be environmentally friendly, it's definitely worth asking your skip hire company if they sort and dispose of waste.

How quickly will the skip hire company collect the skip?

Ask about timings. If your skip is nearly full, you may need to ask the skip hire company to collect quickly before passers-by and fly-tippers start over-filling it.