5 Common Mistakes Made When Filling A Skip

If you want to quickly and efficiently get rid of waste that’s been piling up, a skip is the ideal solution. However, to avoid any unnecessary delays and ensure your skip can be collected, it’s important that you fill your skip correctly. 

If it’s your first time hiring a skip or it’s been a few years since you’ve last hired one, you might be unsure of just how to go about doing things. To help you understand the mistakes that might cost you time and money, the team here at SCS Waste has compiled this list of what NOT to do when hiring a skip.

Hiring the wrong size skip

Getting the right size skip is important; order one that’s too small then you may need to order a second one or to arrange repeated collections, order one that’s too big and you might pay more than necessary. 

Review the work you’ll be carrying out and make an estimate of how much waste this will generate. Then, check out our handy skip size guide here, where you’ll find more detailed information about how many bags of rubbish each skip can hold. If you’re still unsure about what size skip you’ll need, contact us and we’ll do what we can to help.

Overfilling the skip

You must not overfill the skip so that waste exceeds the skip’s edges.

There are a number of reasons for this: overfilling your skip could make it too heavy to lift, any overhanging items could fall out or cause injury and your skip hire company will most likely refuse to collect your skip if it’s too full. Skips also have a maximum weight capacity, so it’s also important to consider the waste inside of your skip and ensure it isn’t too heavy as, again, this will mean your skip can’t be safely removed.

Forgetting to apply for a permit

A lot of homes aren’t blessed with enough space to accommodate a skip on their drive or in their garden. If this is the case, the skip will need to be placed on a public road. However, this requires a skip permit from your local council.

An application for a skip permit must usually be submitted at least five working days before your skip is due to arrive, so it’s essential that you apply in enough time. Failure to obtain a skip permit means you could face a hefty fine, so forgetting about this is an expensive mistake. Luckily, when you hire a skip with SCS Waste, we handle all the paperwork you and will obtain all the necessary permits.

Filling your skip incorrectly

The key to making the most of your skip is maximising all available room, so don’t waste space by throwing objects in randomly. 

Instead, sort all your waste and methodically load it, starting with any flat items that can be easily squashed down. Then layer any large, bulky items on top, breaking them down if you can, before finishing off with lighter items and filling any gaps with loose debris.

Loading prohibited items

For safety and legal reasons, certain items can not be disposed of in a skip. This includes hazardous waste, clinical waste, chemicals, liquids and WEEE waste. You can find a full list of restricted items here on our website. These guidelines are in place for a reason, so failure to follow them could mean you’re subjected to additional fees and fines, or your skip hire company may refuse collection.

If you’re looking to hire a skip in Arundel, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis or the surrounding areas, SCS Waste can help. Contact us today and our friendly team will ensure your experience is convenient and stress-free and we’re happy to answer any of our questions.