What You Should and Shouldn’t Put in a Skip

If you’re moving home, renovating or just having a clear-out, you might be thinking about hiring a skip to make the job easier. A skip is a cost-effective way of disposing of everything in one go, however, before you start filling it up, you should be aware that there are certain items that you shouldn’t put in skips and some you can’t put in at all.

In addition, certain local councils in London have different policies when it comes to what you can and can’t put in a skip.

What can I put in my skip?

In general, you can put a wide variety of household items into a skip except for hazardous waste which is anything dangerous or harmful both to people and the environment. 

Typically, you can fill our Proskips with the following items: 

• Astro Turf, carpet, underlay and rubber matting
• Baths, sinks and toilets
• Cardboard and paper
• Clothes
• Furniture
• General garden waste
• General household junk
• Glass bottles and tins
• Metal household items 
• Non-electric garden tools
• Plastics
• Soil and stones
• Textiles
• Tiles and bricks
• Wood 

What items you shouldn’t put in a skip:

Personal Information or Sensitive Data

With the rise of online crime, identity theft is a big problem. You should never use your skip to dispose of documents containing personal information or sensitive data. 

Some criminals will enter the skip to search for documents containing contact numbers, addresses, bank details, email addresses and National Insurance numbers. Therefore, you should shred all documents including CVs, utility bills, bank statements and any unopened post, whether you are putting them in your skip or your household bin. 

Old computers and mobile phones hold personal information too, which skilled criminals can find even if you think you’ve wiped them. This is another reason to dispose of old electronic devices carefully and at a specific recycling centre.

Recyclable and Reusable Goods

As discussed, there are many household items that you can put in a skip. Whilst they are acceptable, there is usually a better way to dispose of them so that they can be recycled or reused, therefore, protecting the environment. 

These include: 

• Unwanted old clothes, household items (toys, books etc), bikes and scooters – these items can be taken to charity shops, donated via Freecycle or sold on eBay or at a car boot sale. 
• Bottles, tins, paper, cardboard and plastic – these items can all be put in your recycling bin. Avoid filling up your skip with items which could be disposed of elsewhere, in a more eco-friendly way. 

What items can’t you put in a skip?

There are some things that you should never put in a skip – These are items that are dangerous or harmful to either people or the environment. 

These include but are not limited to:

Hazardous Items

Many household items pollute and damage the environment and need to be disposed of or recycled in a specific way. 

• Acids 
• Any household toxic chemicals (cleaners, bleach, pesticides) 
• Anything lead-based 
• Batteries 
• Electrical items (televisions, refrigerators, mobile phones and computers etc) -These are controlled by the WEEE Directive, therefore, you should contact your local council to find out the best method of disposal. 
• Explosives 
• Gas cylinders 
• Lightbulbs 
• Mattresses  
• Oil, Petrol and Diesel 
• Oil-based paints 
• Plasterboard 
• Tyres 

Each of these items needs to be disposed of differently from general waste that you put in a skip, so it is important to contact your skip hire company first to find out the best way of disposing of it.

Depending on your local London council, they may accept most of these items for disposal at your local recycling centre (tip). It is always best to check your local council website for accurate information and the location of your nearest tip. 

Some local councils also offer a free or small fee collection service. In addition, many high-street shops and supermarkets have special battery and mobile phone recycling facilities.  

Asbestos 

Under no circumstances should you ever place any asbestos or materials containing asbestos in a skip. Asbestos is extremely hazardous and needs careful handling by a specialist waste company that will dispose of it safely. 

Medical/Clinical Waste

For health and safety reasons, medical or biological waste should be kept out of your skip, including needles and dressings. These materials can be hazardous for both people and the environment. You can find out more about the correct way to dispose of Clinical waste on the gov.uk website.   

Differences Across London Borough Councils

Whilst each local council does not stipulate what you can or can’t put into a skip, as discussed above, it is important to remember that you can never put hazardous or dangerous items in that can also impact the road itself. 

Each skip hire company will detail what they will accept, which is based on the licence that is held for the disposal facility where the waste is taken.

However, if you need a permit for your skip to place it on a public highway, then each local London council has their own specific fees. Depending on the council, a permit typically lasts from 2-4 weeks.

Here we look at a couple of examples:

Croydon Borough Council

To obtain a permit in Croydon, there is a minimum notice period of 5 working days and it will cost you £66. There are restrictions on the placement of skips on a number of roads so it is important to first check the council website here.

Lewisham Borough Council 

To obtain a permit in Lewisham, there is a minimum notice period of 5 working days and it will cost you £79. The permit will then be valid for 30 days. If you require a roll on roll off skip then the permit costs £196 per month for 30 days including an £80 inspection fee.

Lambeth Borough Council

To obtain a permit in Lambeth, there is a minimum notice period of 5 working days and it will cost you £63 whether the road has no markings, one yellow line or it’s a parking bay. The permit will then be valid for 2 weeks.

If you’re still not sure about an item, ask your skip hire company for advice. They’ll be able to supply up-to-date information that’s specific to their business and your local area. 

Proskips provides skips of all sizes to homes across the country. If you would like to find out more about our skip hire services or make a booking, contact us.