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Types of Skip Guide

There are various types of skips available - we explain which is best for your use case.

Typically most skips all look the same, however the waste you can put in will be explicitly stated. The most common types of skips are for General Mixed Waste. This can be a variety of different items such as garden waste mixed with household waste. In certain circumstances, you may have only one type or waste or a type of waste which is considered specialist. Some specific types of rubber cannot be recycled and are considered ‘End of Life’ waste and if you have a lot of this, a specialist skip will be required. The good news is that by separating your waste into different types, you can often save money. Fully recyclable materials such as wood or metal are usually available at a lower cost than a general mixed waste skip.

Below are some of the more common types of skips:

General Mixed Waste
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General Mixed Waste Skip

Mixed waste skips are the most common type of skip. They are available in all of the common skip sizes and allow you to put a mixture of different kinds of waste. They are perfect for household clearances, garden and building projects. It is a common misconception that you can put anything in a general mixed waste skip – this is not the case. Items such as rubber, electronics, plasterboard, mattresses and sofas cannot be put in them. Check out our waste restrictions for items for further information.

Metal Skip
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Metal Skip

A metal skip can be of any skip size, from 4 yards to 12 yards, providing the weight restrictions are met. If you have a considerable amount of metal to dispose of, a 20 or 40 yard container may be more suitable. Metal skips are usually charged at a flat rate, but this does vary. Keep in mind that if you place anything other than metal into the skip, the load will become contaminated and a higher fee will be charged.

Glass bottles in a glass skip
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Glass Skip

Glass skips are more specialist as the glass can be dangerous to handle. If you require a glass skip, contact a member of our team for a quote. When filling a skip with glass, it’s best to avoid smashing the glass into shards and keeping the panes as flat as possible. Glass from uPVC windows or frames must have any other materials removed before placing it into the skip.

Old plasterboard in a plasterboard skip
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Plasterboard Skip

Plasterboard skips are available at all of our locations and can vary depending on the type of plasterboard – ie. old or new. Plasterboard skips are charged by weight (tonnage) and haulage, so if you have lots of plasterboard, you can save money by covering it with a tarpaulin to avoid it getting wet. Soaking wet plasterboard weighs a lot more than dry plasterboard and it’s also more expensive to recycle as it has to be dried out first.

Tree cuttings in a green waste skip
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Green Waste Skip

If you have a garden project, a green waste or ‘green skip’ is a great solution to dispose of your waste at a potentially lower cost. Examples of green waste include trees, branches and wood. As with any specialist skip, it is your responsibility to ensure that no other waste materials end up in the skip as this will incur additional charges.

Skip filled with hardcore rubble
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Hardcore (Rubble) Skip

If you’re building an extension, knocking down walls or even excavating the garden, you may have lots of hardcore, bricks and rubble. In this case, you can choose between a 4 yard or a 6 yard hardcore-only skip which will be delivered to your location and charged based on a haulage (delivery + collection) and tonnage (weight) basis. These heavy duty skips are perfect for transporting very heavy materials such as hardcore.

Asbestos in a skip
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Asbestos Skip

In order buildings it was commonplace to build with Asbestos. Left undisturbed, asbestos does not pose an immediate risk, however it should always be removed from a property. The fibres in asbestos are very toxic and are considered hazardous waste. A specialist service is required for asbestos removal and only trained professionals should handle it using the relevant PPE. Asbestos skips are available for hire and are sealed with a lockable hatch. Asbestos must never be put in any other type of skip.

Wood Skip
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Wood Skip

Not to be confused with green waste, a wood skip is for recyclable wood such as timber and planks of wood from items such as pallets and buildings. Wood skips can sometimes be offered at a lower rate, depending on the quality of the wood. As with all specialist types of skips, it’s imperative that the contents is not mixed with other waste otherwise the load will be considered contaminated and will cost more to dispose of.

Artificial grass in a skip
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Artificial Grass Skip

Most types of artificial grass are incredibly difficult to recycle. They use a mix of different plastics which are bonded together to create the yarn. If you’re having artificial grass removed or replaced at your property, we can offer an artificial grass only skip which will be considered end of life waste. This means that it cannot be recycled and will incur a higher cost to dispose of. You can choose from any of the different skip sizes available.

The good news is that some of these types of waste are actually cheaper to process making the cost of the skip lower. Although not the case in most areas anymore due to rising costs of haulage and processing, you used to be able to receive a rebate on metal and wood skips.

Tips on Choosing Types of Skip:

  • Always brief any persons on site which skip is for which waste type.
  • Be careful to ensure that you don’t put the wrong type of waste in your skip – if you put wood in a metal skip or vice versa for example, this would result in sorting costs.
  • If you’re considering a ‘General Mixed Waste’ skip this does not mean anything can be put in it. Check the Waste Restrictions before ordering!
  • Remember – you are liable for the waste in your skip, regardless of who puts it in. Check before collection that nobody has fly tipped or accidentally put a different type of waste in and remove it to avoid hefty fees.
  • Segregating your waste can save you money, particularly on large projects!
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