The Hidden Costs of Hiring the Wrong Skip

There are hidden costs associated with hiring the wrong skip with regard to both logistics and compliance with environmental regulations.

At 1^st Choice Concrete & Skip Hire we always encourage our customers to give due consideration to their choice of skip, based on both the type and volume of waste they are disposing of.

Here we outline some of the hidden costs of hiring the wrong skip and what you can do to avoid them.

Hiring a skip that is too small

If you hire a skip that is too small, you will need to pay for a replacement skip to clear the rest of your waste, the cost of which will be more than if you’d hired a larger skip. Skips must not be filled above either the fill line or the top edges of the skip to avoid safety hazards such as waste falling from the skip while in transit.

Also, each skip size has a maximum weight capacity when filled (a 4 yard skip has a capacity of approximately 4 tonnes). An overfilled skip is likely to exceed this maximum weight, making it an illegal load.

The skip hire company can refuse to collect a skip if it is deemed to be overloaded and unsafe which will incur costs and a lot of hassle. Alternatively the skip hire company will charge an additional fee for collecting an overloaded skip.

Hiring a skip that is too large

If you hire a skip that is larger than you need you will be paying extra for unused space. You will also pay more for your permit if it is on the road. These avoidable costs will make an unnecessary hole in your budget.

Contaminated and hazardous waste

There are specific rules around skip hire for the disposal of contaminated and hazardous waste. The process is carefully managed and highly regulated to ensure that contaminated and hazardous waste is safely contained, transported and disposed of.

Putting contaminated and hazardous waste in a standard skip will incur surcharges to cover its safe disposal by licensed specialists. More information about dangerous materials that cannot be put in a standard skip can be found here.

Filling the skip with heavy waste

As mentioned, the anticipated weight of your filled skip is key to choosing the right skip for your project to avoid additional charges.

Putting ‘inert waste’ such as hardcore, rubble, aggregates and soil into a skip with household waste is likely to significantly impact the final weight of the filled skip. It is easy to be caught out with this because the skip may not look full. If your project involves the removal of inert waste materials it is advisable to hire a larger/higher tonnage skip.Permit fines

If you place a skip on a public road it requires a permit which can be purchased from your local council. A permit is not required if the skip is entirely on your property. You will be fined if you do not have the appropriate permit so you should be clear about the permit you need.

Ways to avoid the hidden costs of hiring the wrong skip

First and foremost we would encourage all of our customers to speak to the 1^st Choice team if you are unsure of the best skip for your needs. We can advise on issues such as size, type of waste and permits.

Otherwise, we would suggest the following checklist to avoid unnecessary costs:

• Think carefully about the size of skip you need. A general rule of thumb is a 4 yard skip is suitable for small domestic projects and an 8 yard skip is probably needed for bulky household waste
• Don’t put contaminated or hazardous waste into a standard skip. Seek professional advice on how to dispose of it
• Make sure you don’t put too much inert waste into one skip as this will impact its weight. Speak to 1^st Choice for more advice on this
• Check if you need a permit for your skip. At 1^st Choice we order the permit on your behalf.

Speak to 1^st Choice to avoid unnecessary costs when hiring a skip

Contact the 1^st Choice team for any skip hire advice you need by calling 0151 549 1882.