If you have never hired a skip before, you might not be sure how the whole process works. You may wonder where the skip can go, what you can put in it, how long you can keep it and what happens once it is full.
For most household jobs, skip hire is a simple way to get rid of a large amount of waste without making repeated trips to the tip. A skip is delivered to your property, you fill it with suitable waste, and the company collects it when you are finished.
Quick Answer
Skip hire is a waste removal service where a company delivers a large open topped container to your property. You fill the skip with suitable waste during the agreed hire period, then the company collects it and takes the waste away for processing or disposal.
Skip hire can be useful for house clear outs, garden projects, DIY, renovations and building work. It gives you more space than a normal household bin and saves you from making repeated trips to a recycling centre.
What is Skip Hire?
A skip is a large metal container used to collect waste from your home, garden or building project. It can be delivered to your driveway, or placed on a public road with the required permit. Some skips can also be covered, which can help keep the waste contained and reduce the chance of people adding their rubbish.
Once the skip is delivered, you fill it during the agreed hire period. When you have finished, the skip hire company you hire collects it and takes the waste away. Instead of filling your car or van and making repeated trips to the recycling centre, you have one place to put everything while you get on with your project.
How Does Skip Hire Actually Work?
The process is usually quite straightforward.
The main thing to remember is that skips are not designed for every type of waste. If you’re unsure what can and cannot go in a skip, it’s better to ask before putting it inside.
What Is Skip Hire Used For?
Skip hire is not just for builders or large construction projects. Many homeowners hire a skip when they have more rubbish than their normal bins can handle. This could be after clearing a garage, tidying the garden, decorating a house or getting rid of unwanted items.
It can also be useful during larger projects such as kitchen renovations, bathroom work, extensions and building work.
The amount of waste you have is usually more important than the type of project. A small home clear out may only need a small skip, while a larger renovation could produce enough waste to need several collections.
Is Skip Hire Better Than Other Waste Removal Options?
There is no single waste removal option that suits every job. It depends on how much waste you have, what type of waste it is and how quickly you need it gone.
Using your normal household bins
Your household bins are fine for everyday rubbish, but they are not designed for a large clear out or renovation project.
If you have a few extra bags of rubbish, your normal collection may be enough. If you have a garden full of waste or a room full of unwanted items, a skip can be much more convenient.
Taking it to the tip yourself
Doing your own tip runs can work well when you only have a small amount of waste. The problem starts when you have several loads.
You need a suitable vehicle, you have to load everything yourself and you may need to make several journeys. With a skip, the container stays at your property while you work and the waste can all be collected together at the end.
Hiring a man and van service
A man and van service can be useful when you want someone to load and remove the waste for you. It can make sense for smaller jobs where you do not need a skip sitting outside your property.
Grab hire
Grab hire is useful if you have a large amount of heavy waste such as soil, rubble or hardcore. A grab lorry uses a hydraulic arm to pick up the waste from a prepared pile and load it straight onto the lorry. Once everything is loaded, it leaves the same visit, so there is no container left on site.
Skip hire
A skip gives you a dedicated place for your waste throughout the project. You do not need to keep bags and rubble piled around the garden or inside the house while you work. You also avoid making repeated trips to the tip yourself.
What Skip Size Do You Need?
Skips come in different sizes, so choosing the right one depends on how much waste you have. Going too small can mean needing another collection, while a much larger skip can leave you paying for space you do not need.
For smaller household jobs, a 2 yard skip may be enough. Larger clear outs and renovation projects can require bigger options, while major construction or demolition work may need a 20 yard roll on roll off skip.
How Long Can You Keep a Skip?
Most standard skip hire bookings allow you to keep the skip for an agreed period. For many household projects, this is around one to two weeks, although the exact period depends on the company and booking.
If your project takes longer than expected, contact your skip hire company rather than simply leaving the skip in place. They can tell you whether the hire can be extended and whether any extra charge applies.
Where Can You Put a Skip in Swindon?
If you have a suitable driveway or another area of private land, keeping the skip there is usually the easiest option.
If the skip needs to be placed on a public highway in Swindon, a licence is required from Swindon Borough Council. The skip hire company is responsible for making the application.
What Happens After the Skip Is Collected?
Once the skip is collected, you do not need to arrange another journey to dispose of the waste yourself. The waste is taken away by the skip hire company and handled according to the type of material and the arrangements of the waste facility.
A responsible approach to waste removal also helps make sure your rubbish does not end up being dumped illegally.
Is Skip Hire Worth It for a Small Household Project?
You do not need to be carrying out a major renovation to make use of skip hire. A small clear out can still produce far more waste than you can comfortably fit into your normal bins or car.
The useful question is not whether your project is big or small. It is how much waste you are likely to produce and how difficult it would be to remove it yourself. If you need several trips to the tip, a small skip can save a lot of time and effort.
Conclusion
Skip hire is simply a convenient way to deal with a larger amount of waste without filling your household bins or making repeated trips to the tip.
Whether you are clearing a garden, decorating a room or working on a bigger renovation, there is usually a skip size to suit the amount of waste you have.
If you are planning a project in Swindon and are not sure which skip you need, contact Swindon Skip Hub for a free quote. Our team can help you work out what size and type of skip will suit your project.
