You hire a skip for a house clear out, garden job or bit of DIY, then suddenly notice that someone else has started putting their rubbish in it. It is quite frustrating, isn’t it? Especially when that waste takes up space you have paid for or contains something that should not be in the skip.
What you do next can make a big difference, and it is worth dealing with the situation properly before the skip is collected. There are a few things you should check first, because leaving someone else’s waste in your skip could create a problem that you did not expect.
Quick Answer
If someone dumps waste in your skip, take photos of it before removing or moving anything. Contact your skip hire provider to let them know, since it may affect your booking or collection.
If the skip is on public land, report it to Swindon Borough Council as fly tipping. You’re legally responsible for everything in the skip when it’s collected, regardless of who put it there, so dealing with it promptly matters more than who’s at fault.
Why is it your problem if you did not put it there?
It might not be your rubbish, but once it is in your skip, it can become your responsibility. This is one of the things about skip hire people often don’t realise until it happens to them, and it applies whether the skip is on your driveway or the road.
If the extra waste is unsuitable or different from what was agreed when you booked the skip, it can cause problems when the skip is collected. The skip company may refuse to take it away or charge extra to deal with it. That is why it is worth checking what has been put in your skip rather than simply leaving it there.
Someone’s used your skip without permission, what should you do?
First, do not panic or start moving everything around straight away. Have a look at what has been added and find out whether it is simply unwanted household rubbish or something that could cause a bigger problem. Then, follow the given steps:
Step 1: photograph it before touching anything
Before you start moving anything, take a few clear photos of what has been put in the skip. Try to get a couple of different angles so you have a good record of what was there. This can be useful if you need to report it later.
Step 2: contact your skip hire provider
Let your skip hire company know as soon as you notice someone has used the skip. This is especially important if they have added a lot of waste, put in something that is not allowed, or left the skip close to being overfilled. If you booked with Swindon Skip Hub, this is exactly the kind of thing our team can help sort before collection.
Step 3: report it if the skip’s on public land
If your skip is on a road, pavement or verge, someone putting rubbish in it without permission can be treated as fly tipping. You can report this to Swindon Borough Council.
This is separate from contacting your skip hire company. Making a report also gives the council a record of what happened, which can be useful if people keep dumping rubbish in skips or around the same street.
What if someone puts a banned or hazardous item in your skip?
If you find something that should not be in a skip, it is worth dealing with it straight away. This could include asbestos, batteries, paint or gas cylinders.
Do not just carry on filling the skip and hope it will be dealt with later. Contact your skip hire company and let them know what you have found.
Some items may need to be handled or removed in a different way. Your provider can tell you what needs to happen before the skip is collected.
What If You Know Who Put It There?
If you know who added the waste, you can ask them to remove it if you feel comfortable doing so.
You do not need to confront someone if you feel unsafe. If the person is still dumping waste or the situation becomes threatening, keep your distance and report the incident through the appropriate channel.
How Can You Stop People Using Your Skip?
The best approach is to make the skip less accessible when you are not using it. If possible, keep the skip on private property rather than somewhere easily accessible from the street. You can also ask your skip hire company whether a suitable cover is available.
For skips in areas where unwanted dumping is a concern, keeping an eye on the skip and using existing CCTV where available can also discourage people from using it.
How Swindon Deals With Fly Tipping
Fly tipping is illegal in Swindon, and the council investigates reports of waste dumped on public land. The council can clear dumped waste and take enforcement action against people responsible.
Swindon Borough Council currently states that smaller fly tipping offences can result in a £400 fixed penalty notice, with a reduced amount if paid within 14 days. More serious cases can lead to prosecution and higher fines.
If you see someone actively fly tipping, don’t put yourself at risk trying to stop them. Record useful details from a safe distance and make a report instead.
Conclusion
Finding someone else’s waste in your skip is frustrating, especially when you have paid for the space yourself. The important thing is to deal with it quickly before it causes a problem with your skip collection.
Take a few photos, let your skip hire company know what has happened, and report it if you believe it was fly tipping. That way, you have a record of what happened and can deal with any issues before collection.
If you are planning to hire a skip in Swindon and want to ask us anything about your skip, get in touch with Swindon Skip Hub for a free quote.
