Top 6 skip hire mistakes and how to avoid them

Need to dispose of large amounts of rubbish?

Whether it be a home renovation project, a garden spruce up or an office clearance, hiring a skip is an efficient and cost-effective disposal option – guaranteed to save you tiresome trips to and from the local tip.

But there are a few things you need to bear in mind to ensure you don’t run into any delays or incur additional costs.

Let’s take a look at some of the common mistakes people make when opting for skip hire in Thanet and what you can do to ensure the same doesn’t happen to you.

Ordering the wrong skip size

From 4 yards to 12 yards, skips are available in a wide range of sizes, which means you’re sure to find something suitable for your project.

However, choose one that’s too small and you’ll need to hire a second or third one to accommodate the leftover materials. Choose one that’s too big and you’ll end up paying for more disposal space than you need.

Our best advice?

Avoid ordering the cheapest or smallest one you can find without taking into account the type and volume of waste you need to get rid of.

Instead, be realistic about the amount of rubbish your project will generate. It’s always better to opt for a skip that’s slightly bigger than you need than one that’s not big enough – saving you from overloading it and being charged or having to hire another skip.

Not considering space and access

When selecting a skip size, customers often forget to consider the physical space and where the skip will be positioned.

If there is inadequate access for our skip lorries to manoeuvre when delivering or collecting your hired skip, it can cause delays and result in damages. Additional charges may apply, too.

Don’t make the same mistake as them…

If you intend on keeping a skip on your private property, consider narrow roads, low-hanging branches and parked cars that may obstruct access. It’s also a good idea to choose a floor surface that’s solid and level to prevent the skip from sinking or toppling over when you start to fill it.

When placing a skip on the road, it needs to be at least 15m from the nearest junction and shouldn’t block access to driveways or manholes.

Ignoring local council regulations

Most people are unaware of the permissions and regulations surrounding skip hire in Thanet (and elsewhere), resulting in them being on the receiving end of an expensive fine or timely delays.

If you need to keep a skip on a road or public land, you will need to obtain a permit from your local council. Often, the largest domestic skip that they allow to be placed on the road for safety reasons is the 8-yard builder’s skip.

Be sure to familiarise yourself with the regulations in your local area.

Our specialists can acquire the permit on your behalf – giving you one less thing to worry about – and add the fee to the overall price of your skip hire.

Failing to sort and dispose of waste correctly

Resisting the temptation to throw anything/everything into your hired skip can be difficult – especially when skip hire companies (including ourselves) accept most types of waste.

However, certain items are not suitable for our skips in Thanet, including hazardous materials like asbestos, electricals, medical waste, plasterboard, etc.

If prohibited items are found in your skip, you will likely incur additional costs for not complying with stringent skip hire regulations and potentially harming the environment by contributing to landfill waste.

The solution?

Find out what materials you can and can’t put in the skip and regularly check to make sure that no prohibited items have made their way into it.

Not schedule skip collection

Ideally, you want the skip to be delivered and collected whenever is convenient for you and your project timeline.

A common mistake made by customers hiring a skip in Thanet (usually for the first time) is not scheduling delivery and collection in advance.

Leaving your skip hire arrangements to the last minute can result in limited availability, meaning you might need to keep hold of the skip for longer than you had planned – ultimately increasing your costs.

Planning and booking delivery and collection times at the same time as ordering your skip will ensure that you have the skip when you need it – avoiding delays.

Overloading the skip

At TW Services, we understand that determining the right skip size when looking at a pile of rubbish or estimating the amount of materials your project will generate before you’ve even started is no easy feat.

But the last thing you want to do is overload it with waste, exceeding the maximum fill level around the outside of the container.

What should you do?

Start by loading your skip with heavy items first and place lighter ones on top of them. Make sure the waste is distributed evenly within the skip and use smaller, broken-down pieces to fill any gaps.

Hire a skip in Thanet today

Whether you’re looking to dispose of construction materials, garden rubble or general waste, TW Services can help make your skip hire experience a stress-free one – saving you time, money and effort.

To find out more about our services in your local area, or for more tips and advice, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01304 626 364.

Alternatively, send us a message via our online enquiry form and we’ll get back to you shortly.