Hiring a skip is simple enough on the face of it, but a few avoidable mistakes catch people out every week, costing them money or a refused collection. Knowing the handful of rules that actually matter keeps the whole thing painless. Drawing on years of skip hire across Ormskirk, Southport and the wider area, here are the do’s and don’ts worth knowing before you book, so your job stays cheap, safe and legal.
Do order the right size
The most common mistake is the first one, getting the size wrong. Order too large and you pay for space you never fill, order too small and you are into a second hire that doubles the cost and effort. The trick is to size by what is going in rather than how the pile looks, keeping in mind that heavy material reaches the weight limit well before it fills the space. If you are unsure, our guide to choosing the right skip size walks through it, and a quick chat with us before you book usually settles it.
Do plan placement and permits
Where the skip sits matters as much as which one you pick. On your own driveway you will not need a permit, but a skip on a public road needs one from the council, so that is worth sorting before delivery rather than after. Make sure there is clear access for the lorry to drop and lift the skip, set it on a stable, level spot, and keep a safe zone around it so children and pets stay clear. Our skip hire with permit service handles the council side for you where a road position is needed.
Don’t overfill it
A skip must be filled no higher than its top edge, and there is a hard reason for it. An overfilled skip can push the lorry over its legal weight limit, at which point the driver simply cannot collect it, leaving you with a delay and often a charge while it is levelled off. Worse, loose material piled above the rim can fall out in transit and put other road users at risk. Load evenly, keep the heavier items low, and if it becomes clear you have more waste than the skip will take, ask us about a larger one such as an 8 tonne builders skip rather than cramming it in.
Don’t burn anything in the skip
This one surprises people, but it is important. Burning rubbish inside a skip breaches fire safety rules and badly damages the container, and because the skip is our property you would be liable for the repair and repainting costs, which are not small. On top of that a fire can bring in the fire service and the Environment Agency, turning a clear-out into something far more serious. Whatever the temptation to save a trip, a skip is never the place to burn waste.
Don’t put in prohibited or dangerous materials
Waste law is strict about what can go in a skip, and certain things never can. Asbestos, tyres, fridges and freezers, paint and oil containers, batteries and electrical items all need specialist disposal and must be kept out. Putting them in risks a contaminated load that is refused at collection, an extra charge for specialist clearance, and potentially an environmental fine. If you are unsure about a particular item, set it aside and ask us first. Everything that is allowed in is sorted and recovered where possible at our own recycling centre, as we explain on our environmental and recycling page.
Do use a reputable local provider
The simplest way to stay on the right side of all of this is to work with an established local carrier who will advise you on size, placement and what can go in before anything goes wrong. We serve customers right across the area, with our Ormskirk skip hire and Southport skip hire services run by the same family operation, so you get sound advice alongside the skip itself.
If you would rather just talk your job through and let us point you the right way, that is what we are here for. Contact our team or call 01704 779345.
