How High Can you Fill a Skip? | JustHire

Knowing how to fill a skip correctly can save you time and money. In this guide, we address key questions you may have about filling a skip and provide a walkthrough on how to fill a skip effectively and efficiently.

How High Can You Fill a Skip?

All skips have a limit to how high or full they can be filled, indicated by the walls of the skip. The waste you put into the skip should not exceed these walls. If you overfill a skip, the skip company may refuse to collect it as it can be dangerous.

Remember to keep the skip at a level load, not piling over the skip walls. If you're unsure what that means for your skip, call the skip company; they can provide you with all the information you need. If you have overfilled the skip, simply remove some of the unwanted materials so that it is a level load.

How Heavy Can You Fill a Skip?

Skips are measured in cubic yards. One cubic yard can contain up to one thousand kilograms of waste. Therefore, a 2-yard skip will have a maximum weight of two thousand kilograms of waste. This logic can be applied up to an 8-yard skip with a maximum of eight thousand kilograms.

However, for skips larger than 8 yards, such as a 10-yard skip, this logic does not apply due to weight restrictions. When you combine the weight of the skip, the waste, and the skip lorry, it cannot exceed legal weight limits. Remember, 10-yard skips up to 16-yard skips are for light waste only and cannot contain any hardcore such as brick, aggregate, or soil. For any heavy materials, you will need to hire a 2-yard up to a maximum 8-yard skip.

What Can and Cannot Be Put in a Skip?

This can be found here.

How to Fill a Skip Efficiently and Maximise Your Skip Space

Skips can be expensive to hire, so make sure you fill them efficiently to make the most of your time and money. When filling a mixed waste skip, you may have a variety of waste types such as hardcore, wood, plastic, household waste, and garden waste.

Filling the skip in a particular way will make use of all the space in the skip. This walkthrough will take you step-by-step on how to fill your mixed waste skip in the most efficient way possible.

1. Hire the Correct Size Skip

Estimate how much waste you will have before ordering a skip. Most skip companies offer skips from 2 yards up to 16 yards.

By estimating the amount of waste before ordering a skip, you can choose the exact size that suits your needs, avoiding the cost of a too-large skip or the inconvenience of needing a replacement skip if the one you hired was too small.

2. Hire the Correct Type of Skip

Also, think about the type of skip you are going to order. You can order skips with drop doors, which are large doors at the end of the skip that can be lowered for easy access when filling. These drop-door skips are especially helpful with heavy waste like hardcore or soil.

3. Position the Skip Well

Position the skip where it will be easy to fill. You will want enough room to lift items into the skip and use any hoists or equipment if needed. Consider the distance you may have to carry the waste; you don't want to carry heavy, bulky items over a large distance.

You also need to think about the space required for the size skip you have ordered. Measure the space to ensure the skip will fit. Choose a location that the skip lorry can access for delivery and collection. Skip lorries require 3-4 meters of height clearance and at least 3 meters of width clearance.

4. Use Equipment to Help Fill the Skip

Use equipment like wheelbarrows to make filling the skip easier, saving you energy and time. You may want to construct a ramp into the skip using planks of wood; make sure they are sturdy and well-placed.

5. Give Yourself Enough Time to Fill the Skip

Most companies will give you up to 14 days to fill the skip. Make sure you have given yourself enough time, as you don’t want to be charged for extra days or a new skip altogether.

6. Organise Your Waste into Piles:

• Pile one: Lightweight waste: garden waste, plastic, cardboard

• Pile two: Heavy waste: builders’ rubble, bricks, hardcore

• Pile three: Flat, long waste: planks of wood, drainpipes, posts

• Pile four: Bulky items: tables, chairs, cupboards (break these down into smaller pieces, like removing table legs)

7. Flat Items Along the Sides, Lightweight Waste in the Middle, then Heavy Waste on Top

Here is a method to fill the skip in the most space-efficient way possible:

• Place long items along the sides to make the most of the space.

• Place lightweight waste such as garden waste in the middle of the skip, as it can be compressed when heavier items are placed on top.

• Put heavy waste on top of the lightweight items, such as rubble or brick, to compress the light waste.

• Repeat with another layer of lightweight waste followed by a layer of heavy waste. This maximises the space in the skip and prevents lightweight items from being blown away by the wind.

8. Wait for 24 Hours

If you followed the method above, wait 24 hours after you have filled the skip. The lightweight waste in the middle will compress overnight, giving you even more space in the skip by morning.

9. Level Load the Skip

Ensure you do not overfill the skip. Overfilling is when items overflow the brim of the skip. If a skip is filled correctly, you should be able to place a wooden plank on the brim on one side, and it should run undisturbed and flat across to the brim on the other side. If you overfill a skip, the skip company can refuse to collect it and charge you for a wasted journey, which can be up to £100.

Following these nine steps will make filling your skip both time and cost-effective. It will allow you to fit all your waste into a mixed skip with minimal fuss and save money by not having to order another.

Summary - How to Fill a Skip?

• Do not overfill the skip.

• Do not put heavy waste in any skip size over 8 yards.

• Fill the skip efficiently.

Author: James Duncan

Date: 22/06/22