What Can You Put in a Skip? An Expert Guide | JustHire

You might be surprised at just how much you can put in a skip. From general household waste to building waste, there are many things that can be disposed of in a skip. However, there are also some hazardous items that can't be placed in a skip. If you fill your hired skip with any of these items, you could be charged heavily, or the skip hire company may refuse to collect the skip.

Follow our guide to dispose of all your waste without a hitch.

What Can You Put in a Skip?

Things that can be put in a skip include anything that is not hazardous waste, such as:

• Construction Waste: Timber, rubble, and bricks

• Inert Waste: Aggregates and soil

• General Waste: Items that would normally go in your weekly black bin collection

• Garden Waste: Grass clippings, weeds, and shrubbery

• Paper & Cardboard: Packaging or promotional cards

• Plastic: Plastic bottles, detergent bottles, etc.

• Household Items: Furniture and carpet

• Commercial or Trade Waste: Large amounts of mixed waste

• Metals: Drink cans, foil, bedframes

• Wood: Old wood flooring, scrap wood from DIY

If you have any of the waste items above that need disposing of, a skip could be a great option.

Are there any Exceptions or Can I be charged for any Items?

Plasterboard is a type of construction waste that can be charged extra, and you may even need to hire a separate skip for it. One type of garden waste that may not be allowed in a skip is tree roots. Household waste such as mattresses can be charged extra. Carpet must be less than 10% of the waste in the skip and can be charged extra. 

What Can You Put in a Skip Summary 

What Can You Put in a Skip Summary

• Construction Waste

• Inert Waste

• General Waste

• Garden Waste

• Cardboard

• Plastic

• Household Items

• Commercial or Trade Waste

• Metals

• Wood

Follow the list above, and your waste disposal should run smoothly. However, always check with the waste management company, as they may have their own regulations regarding their services.

What Cannot be put into a Skip?

Unfortunately, certain items cannot be placed in a skip. Items that cannot be put into a skip are any hazardous waste, which could cause harm.

Skips are open-topped and can be accessed by anyone and anything. If a skip is placed on a public road, it cannot contain hazardous materials that could be accessed by the public. It is also important not to put items in the skip that the skip company cannot dispose of. These special items must be disposed of in a particular way by specialist recycling plants.

If you put these items in a skip, the skip company will either refuse to collect the skip or charge you a large fine.

Hazardous Items Include:

• Electrical Appliances: Televisions, computer monitors, washing machines, fridges, microwaves, etc. Due to the WEEE directive, all electrical equipment needs to be taken to a registered recycling centre and is prohibited from being put in a skip.

• Tyres: Old car or bike tyres are not allowed in a skip. They need to be disposed of differently from general waste.

• Upholstered Seating and Furniture: As of January 1, 2023, the Environmental Agency has stated that any upholstered seating must be disposed of as hazardous waste due to containing POPs (persistent organic pollutants). This includes: sofas, armchairs, futons and bean bags.

• Asbestos: Used in construction work for many years, asbestos must never be placed in a skip and requires specialist disposal.

• Harmful Chemicals: Includes anything that could be harmful to people and the environment, such as solvents and glue.

• Fluorescent Tubes: Contain mercury and cannot be put in a skip.

• Medical Waste: Includes biological waste or bodily fluids.

• Batteries: Contain harmful battery acid and must be taken to a recycling centre.

• Paint Cans & Paint Tins: Filled tins need to be disposed of at a disposal centre or local tip.

• Oil/Petrol/Diesel: Extremely flammable and should never be put in a skip.

• Gas Cylinders & Used Cylinders: Must be taken to recycling centres or back to the business from which they were purchased.

• Animal Waste: Includes deceased animals, fur, feathers, and excrement, which must be disposed of in a specialised manner.

What Can't be put into a Skip Summary 

• Electrical appliances

• Tyres

• Upholstered seating (including sofas)

• Asbestos

• Harmful chemicals

• Fluorescent tubes

• Medical waste

• Batteries

• Filled paint tins

• Oil/petrol/diesel

• Gas cylinders

• Animal waste

Hiring a skip can be expensive, so make sure you do not put any of the materials listed above into a skip. If you do, the skip company will contact you and either refuse collection or charge you more.

We hope this guide was helpful in understanding what can and cannot be disposed of in a skip. If you are unsure if something can go in the skip, the general rule of thumb is to contact the skip hire company first to see their prohibited items. Each skip hire service may have different rules.

Now, if someone asks you, "What can you put in a skip?" you can confidently answer.