You might have vague recollections of skips full of mattresses and rubble, but have you ever thought about what you can and can’t put in a skip? In fact, whilst the majority of things can go in your skip, there are some strict rules about certain things that cannot be disposed of in this way. Follow this guide and ensure that you are using your skip appropriately, and that it can all be disposed of safely.
As a basic rule, you can put anything in your skip that isn’t hazardous or that doesn’t require specialist disposal. Things you can definitely put in your skip include:
- Furniture (including beds and mattresses)
- Garden Waste
- Rubble
- Wood
- Solidified paint
- Empty paint tins
- Soil
- Polystyrene
- Plastic
- Metal
- Gas cookers
- Food and food packaging
- Fittings (non-electrical)
- Domestic waste
- Cardboard
- Bricks
However, things you usually can’t put in a skip include, but are not limited to:
- Asbestos
- Compressed Gas Cylinders (full or empty)
- Electrical Equipment (e.g. Electric Cookers, Electric Fans)
- Explosives
- Fluorescent Tubes
- Fridges
- Batteries
- Medical Waste of any kind
- Microwaves
- Oils, petrol or diesel (hydraulic oil, engine oil, cooking oil)
- Other Chemicals (e.g. bleach, detergents, processing fluids)
- Full or partially full paint tins (unless completely empty)
- Plasterboard
- Solvents (e.g. paint, glue)
- Toasters
- Televisions
- Telephones
- Tyres
All of these items need specialist disposal, mostly because when broken down they are either dangerous (e.g. Asbestos and plaster board) or because they can have detrimental effects on the environment (e.g. Tyres).
If you are in any doubt about what you can and cannot put in our skips, get in touch, and we can answer any of your questions.