When they finally decide they need to hire a skip to dispose of excess waste or unwanted items, most people may assume they’re free to unload anything and everything into their skip of choice, while the skip hire company takes it all off their hands without a care in the world.
In reality, people need to be very careful what they throw away using a skip. You can dispose of a lot of things in a skip, making them the number one choice for construction projects, house renovations, clearouts and even some parties! But, you need to be vigilant when it comes to setting aside the select few items that are not suitable for skips.
Otherwise, not only will your chosen skip hire company refuse to take the skip, you will end up wasting far more time – and money – than you anticipated. On top of making life for everyone involved far more difficult.
At A&R Skips, we’ve been offering Greater Manchester skip hire and skip hire in Wigan and the surrounding areas for years, as well as next-day skip delivery, and have a treasure trove of experience and knowledge on all things related to skips. Whether you need a simple 2-yard skip, a more robust 8-yard skip, or a midi skip in between, we’ll have the right size skip to meet your needs.
So before you make a serious mistake, here are the items you’re not allowed to dispose of when you hire a skip, and why that’s the case.
The items you’re not allowed to throw in a skip – and the reasons why
Vehicle tyres
While a tyre may seem like a suitable item to dispose of in a skip, nothing could be further from the truth. Not only are they heavy, bulky and difficult to deal with, but if they’re not destroyed or recycled in an eco-conscious way, they can cause harm to the environment and those nearby.
Thankfully, there are dedicated companies who deal solely with the removal of old tyres, so you don’t have to live with them taking up space on your property. These companies are charged with disposing of tyres safely while also following all government legislation, and will usually thoroughly clean the tyre of foreign contaminants before recycling it.
Batteries
Whether it’s something as small as a Triple-A battery, or something as prominent as an old car battery, batteries of any kind can not be disposed of in a skip.
Why? They contain chemicals that are potentially harmful to the environment, plants and human life if the battery is damaged or leaks. Luckily, most consumer batteries can be dropped off at dedicated recycling points, like the ones you see at local supermarkets. Once there, these batteries are collected, and either destroyed safely or recycled to make new batteries.
Paint
Paint may seem harmless when it’s on your walls. But, in liquid form, it’s actually full of harmful chemicals – that’s why so many painters and decorators use special PPE equipment to protect themselves day in, day out.
To dispose of old paint safely, you can either take it to a dedicated paint disposal point, or take the DIY approach and mix it with sawdust to dry it out, before disposing of it as normal.
Electrical items and household appliances
A lot of time and effort goes into the making of electrical goods and appliances and, as such, they contain hundreds of individual parts, each with their own unique tasks.
But some of these parts feature elements that are hazardous to the environment and individuals, meaning they need to be disposed of in an ethical way, rather than in a skip. Your local recycling centre will be able to assist you with this.
Fuel
Needless to say, when it’s not being used to run your car, fuel in all forms is pretty dangerous – it’s flammable, smells terrible and is highly toxic. Dumping it in a skip is the equivalent of opening Pandora’s Box; you don’t know how much damage you could have caused. The same goes for fuel cylinders.
To avoid any potential disasters, you should contact your local council if you need to dispose of excess fuel. They usually run services dedicated to dealing with situations such as these.
Plasterboard
This is a surprising one, given how inconspicuous and easy-to-manage simple plasterboard seems at face value. But the truth is, when broken down, plasterboard can begin to dispel potentially harmful fumes, making it totally unsuitable for skips. Don’t worry, though, you can just drop it off at your local recycling centre and they’ll take care of it.
Medical waste
An obvious point, but medical waste such as discarded needles and similar materials, should not be disposed of in a skip. Thankfully, though, if you work in the medical field, you will have systems in place to deal with this type of waste for you.
Mattresses
One of the most highly-dumped items in the UK, people are often disgruntled when they learn they can’t dispose of an old mattress when they hire a skip, but it’s true. They are oversized and need to be broken down considerably before they can be trashed or recycled effectively – something that even the best skip hire companies simply do not have the resources for.
You can donate old mattresses, if you wish, or reach out to a dedicated company to collect and recycle your mattress for you.
Dispose of your permitted waste with reliable Greater Manchester skip hire service from A&R Skips
Now that you know for certain what you can’t dispose of with a skip, you can eliminate these items from the waste you’re planning to get rid of by hiring a skip – saving yourself a massive headache later down the line.
If you’re looking for an affordable skip hire based in Greater Manchester or the Wigan area for domestic or commercial waste disposal, A&R Skips is the team for you. We can offer next-day skip hire for whatever skip size you need to get the job done. We collect them just as promptly, too, so you’re not stuck with an eyesore ruining your street, your driveway or public land for weeks on end.
Customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do, which is why we’ve built a considerable base of satisfied customers across the years.
Ready to secure the skip you need? You can book your skip online here or get in touch with the friendly team at A&R Skips for more information.
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