Skip Hire Guide

By now, saving the planet should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind – after all, ensuring a bright future for our planet is crucial for all living things. This is why it’s vital to opt for ethical collection and disposal of waste, and hopefully this method will become the norm. For more information about skip hire and responsible waste management, read Wilton Waste’s comprehensive guide below. 

Hiring a skip?

Things to consider about skip hire…

• Choose the right company and order a skip – make sure the company you choose practices ethical waste disposal, this is likely to be mentioned on their website. Research your local companies and compare – not only to ensure you’re looking after the planet but to ensure you get the best customer service and price, too!
• Cheap skip hire deals to be had – typically, the larger the skip, the more cost-effective the price is. That said, make sure you have enough waste to fill the container, otherwise the deal won’t work in your favour. Always consider the size of the skip you require for the project at hand, there are a variety of sizes to choose from:
  • 4cy Skip: 30-40 bags
  • 8cy Skip: 60-80 bags
  • 14cy Skip: 80-100 bags
  • 25cy Roll-on Skip
  • 35cy High Sided Roll-on Skip
• Local waste collection – choosing your local skip hire will reduce the impact of waste management and reduce your carbon footprint. A local skip company will have the local knowledge needed to ensure your waste is distributed to the correct waste facilities.
• Responsible rubbish removal – skips are designed to make waste disposal quick, efficient and easy for all domestic, commercial and industrial customers. Since waste can be heavy and difficult to get rid of through other methods, skip hire companies provide a solution to ensure that all types of waste are separated and transferred to the correct facility.

 

Dos and don’ts when it comes to skip hire

Beginning with the dos:

• Ensure it’s the right size – if you hire a skip that’s too small, you will require another, which will increase the cost. This can be eliminated if you get the right sized skip the first time round and will help you to get the best deal – that’ll keep down the costs of professional waste disposal.
• Read through the paperwork – should you need to leave a skip on a public road, you must obtain a permit. Most skip companies will be able to do this for you but check your paperwork as most permits will only be valid for 7 days, so you must ensure your skip is collected on the seventh day or before then.
• Think green – most skip hire companies have their very own waste management facilities on site and will work to recycle as much as possible. Ask your local professionals about their green credentials, this might help you to make your decision on which skip hire company to use.

Now for the don’ts:

• Throw in hazardous materials – there are items we may not consider to be hazardous but items such as paint cans, aerosols, electrical goods and lightbulbs are not OK to go into a skip. Other hazardous materials include.
  1. Asbestos
  2. Cleaning chemicals
  3. Fluorescent tubes
  4. Freezers
  5. Fridges
  6. Gas Canisters
  7. Solvents
  8. TV’s
  9. Tyres
  10. Vehicle Batteries
• Go with the first company you see online – shop around for the best deal, check their location (to reduce your carbon footprint), reviews and their green credentials. The best way to avoid rogue traders is to ensure you have shopped around and asked the right questions – your local waste management company will be able to tell whether they’re licensed or not.
• Place a skip on a public road or highway with a permit – your skip will be removed by the authorities and you will be fined.

 

The waste management and recycling process

 

What happens to skip waste?

This depends on your skip hire company. Some companies will remove the full skip and take it to an external waste management centre, and others will take it back to their site where they have the facilities to separate and manage the waste themselves. 

Waste transfer and sorting process

Waste that is taken to a waste transfer and sorting facility will be separated. Firstly, the large items will be removed and the rest will be hand-picked or processed through high-tech machinery that’ll tell one material from another. These machines include trammels, blowers and magnets.

This process is vital, it ensures that a high percentage of the waste is reused or recycled.

Where does sorted skip waste go?

• Garden waste – can be used to make compost for landscaping projects and gardening.
• Building waste – will be crushed and used as sub-base materials for other building projects.
• Scrap metal waste – is either turned into new items such as tin cans for example or it is shipped to other parts of the world.
• Electrical waste – these are recycled and components are reused.
• Other waste – can be converted into heating or electricity.

Once skip rubbish has been sorted, it will be removed by other companies who will use these scraps to make new goods. For anything that cannot be recycled, this will be incinerated or placed into landfill.
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Why ethical waste disposal is important

An unimaginable amount of waste is produced across the globe each year and landfill isn’t decomposing quick enough to keep up with the rate at which we’re filling it. We’re running out of space and places for waste to go and so, it’s vital we change how we do things.

Wilton Recycling have no hidden charges, we’re fully compliant and provide outstanding customer satisfaction. For more information about the services we offer, whether they be Scrap Metal Recycling, Wheelie Bins or Skip Hire. We operate throughout a number of locations including: Athlone, Cavan, Drogheda, Dublin, Dundalk, Mullingar and the surrounding areas. To find out more, contact us today.