cac0fae8c8f092b7d7e32f10d5d4e9c220d2969b My Health Is My Life: Making life easier with a skip

Making life easier with a skip

By Geoge Linen


A skip is a large, open top container used traditionally by building firms to deposit the debris that they produce. Once full, it is then removed by a purpose built wagon to a landfill site or recycling centre where the contents are deposited. Skips are also often hired for a fixed period of time by private individuals carrying out work on their homes.

Home or garden improvement inevitably produces waste material. To dispose of large amounts of garden matter, rubble, glass, wood or even wallpaper and soft furnishings, you can either make numerous trips down to your local recycling centre, expending unnecessary amounts of time and fuel, or you can hire a skip.

Skips come in various sizes, but the standard ones are mini skip, midi skip and builders' skip. The mini skip holds the equivalent of around 25 full bin bags, the midi skip around 35 bin bags and the builders' skip around 50 bin bags. If in doubt, it is advisable to err on the side of caution and choose the bigger size. Larger builders' skips, such as those you would need for a house clearance, are also available from the better skip hire companies.

You will only need a skip permit if you intend to park it on a public road (as opposed to your driveway, for example). In such cases, the skip hire company will normally apply on your behalf. There are a small number of councils, however, that require the customer to make this application directly.

A skip on a public road is subject to a number of regulations. It must be away from any manholes with the longer sides parallel to the kerbside, as close in as possible. It must be marked off with traffic cones and well lit at night. The name and telephone number of the skip hire company must also be clearly shown.

There are certain household items that are deemed hazardous and which must not be put into a skip. These include refrigerators, freezers, electrical appliances, tyres, batteries, asbestos, gas bottles, fluorescent light tubes, solvents, fuels, aerosols and medical waste. If you are unsure about anything, contact the skip provider for confirmation.

There are, basically, two types of skip provider: the skip hire company and the waste manager. The former simply collects your waste and passes it on to a third party to process, however, it should still hold a waste carrier licence. The latter will not only collect your waste, but also carry out its recycling or disposal. A waste manager will also hold a waste carrier licence but have, in addition, an environmental permit.

The final stage of the process sees your waste being separated out into recyclable and non-reusable items. Wood, cardboard, paper, plastics, metals, rubble, soil and glass can all be reprocessed to make new products. Green waste can either be composted or converted into green fuel. Only the bare minimum should actually end up in the ground.




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