Are you undergoing a home renovation project or perhaps part of a large scale industrial project? If so, you may require a skip hire service to dispose of your waste safely. Like many people, you may be tempted to throw all your waste into the skip, yet some of it needs to be disposed of differently for legal or practical reasons. Before hiring a skip, here is a list of items you can and can’t put in it.
Waste you can put in a Skip
You can skip most natural waste, building materials, plastics and woods as well as non-electrical appliances. It is also appropriate to put in:
Understand that putting prohibited stuff in a skip could not only result in higher charges but also lead to criminal prosecution. Anything harmful or hazardous cannot be put on a skip or waste that may compromise safety and health. Although it may seem obvious, there are items that many skip users fail to consider.
Gas Cylinders
Skip companies do not accept gas cylinders whether they are empty or full. The content found in cylinders is dangerous; the reason skip firms are not licensed to dispose of it. If you want to get rid of your cylinder, contact the company from which you purchased the cylinder, and they would most certainly be delighted to collect it for recycling or reuse.
Asbestos
Never be tempted to mix asbestos with other waste materials in a skip as it is harmful and hazardous. The UK government has, in fact, implemented laws citing it is illegal to not only reuse and recycle but to also dispose of any asbestos material inappropriately. Ensure that these materials are removed from your location by a removal contractor who specialises in asbestos. If you can’t access these services, make the effort of contacting your local council to get assistance on the companies near you that can offer them.
Batteries
Whether it is your wall clock battery or that from your car, do not put it in a skip. This is because batteries are known to contain chemicals (high traces of lead) and metals. Lead for instance is poisonous and must be handled with a lot of caution. Take the batteries to a local petrol station that has battery recycling boxes or look for a nearby recycling centre.
Solvents, Fuel and Paint
All these are chemical compounds that skip firm licenses do not cover. Since these would be considered hazardous, they should not be put in a skip as they require licensed disposal. They must instead be taken to waste plants licensed to deal with such. If you have trouble identifying the firms, make use of the government search tool to locate one near you.
Medical Waste
Medical waste stands a chance of infections and contaminations, meaning that an accredited firm must handle it. This includes biological waste and unused needles as they need to be treated before disposal. The department of health is responsible for this service.
Plasterboard
Plasterboard is not allowed in skips. Recently, the government has taken up the initiative of aiming to recycle most of this waste. However, it must first be taken to a special recycling plant. Do not mix plasterboard with other waste materials. If it is the only waste you have, some firms may accept to dispose of it for you.
Skip firms have incentives to recycle most of the waste and are also charged when they put anything in the landfill. If you have garbage that you are not sure of, find it necessary to contact a skip provider for help. With that, it will be easy to compare skip hire prices, get the right size and search your postcode to get a licensed firm.
