Best ways to load a skip and handle hazardous waste

When loading the skip you need to think about your own safety and the safety of other road users once it has been collected. We recommend that you put the heavy items at the bottom of the skip and the light items on top.

If you have heavy items to load into the skip or are wheel barrowing soil it may be beneficial for you to request a skip with a drop door to make loading it easier and prevent injuries.

Every skip hire company will tell you that one of the main problems they face is customers overloading their skips. This is when the waste is loaded past the sides of the skips. This makes the skip dangerous when it is being taken back to be tipped as waste could fall off the skip onto the road, or hit other vehicles and cause damage. You could also be charged extra for the extra weight so make sure you are hiring the correct size skip for your needs.

Remember that having to hire a second skip will ultimately cost you more than hiring one larger skip, even if they hold the same amount of waste.

Most items can be placed in a skip. However there are a few restrictions when dealing with hazardous waste. Items that cannot be placed in the skip include asbestos, fridges and freezers, gas bottles, needles, oils, paints and car tyres.

Many skip companies still sort their skips by hand, so when hazardous substances are put in the skip (we especially have this problem with asbestos) it can cause health hazards to the workers and you could be charged for this. You can find out more about hazardous substances and how to correctly dispose of them by reading up on local legislation.