How to Fill a Skip for Maximum Efficiency

Hiring a skip is a great way to manage the waste of your home renovation or clear-out, but you can make the most of your skip hire by loading your skip efficiently.

We’ll share tips on how to pack your skip effectively to make the most of the available space and save money on your project.

Choose the right skip

Skip sizes vary significantly from mini skips perfect for a minor garden cleanup to industrial-sized skips that can handle a whole-home renovation. Estimating how much waste you think your project will generate can be tricky, but our skips page can tell you more about finding the right skip size for your project.

You’ll also need to consider which skip type is best for your project. Skips can be open or closed – meaning the skip would include a cover that prevents other people dumping their waste in the skip you paid for.

You can also order roll-on, roll-off skips that come equipped with wheels. These “ro-ro skips” can be hitched to a large truck and wheeled away when full of heavy waste.

But ro-ro and other huge skip sizes are generally reserved for large-scale construction projects. Most home renovation projects require something between a 4-yard and a 12-yard skip.

Prepare your waste for the skip

You can maximise your skip efficiency by sorting your waste into four categories:

  • Recyclable – Anything you typically recycle should be taken to a licensed recycling centre.
  • Hazardous – Substances like liquid waste, electrical items, paints, solvents, oils, and medical waste require specialist disposal. Set these items aside, and don’t dump them in your skip.
  • Bulky – If you toss your bulky items into the skip first, you won’t have enough room for smaller items.
  • General – General waste items will be placed in the skip and packed as tightly as possible.

Always pack with care. Waste can shift while filling, causing heavy waste or bulky items to crush anything – including you!

Tips to fill a skip efficiently

These packing tips will help you fill your skip in the most efficient way so you can dispose of as much waste as possible.

Break down large or bulky items

Larger items should be broken into smaller parts before they’re placed in the skip. That way, you’ll make these items as small as possible, saving space in your skip. You’ll also be able to recycle any metal or plastic components accepted in your local recycling centre, saving further space in the skip.

Layer your waste items

Placing flat items in the bottom is a smart way to use all the space in your skip. If you place a flat item atop bulky items or rubble, you’re using your skip hire inefficiently, wasting space that could otherwise be filled. Make more space in your skip by laying flat items on the bottom.

Fill gaps with smaller waste and loose debris

Once you’ve placed your bulky and flat items in the skip, you can fill in around these with loose debris and smaller bits of waste. If you have awkwardly-shaped waste items, place them inside or under other waste where they can sit snugly and use as little space as possible.

Distribute the weight evenly

Balanced weight distribution makes it easier for your skip hire company to remove the skip without spilling any contents. When placing items in the skip, try to distribute the weight evenly. Remember that garden waste, like soil, is extremely dense and can be heavier than expected!

What not to include in your skip

Several types of waste should never be placed in a skip:

  • Hazardous chemical waste
  • Electrical items
  • Asbestos
  • Medical waste
  • Tyres
  • Glass bottles
  • Flammable or explosive materials
  • Refrigerators and air conditioners
  • Liquid waste

If you have these types of waste, you can usually dispose of them in your local recycling centre. Read this blog to help determine whether your waste can go in the skip.

Looking for skip hire? Look no further than The Waste Group!

When you work with us, you get more than a cost-effective waste management solution. We’re the environmentally responsible choice for skip hire, with sustainability at the heart of all we do.

Request a quote, and we’ll help you find the correct size skip for your project.

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