The answer depends on the type of waste you have. Skips are designed to take a wide range of materials, but there are some rules around what goes in and how it’s handled. To help you make the most of your skip hire, here’s a clear breakdown of what’s allowed, what needs special handling, and what’s not permitted at all.
Here’s a simple guide to the main categories of skip contents, so you know what’s suitable for collection.
Everyday rubbish such as household clutter, furniture, packaging and plastics can be placed in this skip. Perfect for clear-outs, moving house or small refurbishments.
Timber, pallets, chipboard, MDF and other wooden materials can be placed in a wood skip. Perfect if you’re tackling DIY, a shed demolition or removing old flooring.
Plasterboard needs to be handled separately, so it’s important it goes into one of our dedicated plasterboard skips. We can then ensure that it’s taken to the correct facility for recycling.
Materials such as bricks, concrete, tiles and ceramics fall under inert waste. These don’t break down or cause contamination, so they’re processed in a controlled way for reuse.
Garden projects often leave you with soil, grass cuttings, branches, plants and hedge trimmings. All of this can go into this type of skip as green waste.
For heavier construction jobs, hardcore such as rubble, broken concrete and stone can be loaded into a hardcore waste skip. Ideal for landscaping, driveways or demolition work.
Wondering can you put electrical items in a skip? Yes, but only if they go into one of our dedicated WEEE recycling skips. WEEE includes TVs, computers, small appliances and other electronics.
Scrap metal, pipes, old boilers and radiators are all accepted in our metal skips. Once collected, they’re sorted and sent for recycling.
Some items are unsafe, hazardous or unsuitable for skips. These include:
Hazardous or liquid waste:
Bulky items:
Some items can be collected, but they carry additional handling and disposal costs. These include:
Other Charges to Be Aware Of
Waiting time: First 30 minutes free on wait and load jobs, then £3.50 per minute (£105 per 30 minutes).
Wasted journey charge: £75.00 for skips, £120.00 for RoRo.
Extended hire: Skip hire includes up to 2 weeks, with £5.00 per day after.
Plasterboard surcharge: If plasterboard makes up more than 20% of your skip’s contents, a 40% surcharge applies. This does not apply to plasterboard-only skips.
If your skip is placed on private land, such as a driveway, you do not need a permit. If you plan to hire a skip and place it on a public road or verge, you must obtain a permit from your local council before delivery.
We are happy to advise on whether a permit is required and what to ask for, but the application and payment are your responsibility. Permit costs and processing times vary by council, so please apply in good time. If a permit is required, please note that your council may also require the skip to be lit at night and fitted with reflective markings.
We’re Here to Help
Not everything can go in a skip, but we’re here to make it simple. If you need advice, give us a call on 01462 743828 or email ecobookings@ecowr.co.uk and we’ll let you know the best way to handle it before you book.