The age-old question of “skip or tip?” lives on to the present day, and as with many questions in life, the answer is: “It depends.”
However, there are many benefits of hiring a skip over a trip to the tip. With that in mind, let’s look at the pros and cons of hiring a skip vs. going to the tip, to see if we can finally resolve the debate.
What does it cost?
First of all, hiring a skip will cost a certain amount of money, and this can vary depending on the size of the skip, how long you want it for, and whether you need a skip hire permit to place it on a public highway.
When obtaining a permit for skip hire London boroughs charge different amounts and may require your skip hire provider to request the permit on your behalf – if you’re not sure about the rules in your area, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Council tips are often free to use for domestic waste disposal, but there are limits on that. For instance, you may have to pay if you want to dispose of DIY waste, or if you turn up in a van instead of a car (you’ll also have to pay if you want to hire a van).
These hidden costs can soon stack up, and can make hiring a skip the cheaper option overall.
What can I dispose of?
There aren’t very many limits on what can go in a skip. You’ll find more guidance on our website and again, if you’re not sure we welcome any questions and will do our best to help clear up any doubts.
On the other hand, council-run tips are increasingly strict on what they can and can’t accept. If you live in Greenwich, for instance, you can recycle tyres at the Greenwich Re-use and Recycling Centre – but only three at a time. If you’ve replaced all four tyres on your car, you’ll have to wait a month and go again to dispose of the last one.
Skip hire doesn’t need you to segregate your different types of waste or recyclable materials (although you can if you want to) and other than a list of items prohibited for safety reasons, there’s usually no hidden exceptions waiting to catch you out.
How much can I dispose of?
Again, some council tips have limits on how much you can throw away at any one time, without being charged as a commercial user – even if you’re not.
You’re also limited to the amount of space in your vehicle, and the average hatchback definitely doesn’t have a skip’s worth of room in the boot.
With a skip, you can choose the size you want upfront, and then fill it to the safe level. You might even want to combine the two and get a skip for your bulky and heavy rubble, but pop to the tip with any smaller, lighter materials to throw away yourself.