When hiring a skip, it is important to understand that not everything can be disposed of in them. There are several prohibited household items that should never be discarded in a skip.
There are lots of reasons why a skip may be the best option for you when clearing out your home or garden, or carrying out renovations on your property. A skip can be a great aid in quickly and efficiently disposing of lots of rubbish and waste all in one go.
However, hiring a skip for some may be quite a daunting process. You may be unsure of what you can use your skip for, what size you need, and where you can put it at your home. At KCM, we understand that this can be quite an overwhelming task, and you may have a lot of questions about what can’t go in a skip.
So, we have put together a list of some of the most frequently asked questions and a comprehensive list of what can’t go in a skip.
Can Electrical Items Go In A Skip?
This can often be quite confusing as some electrical items can be placed in a skip, but some absolutely cannot.
Most electrical items cannot go in your skip as they are considered to be hazardous waste and therefore require specialist disposal. This includes large household appliances such as fridges, freezers, washing machines etc. Fridges and freezers have to be recycled at waste recycling centres as they contain hazardous gasses which must be recovered safely before they can be recycled.
You can also ask your local council to collect your old fridge or freezer and they will dispose of this on your behalf, they may charge you a collection fee.
However, you can put small electrical items in your skip such as TVs and computers and these will be properly recycled upon collection from your skip hire company.
Why Can’t You Put A Mattress In A Skip?
One of our most frequently asked questions is why mattresses aren’t allowed in skips.
Mattresses cannot be disposed of in a skip as, unlike most household waste, they are made up of many different elements which have to be recycled separately. Most mattresses contain metal springs, foam, padding, and other fabrics. The springs must be removed and processed separately.
Mattresses are also very bulky and often fill a skip or take it over the fill line which can be dangerous when transporting a skip.
You can arrange for the collection of a mattress with your local authority or with a local man in a van service, such as us at KCM.
Can I Put A Washing Machine In A Skip?
Another item which cannot be disposed of in your skip is a washing machine. Again, Washing machines are made up of many different elements such as metal, plastic, rubber, electronics, and insulation.
As there are so many different elements, these cannot simply be disposed of in landfill. They must be taken apart and disposed of separately.
It could also be very dangerous attempting to dispose of a washing machine in a skip as they are extremely heavy and bulky.
If you have an old washing machine that needs disposing of, you can contact your local council or a charity. At KCM we can dispose of your old washing machines by collection, but these must never be placed in our skips.
What Other Items Can’t Go In A Skip?
As mentioned, mattresses, large electrical items, fridges, freezers, and washing machines must never be placed in a skip.
Other items that cannot be placed in our skips include the following:
- Commercial paints and solvents
- Tyres
- Asbestos
- Clinical waste
- Hazardous waste
- Gas cylinders
- Fluorescent tubes
- Batteries
- Oil, petrol, and diesel
- Explosives
- Excessive food waste
- Hot ash
If you are having a clear-out and have hired a skip but are still unsure about whether certain items can be disposed of, it is always a good idea to give them a call to make sure that you are not disposing of any items which could be hazardous.
Most skip companies will have to either return your skip or charge you a substantial additional fee for removing hazardous and prohibited items from skips.
KCM Skip Hire and Recycling
At KCM, we pride ourselves on providing a reputable, professional, and friendly service to our clients. We have a range of skips available to suit all projects and we also have a specialist waste collection service for items which cannot be placed in a skip so you can dispose of unwanted items quickly and efficiently.
Contact our team today to find out more about our skip hire and waste collection services.