How to fill a skip

Believe it or not- there are better ways to fill a skip rather than just throwing all your household and garden waste away! It is a much easier and cost-effective way for you to fill your skip in a certain way, especially if you’re working on a big project! 

In this blog, we will discuss how to fill a skip including what to do before ordering the skip,  how to fill the skip, what can and cannot go in a skip along with some general safety tips. Before we start, I’d like to note that your skip cannot be filled above the fill line and people usually have more than they think to throw! Without further ado, let’s get started! 

How to fill a skip- The steps to take before you get your skip:

Think about what will go in – Think about the size, hollowness and amount that you need to put in the skip. Firstly take a look at the bulkier items to gather what the majority will cover and then start filling bin bags with smaller items so that you have an estimate on how much space the smaller items will cover. This will also give you a better understanding of how to fill a skip and what skip size you will need. Skips are measured in cubic yards and 10 bin bags can usually fill 1 cubic yard. 

Research into what’s available – Wasteaway offer a range of different skip sizes, the smallest being a 2 yard mini skip and the largest being a whopping 14 yard builders skip. You can phone up and ask your local skip company to ask for advice on what skip size you need for your particular project. 

Order online – When you’ve decided what skip size you want, it’s time to order! Wasteaway will call you back with a quote and ask how long you need the skip. The maximum time you can keep a skip is two weeks, which should give you plenty of time to get your project done. 

Discuss the positioning of your skip – This is one of the most important factors to consider when ordering a skip, you need to allow ample entrance room for the lorry to drop the skip. In addition, if you would like to place your skip on the road, you will need a permit from your local council. We will need to know if your skip will be placed on the road or pavement so we can equip the skip with lights. 

How to fill a skip- After you get the skip

Place flat items at the bottom or side of the skip – This can include doors, work surfaces shelves etc. It is also best to place glass at the side of the skip to avoid the glass breaking into small shards as this could be a safety hazard for everyone involved. 

Avoid gaps of air – Instead of throwing everything into the skip, strategically place items in order so that air gaps are avoided… you could create some more valuable room!

Use a wheelbarrow – Using a wheelbarrow is much easier than carrying heavy items around with you. 

Prioritise – You may find that ordering a new skip is what you need to do. Due to this, you may have to prioritise getting rid of the items you most need out of your project. 

Garden waste – People often forget that garden waste can go into a skip! Making the outside area appear more spacious can give you a nice break from the project. 

Leave yourself plenty of time – You should have plenty of time to fill your skip in 14 days. However, it’s always better to not leave anything till the last minute. You should plan to have everything in your skip by the 13th day. This will give you, and us, peace of mind. 

How to fill a skip safety tips

• Be careful when handling glass! 
• Don’t overfill the skip!
• Don’t get into the skip!

What cannot go into a skip

• Fluorescent bulbs
• Batteries
• Electrical appliances
• Tyres
• Medical waste
• Fuel, solvents and paints
• Asbestos
• Gas cylinders
• Plasterboard 

We hope you enjoyed our blog on ‘How to fill a skip’. If you are thinking about getting a skip in the UK, contact us here at Wasteaway. We’ll give you all the top tip advice on skips and skip hire at affordable prices.