Skip hire is one of the most practical and efficient means of disposing unwanted waste from households and businesses. It helps people to get rid of most stuff like junk waste and green waste. However, for legal and practical reasons, some materials and items cannot be put in a skip and need to be disposed of separately. Loading these materials and items into skip can lead to extra charges.
Most skip suppliers are licensed to dispose and recycle the majority of waste, and with increasing regulations, they will continue to increase the percentage they can recycle. There are some items which cannot be recycled and cannot be disposed of; this article will outline those items and how you can alternatively dispose of them.
So, to help you understand and avoid putting the wrong materials into the skip, always make sure to ask the skip hire company about this issue. To also give you an idea about these materials, below is a list of the common materials that are not allowed to be loaded on a skip.
Here some common items which cannot be disposed of in a skip:
● Asbestos
● TVs and Computer Monitors
● Plasterboard
● Tyres
● Batteries
● Fluorescent Tubes
● Solvents
● Fuels
● Cans of Paint
● Electricals
● Gas Cylinders
● Medical Waste
Asbestos Abatement
Asbestos is a hazardous material that should never be put into a skip. It should be being removed by a specialist asbestos removal contractor because of the hazards it presents to people and the environment. There are laws implemented by the government that it’s illegal to reuse or recycle asbestos materials as well as its improper disposal.
So make sure to contact the appropriate asbestos removal contractor for this kind of a waste. Your local council can recommend suitable disposal methods, visit: https://www.gov.uk/asbestos-in-home/ to find out who your local council is.
Electrical Appliances & Equipment
All electrical appliances and equipment (WEEE) like freezers, fridges, dishwashers, televisions and computer monitors should be taken to a registered or designated WEEE recycling facilities. They cannot be mixed with other general waste. For disposing WEEE waste, make sure to contact a special WEEE collection company.
Batteries Can’t Disposed Of In Skips
No type of batteries should go in any skip. They contain various metals and chemicals that should be treated separately. Due to the hazards that these materials and metals present to the environment, batteries are not allowed to be put into any skip. Batteries contain high amounts of lead which are extremely poisonous and need to be treated in a particular way. They are also easily recycled, small batteries can usually be taken to DIY stores such as B & Q, while larger batteries can be recycled at local recycling centres.
Gas Cylinders
Most skip hire companies are not licensed to take gas cylinders. However, some will recycle them on your behalf. The residual content they may have that can be dangerous to the environment, it is also dangerous disposing of contained cylinders. If you have gas cylinders to dispose of, try contacting your local recycling centre who are happy to recycle them.
Oils, Liquids, Solvents & Paint
Fuels should not go to any skips, no skip hire companies are allowed to dispose of oils, liquids, solvents or paint. These hazardous materials can harm people and the environment. Same as Fluorescent Tubes which contain mercury, also a hazardous material that presents harmful effects to our surroundings.
Plasterboard & Gypsum
There are government initiatives that are aiming to recycle gypsum and plasterboard waste. So these items are materials that should be taken to special recycling plants. So steer clear of loading these types of materials into a skip.
Medical Waste
Medical waste presents high risks of infection and contamination that might spread any disease. That’s why they should be treated differently. Loading them into an ordinary type of skip will risk harmful diseases.
Those are the common materials that can’t be loaded into a skip. Make sure to keep the above list in mind to help save our environment by helping the recycling centres by disposing of them properly.
While many skip hire suppliers are licensed to remove some of the waste, it is important to check with them first. We recommend comparing skip hire companies to see which ones will dispose of your waste and recycle as much of it as possible.