What You Can And Can’t Put In A Skip Bin

Skip bins are extremely convenient when it comes to disposing of various kinds of waste. They’re useful for decluttering your home, cleaning out an office space or clearing out a construction site.

That being said, when you hire a skip, you still need to be mindful. If you’re not careful about the materials you’re putting into these bins, you might get charged an extra fee by the contractor. Additionally, if you’re handling dangerous substances, improper disposal can damage the environment and/or harm your physical health.

To help you avoid these problems, here is a brief guide on what you can and can’t put in a skip bin.

Keep in mind that this guide will simply be a general summary on what most bin contractors allow. Since each company will have their own set of policies, it’s best to contact them directly if you have any specific questions.

Approved rubbish

All skip bins should be able to carry the following items without a surcharge:

• General household waste
• Green waste (grass, tree branches and bark)
• White goods (refrigerators and washing machines)
• Timber
• Plasterboard
• Plastics
• Fabrics
• Toys
• Paper waste
• Construction items (bricks and dry concrete)
• Dirt, soil and sand
• Saw dust

Some skip bin hire companies also allow metals and car batteries to be placed in their skips on the condition that they are placed on top where they are visible. It’s important to contact your chosen contractor to confirm their policies regarding this.

A lot of skip bins should also be able to handle e-waste. E-waste includes electronic products such as TVs, monitors, HVAC systems, lamps, DVD players and so on. It should be noted that each council will have their own policies regarding what is considered e-waste and how to dispose of them. Please check with your local government to ensure that you’re adhering to all laws and regulations.

Conditional materials

Some materials can be placed in skip bins but will usually require an additional fee. In some cases, the contractor will require you to hire a special bin made specifically for some of these items.

Conditional items include:

• Tyres
• Mattresses
• Carpet
• Rubber
• Synthetic grass (AstroTurf)
• Vinyl
• Foam and polystyrene

When disposing of large items (such as big mattresses or rolls of synthetic grass), it’s important that it does not spill out of the top of the skip. Also, if the skip is placed in a public area, the rubbish must not obstruct the path of pedestrians and motorists.

Prohibited items

These items are not allowed to be placed in skip bins either due to the danger that they pose to human health or due to the risk that they pose to the natural environment.

Prohibited materials usually include:

• Asbestos
• Food waste
• Insulation materials
• Liquids such as paint, oils and other chemicals
• Empty chemical containers
• Gas bottles
• Large tree trunks
• Radioactive materials
• Medical waste
• Certain batteries
• Fluorescent bulbs
• Fuel

To dispose of these items, you will typically have to contact another establishment or contractor. For example, there are plenty of local removalists that specialise in handling asbestos and tree trunks. In the case of carcinogens like asbestos, it’s absolutely vital that you hire professionals to help you.

For other items like tyres, paint, fuel and light bulbs, it’s best to contact your local recycling centre for proper disposal.

Disposing waste requires more effort than most people think. By sorting your waste into the proper categories, not only will you be avoiding extra removal fees, you’ll also be doing your part in protecting the environment as well as your own health and well-being.