How to Load a Skip Efficiently
If you want to save money on your construction or renovation project, you’ll want to ensure you load your skip efficiently. Overfill your skip and you could be hit with a hefty fine or forced to rent another. Either outcome will leave you out of pocket.
To get bang for your buck, follow our tips for filling a skip.
Organise your waste
Before placing any items into your skip, you should separate your waste into the following categories:
Flat items, such as
- Cardboard
- Styrofoam
- Paper
- Wooden veneer
Tessellate objects, such as
- Bricks
- Tiles
- Worktop panels
Bulky items, such as
- Furniture
- Cupboards
- Wardrobes
Loose debris, such as
- Sand
- Gravel
- Soil
Be on the lookout for any prohibited items when sorting through the waste. You might be penalised If you load a skip with prohibited items.
It is important to learn what to put in a skip and what not to put in a skip.
Prohibited items include:
- WEEE waste (e.g. computers, mobile phones)
- Medical waste
- Batteries
- Paints
- Solvents
- Explosives
The removal of these items requires specialist services. Take a look at our hazardous waste recycling page or WEEE recycling page to learn more.
First layer – flat items
Make sure that all items are as flat as possible before loading the skip. This means flattening all cardboard boxes.
Begin loading the skip by placing your flat items at the base. You should try and fill the whole area as evenly as you can. These items will be compounded by your heavier items once they’re loaded.
Second layer – tessellate items
Place tessellate items on top of the flat items, joining items together to make layers. For example, if you have a group of bricks, arrange them to complete a single layer of bricks across the base. Then, move onto a second layer.
Third layer – bulky items
Start by breaking down your bulky items into smaller pieces. The legs of a table, for example, should be removed from the tabletop. Most pieces of furniture should have some removable components.
Place the flattest items in the skip first. Then, add the bulkier items, trying to fill all available space instead of stacking items on top of one another.
Fourth layer – loose debris
Fill the remaining pockets of space with loose debris. Pour the debris into nooks that have formed from the bulkier items.
Additional tips
Try not to overfill your skip. An overfilled skip can be dangerous to transport and will usually land you with a fine. If you have followed the guidelines in this article and are still unable to fit everything in your skip, you will need to order a second skip.
To avoid these problems, use some foresight to order a skip of the perfect size for your project. Choose a skip hire company that offers various types and sizes of skips to give yourself options. On our skip hire page,you can see the exact breakdown of our skips by length, height and width.
Envirocraft is an independent provider of recycling and waste management solutions. We provide a range of services to domestic and commercial customers across the UK. From skip hire for a small home renovation project, to commercial site clearances for multi-building premises, our team do it all. Contact us today to find out more about our services.