Skip hire vs recycling centre: The pros and cons

There are two common methods for getting rid of waste in East Anglia: use a skip hire firm like SunSkips or cart it down to the local recycling centre yourself.

But which is best? We’ve broken down the pros and cons of hiring a skip vs going to the recycling centre so you can make the best decision for your circumstances.

Because despite the fact that skips are our business, hiring a container for your waste isn’t actually always the smartest option…

Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) are run by local authorities and offer a place for residents to bring waste that can’t be disposed of in their domestic collections.

Pros of going to the recycling centre

For small amounts of waste, a HWRC might actually be your best bet.

Assuming it’s not too far to drive and you have room in the car, you could actually save yourself some money by driving the waste there yourself.

It doesn’t cost anything to dump general waste, so your only financial concern is the fuel it takes to get there and back (although some items such as hardcore, rubble, soil, plasterboard and bathroom fittings carry a fee, which can really add up).

You shouldn’t have to travel too far to find a HWRC in your area. There are nine recycling centres in Cambridgeshire, for example.

And from January 1, 2023, the recycling centre is your only option for upholstered seating as skip hire companies – including SunSkips – may not take them due to their new classification as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) waste.

Cons of using the recycling centre

Lugging your waste down to the recycling centre yourself is generally inconvenient.

The obligatory booking system is still in place after its introduction during the pandemic, so despite the fact you’re managing it yourself, you don’t always have a lot of flexibility.

This is especially frustrating if you need to make several trips, because you’ll need an appointment for each visit.

And even with a timeslot, you still might face long queues while you wait for other drivers to offload their junk, especially at peak times.

If you’ve got a commercial van or trailer to take your waste in, it may require an e-permit, meaning yet more paperwork to deal with.

Then you’ve got to unload your vehicle yourself and make sure you’re separating your waste into the correct collection areas.

And as mentioned earlier, you might end up with a steep bill if you’re getting rid of certain items, so you’re still out of pocket despite doing all the work yourself.

Hiring a skip

Hiring a skip involves contracting a company like SunSkips to deliver a container to your property and leave it there for a specified period of time while you fill it, before it’s collected and sorted at a private site.

Cons of hiring a skip

The main factor that might put people off hiring a skip is the cost.

SunSkips containers start at £165 (at time of publication), but there are no hidden fees and it’s important to compare it with the true cost of going to the recycling centre (petrol, additional fees for certain waste items, time wasted).

Skips can’t be dropped off or collected on Sundays (although that shouldn’t really pose a problem because skip hire periods are usually for seven days, which can include a Sunday).

Pros of skip hire

Hiring a skip is the most convenient method there is to get rid of your waste.

The container comes to you at a day and time of your choosing and will be placed in the most suitable position for you to fill it.

You don’t need to worry about how heavy the load is or how you’re going to get it into a vehicle as the entire skip is simply lifted up and driven away.

And because there’s only one collection, hiring a skip may actually be more cost effective than going to the recycling centre due to the fuel and time savings.

Plus, there’s no need to sort your waste. SunSkips site operatives will take care of all that once the container reaches one of our sites in Stowmarket, Cambridge, Haverhill or Ipswich, meaning you can rest assured every waste item is dealt with to the highest environmental standards.

SunSkips prides itself on making clients’ lives much easier by taking away the hassle of managing waste. Get in touch to see how we can streamline your processes and get your waste cleared the simple way.