What can and can’t you put in a skip? A UK skip hire guide

Whether you’re clearing out your home or disposing of waste from commercial premises, you may be wondering what you can and can’t put in a skip.

Hiring a skip is a great way to manage most household, garden and construction waste, but some items require specialist disposal or separate collection.

* Items should be kept separate where required.

Read on for a detailed guide to what you can and can’t put in a skip, including advice on disposing of common household, garden and construction waste.

What can you put in a skip?

The best place to start is to explain what you canput in a skip.

Fortunately, the majority of general domestic or commercial waste is eligible to go in your skip. If you’re clearing out an attic, garage, house or business premises, you can rest assured that unless you happen to be clearing out a fridge/freezer showroom, a good-size skip should be enough for most of your waste.

SunSkips’ customers typically hire skips to get rid of standard domestic or commercial waste like rubble, furniture (as long as it’s not upholstered), non-hazardous wood, plastic, and metal, but questions tend to arise when it comes to certain items…

Can I put carpet in a skip?

Yes, carpet can be placed in your skip. If it’s a large roll of carpet, it’s best to either fold it down or cut it so it doesn’t end up poking out above the maximum fill line.

Unfortunately, carpet is quite difficult to recycle, and much of it ends up in landfill. To avoid this, see if you can reuse it (as a mat or dog bedding, for example) before you throw it in the skip.

Can I put clothes in a skip?

You can put clothes in your skip, but before you do, consider if there might be a better use for them. Perhaps younger members of the family could get some extra wear out of clothes that are in good condition, or they could be donated to a charity shop.

You might also be able to reuse them in handicrafts, or as old rags for cleaning, but if they need to be thrown out, they’ll be just fine in the skip.

Tip: Unsure which skip size is right for your project? Check out our guide on How to decide the right skip size for your waste project. Selecting the correct size means you’re less likely to overfill your skip, helping to avoid delays or the need to remove excess waste before collection.

Can I put glass in a skip?

Yes, no problem. It’s best to place sheets of glass into the skip if possible, rather than smash them and create an unnecessary hazard (both for yourself and our team).

You might even consider taping glass panels together and wrapping them in newspaper for added safety, but a metal skip is a good method for disposing of glass because jagged edges obviously won’t penetrate it.

Can you put garden waste in a skip?

Garden waste is one of the most common reasons people hire a skip, especially in the summer. You can fill your skip with leaves, branches, grass and any other things you need to clear out of the garden like outdoor furniture, bricks, and non-hazardous wood.

For organic waste, you might want to consider starting a compost heap for an alternative that’s better for the environment (and of course, will result in an effective fertiliser for your garden).

Clearing a garden? Learn more about SunSkips skip hire service and choose the right skip for your project.

Can you put soil in a skip?

This is a slightly tricky one. In short: yes, you can put soil in a skip. However, if you throw your soil in with other waste, it’s no longer possible to classify it as non-hazardous inert waste.

If you can, keep your it separate from the rest of your garden waste so the soil can be properly recycled.

Can you put black bags in a skip?

You can put black bags in a skip, as long as they contain general, non‑hazardous waste that’s suitable for skip disposal (you can’t throw in black bags containing organic food waste, for example).

Sorting waste into black bags can help keep lighter materials separate from heavier items, making unloading easier.

Black bags cannot contain certain prohibited materials, though (see below).

Can I put bricks in a skip?

Yes. Bricks can be placed in a skip and are one of the most common types of construction waste. However, because they are heavy, it’s important not to overload your skip or fill it above the maximum fill line.

Can I put metal in a skip?

Most non-hazardous metal items, including pipes, radiators, shelving and scrap metal, can be placed in a skip. Metal is highly recyclable, so where possible it will be separated and sent for recycling after collection.

RELATED: Skip hire permits: Why you need one and how to avoid the paperwork

What can’t you put in a skip?

Under no circumstances can asbestos, clinical/medical waste, fluorescent tubes, solvents, liquids, oil, batteries, hazardous/toxic material, food waste, upholstered furniture or gas cylinders be loaded into a skip.

The price of hiring a skip from SunSkips includes the sorting, recycling and disposal of domestic, garden and building waste. But if you need to get rid of certain items that aren’t especially hazardous (but do need to be handled by professionals), we can arrange to have them picked up and properly disposed of.

The extra fee you’ll be charged reflects the work involved in managing the items, but it’s infinitely less than what you’d end up paying if you went ahead and put the item in your skip or dumped it and landed yourself with a fine.

Ready to book? Find the right skip size for your project or book your skip online in just a few minutes.

Now, let’s cover specific waste items that cannot go into a skip.

Can I put sofas in a skip?

As of 1st January 2023, SunSkips cannot accept upholstered seating in any of our skips following new legislation from the Environment Agency.

This includes, but isn’t limited to, sofas, sofa beds, armchairs, kitchen and dining room chairs, stools and foot stools, home office chairs, futons, beanbags, and cushions.

Deckchairs, mattresses, curtains, blinds, beds and wooden or plastic seats without upholstery are still OK to put in skips.

The textiles and foam contained in upholstered seating falls under the category of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), meaning they’re harmful to people and the environment if sent to landfill.

Upholstered furniture can be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) so the local authority can send it for incineration, or you can give us a call to arrange a special collection.

Can I put wood from houses and other buildings in a skip?

As of September 1, 2023, it is against the law to attempt to recycle wooden building materials used on houses before 2007 that fall under the following categories unless it has been proven safe via testing:

• Barge boards
• External fascia
• Soffit boards
• External joinery (used in wooden windows and conservatories, for example)
• External doors
• Roof timber
• Tiling cladding
• Tiling battens
• Timber frames
• Timber joists

Wood that has always been classed as hazardous waste and continues to be prohibited from skip hire collections include:

• Railway sleepers
• Telegraph poles
• Agricultural fencing
• Waste wood from hydraulic engineering
• Waste wood from docks
• Waste wood from industrial applications
• Cooling tower timbers, wood block flooring or moulds
• Waste wood from boats
• Waste wood from carriages
• Waste wood from trailer beds
• Waste wood treated with creosote

If you generate waste wood of this type, get in touch with SunSkips so we can help you work out an economical solution for its disposal.

Can I put a mattress in a skip?

Mattresses are big, bulky things and depending on the size, can take up quite a bit of any size skip you hire (and will likely surpass the maximum fill line).

Because they’re not quite as easy to dispose of, SunSkips handles them separately for an additional charge.

Can you put tyres in a skip?

Tyres are notoriously difficult to dispose of and a common item for people to fly-tip. However, they can be recycled so there’s absolutely no need to dump them (fines for fly-tipping can reach £50,000).

When burned, tyres give off toxic fumes, so it’s really best left to people that know what they’re doing. SunSkips charges per tyre.

Can you put plasterboard in a skip?

There’s an additional charge for disposing of plasterboard, which we’ll need to discuss over the phone to get you a quote (01449 360 033 or 01223 976 543).

You can put plasterboard in your skip if it’s the only thing going in there, otherwise you’ll need to keep it separate. This is actually dictated by The Environment Agency, as gypsum (the soft mineral plasterboard is typically made from) shouldn’t be mixed with biodegradable waste.

Can you put old TVs in a skip?

TVs are a common item to end up in the garage or attic after the latest upgrade. If the TV still works, see if you know anyone that needs one (a student in the family, for example) or if it can be donated or sold.

If you can’t repurpose them, TVs and monitors need to be taken away by special arrangement. SunSkips can take care of any old TVs and monitors you need to throw away for an additional fee.

Can you put paint in a skip?

If the paint in the tin has dried up, SunSkips can handle it for an additional charge, which we can speak about over the phone.

Fresh paint cannot be put in a skip. Sometimes it’s worth keeping paint in case you need to touch up the job in the future, but if it needs to go, you’ll need to dry it out first by either using it or mixing it with something like sawdust to speed up the process.

Can you put a fridge in a skip?

Probably one of the hardest household items to get rid of, the fridge/freezer is another item that can’t be thrown in a skip, but can be removed by request.

You’ll often find the electrical appliance store you bought it from will take the old one away for a fee when they deliver the new one, but SunSkips can also remove it for you.

Can you put gas bottles or gas canisters in a skip?

No. Gas bottles and gas canisters must never be placed in a skip because they can remain pressurised and pose a serious safety risk. They should be returned to the supplier or disposed of through an approved recycling or collection service.

Can you put light bulbs in a skip?

No. Light bulbs, particularly fluorescent tubes and energy-saving bulbs, require specialist recycling and must not be placed in a skip.

What items require an additional charge in skip hire?

While the cost of skip hire usually includes the collection, sorting and disposal of most household, garden and construction waste, some items require specialist handling and therefore incur an additional charge.

This is because they must be recycled, treated or disposed of separately to comply with environmental regulations. Common examples include mattresses, plasterboard, tyres, fridges and freezers, TVs and monitors, dried paint, and certain types of treated wood.

SunSkips provides reliable, licensed skip hire across the East of England, with a commitment to sorting and separating your waste to maximise recycling and minimise the amount sent to landfill.

Whether you’re looking for Cambridge skip hire or in other locations such as Stowmarket or Haverhill, our friendly team will be happy to help you find the right solution while ensuring your waste is managed as responsibly as possible. 

If you have any questions about what you can put in a skip or need advice on choosing the right one, call us on 01449 360 033 or 01223 976 543. We’ll be happy to help.

FAQs about what you can put in a skip

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[saswp_tiny_multiple_faq headline-0=”h2″ question-0=”Can you put paint in a skip?” answer-0=”Only tins containing dried paint can be accepted, and they are usually subject to an additional disposal charge. Wet paint should never be placed in a skip and must be dried before disposal.” image-0=”” count=”1″ html=”true”]

[saswp_tiny_multiple_faq headline-0=”h2″ question-0=”Can you put a mattress in a skip?” answer-0=”Mattresses can be collected, but they require separate disposal and incur an additional charge due to the way they are processed.” image-0=”” count=”1″ html=”true”]

[saswp_tiny_multiple_faq headline-0=”h2″ question-0=”Can you put electrical items in a skip?” answer-0=”Most electrical items require specialist disposal. TVs and monitors, for example, cannot be placed in a standard skip but can often be collected separately for an additional charge.” image-0=”” count=”1″ html=”true”]

[saswp_tiny_multiple_faq headline-0=”h2″ question-0=”Can you put batteries in a skip?” answer-0=”No. Batteries are classed as hazardous waste and must not be placed in a skip. ” image-0=”” count=”1″ html=”true”]

[saswp_tiny_multiple_faq headline-0=”h2″ question-0=”Can you put wood in a skip?” answer-0=”Most non-hazardous wood can go in a skip. However, certain treated timbers, such as creosote-treated wood, railway sleepers and telegraph poles, require specialist disposal.” image-0=”” count=”1″ html=”true”]

[saswp_tiny_multiple_faq headline-0=”h2″ question-0=”Can you put garden waste in a skip?” answer-0=”Yes. Garden waste such as grass cuttings, branches, leaves and plants can be placed in a skip. If you’re disposing of soil as well, it’s best to keep it separate to improve recycling.” image-0=”” count=”1″ html=”true”]

[saswp_tiny_multiple_faq headline-0=”h2″ question-0=”Do I need to separate different types of waste in my skip? ” answer-0=”Some waste types should be kept separate to make recycling easier and to comply with disposal regulations. For example, soil should ideally be kept separate from other waste, while plasterboard must not be mixed with biodegradable waste.” image-0=”” count=”1″ html=”true”]

[saswp_tiny_multiple_faq headline-0=”h2″ question-0=”Why can’t I put hazardous waste in a skip? ” answer-0=”Hazardous waste such as <a href=”https://sundemolition.co.uk/asbestos-removal/”>asbestos</a>, batteries, chemicals, solvents, oils and gas cylinders must be handled separately to protect people and the environment and to comply with waste disposal regulations. ” image-0=”” count=”1″ html=”true”]

[saswp_tiny_multiple_faq headline-0=”h2″ question-0=”What happens if I put prohibited items in my skip? ” answer-0=”If prohibited items are found in your skip, they may need to be removed and disposed of separately, resulting in additional charges. In some cases, incorrect disposal of hazardous waste can also lead to enforcement action or fines, so it’s always worth checking if you’re unsure. Working with a licensed skip hire company helps ensure your waste is handled in accordance with UK regulations.” image-0=”” count=”1″ html=”true”]