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Can You Put Wood & Timber in a Skip? EWC Codes, Recycling & Restrictions Guide

Yes, you can put most wood, timber offcuts, and non-hazardous furniture in a skip. However, commercial generators of wood waste must comply with the UK Waste Duty of Care and obtain a Waste Transfer Note (WTN), using the appropriate European Waste Catalogue (EWC) Code (e.g., 17 02 01 for Wood). Restricted items, such as creosote-treated wood and timber contaminated with plasterboard, must be separated.

By Rachel.J

Rachel writes practical guides on skip hire, waste removal, and responsible disposal in the UK. She explains what you can legally put in a skip, how to handle restricted waste, and what it really costs. Her goal is to give clear, up-to-date advice so households and trades stay compliant and avoid fines.

Reviewed by: Skip Hire Team Waste Compliance Manager | Upper Tier Waste Broker Licence CBDU596771

Last verified:November 6, 2025

1. Why Wood Waste Is Easy to Manage

Wood is one of the most common types of waste from home improvement, garden, and construction projects, and luckily, one of the easiest to recycle responsibly.

When you hire a skip, your waste is taken to a licensed waste transfer station, where recyclable materials like wood, metal, and plastic are separated.

Most wood is processed for reuse or energy recovery, ensuring your project is both eco-friendly and fully compliant with environmental regulations.

2. What Types of Wood Can Go in a Skip

Most skip hire services (like us!) accept general, non-hazardous wood waste. That includes:

Old furniture (wooden chairs, tables, wardrobes)
Timber offcuts from building work
Floorboards, skirting boards, and doors
Wooden pallets or fencing panels
Wooden window frames
Plywood, MDF, chipboard
Painted or treated timber (in small quantities)

Tip: Always confirm with your provider if you’re disposing of large volumes of painted or treated timber.

3. What Wood Can’t Go in a Skip

Some types of wood are considered hazardous and can’t be placed in a general skip:

Creosote-treated or CCA-treated wood (e.g. old railway sleepers, fence posts)
Wood contaminated with asbestos
Timber coated with lead-based paint or industrial solvents
Large volumes of chemically treated timber from commercial projects

If you’re unsure, give us a call or send a photo. We’ll confirm what’s allowed and suggest safe alternatives.

4. Can You Mix Wood with Other Waste? (The Plasterboard Rule)

Yes, you can mix wood with general household waste, metal, garden waste, or light construction debris.

Dedicated Wood Skip: If most of your waste is timber, we recommend choosing a dedicated wood skip. This is often more affordable and ensures maximum recycling through a single waste stream.
The Plasterboard Rule: A major exception is plasterboard. Due to specific landfill regulations, timber frames or joists that still have plasterboard attached must be separated. Plasterboard waste requires specialist disposal and should not be mixed with general waste, including wood.

5. How Wood Waste Is Recycled

At Skip Hire Team, your skip waste is taken to licensed recycling facilities where wood is sorted by type and condition:

Commercial Compliance: For commercial clients, untreated wood is classified under European Waste Catalogue (EWC) code 17 02 01. This ensures accurate Waste Transfer Note (WTN) documentation.
Untreated Wood: Can be chipped and turned into animal bedding, compost, or used as biomass fuel.
Treated or Painted Wood: May be processed into chipboard or used in energy recovery, depending on the chemical level.

Our local recycling partners divert over 95% of skip waste from landfill, helping you meet environmental standards and your Duty of Care.

6. Smart Disposal Tips

To get the most out of your skip and keep things running smoothly:

Break large furniture or panels before loading
Stack flat materials to save space
Don’t hide restricted items, they’ll be spotted during sorting
Remove metal fittings or nails if possible (not essential)
Choosing a larger skip size is always cheaper than ordering a second skip later.

Skip Size	Best For
4-yard skip	Small DIY jobs, light timber, or single furniture pieces
6-yard skip	Garden decking, fence panels, general timber and wood waste
8-yard skip	Full room clear-outs, flooring removal, light construction debris
12-yard+ skip	Bulky furniture, larger loads of timber, renovation wood offcuts

Pro Tip: When in doubt, size up, it’s cheaper than ordering a second skip later.

7. Why Choose Skip Hire Team for Wood Waste

We guarantee the highest wood recycling rate, provide mandatory Waste Transfer Notes (WTN) for commercial clients, and are trusted by London builders for compliant waste removal.