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
Got shelves full of books and magazines you don’t read anymore? Maybe you’re downsizing, clearing a loft, or emptying a house. You’ve basically got three routes:
Below is how each option works, when to use it, and when a skip actually makes sense.
If the books are clean, complete and not moldy, donation is the best choice. Someone else gets to read them, and you keep them out of the landfill.
This is always step one. If it can still be read, try to keep it in circulation.
Some public libraries, community centres and local reading projects will take certain types of books, especially:
If you’d like a bit of money back, or just want someone to collect them from you:
Swapping is also active in most areas. There are “book swap” groups where you trade what you’ve finished for something new to read. Good if you’re clearing space but still a reader.
If nobody wants them and they’re not worth selling, paper recycling is next.
If you’ve got boxes and boxes of old magazines or paperwork from a loft, you can bag that and include it in a skip as part of mixed light household waste. Paper and magazines are normally acceptable in general household skips.
You don’t need a skip for “two shelves of books.” You do need one when you’re clearing volume, for example:
In that situation, the books and magazines are just part of the load. You hire a small skip (for most households a 4-yard or 6-yard skip is enough), fill it with mixed household waste, and it all goes in one collection. That stops you doing five runs to the tip.
Pro tip: If you’re in Kent or Medway and you’re doing a full house or garage clear-out, it’s usually cheaper to book a local skip rather than run everything to the tip yourself.
Booking locally keeps travel costs down, and you’ll usually get faster drop-off and collection than if you use a national broker.
If you’re only getting rid of readable books and they’re in decent condition, donation or reuse is still the better option. Putting perfectly good books straight in a skip is usually a waste.
If you’re clearing more than just books, old wardrobes, boxes, carpets, and general rubbish, tell us roughly how much you’ve got, and we’ll point you to the right skip size so you’re not overpaying.
You clear the space. The materials get handled properly. And good books don’t just end up in the bin.
