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
Whether you’re renovating your house, cleaning out your small or large garden waste, or tackling a commercial or industrial site, the first questions that often arise is: “What can and can’t I put in a skip?” When hiring a skip for your home or business project
Our skips are the most reliable and affordable way to dispose of household, commercial waste or any industrial waste.
So it’s important to know what items local skip hire companies allow to be placed into a skip and what can’t be disposed of in a skip to avoid penalties by complying with legal requirements. Have a look at the complete list of hazardous or non-hazardous waste.
You can conveniently manage these with our 4-yard skip hire or 6-yard skip hire services.
If you are working on small to large buildings or renovation projects, skips are a helpful way to dispose of your construction waste, including:
Heavy waste rule:
Loading lots of soil/concrete? Tell us so we can recommend the correct skip.
Small skips are ideal for disposing of green waste, such as
Small or large garden waste is accepted in skips, but if you plan to dispose of large tree stumps or large amounts of soil call our professionals for more details.
Metal waste can usually be disposed of in skips, including:
Tip: Borderline items can be accepted with a small surcharge (ask us first).
Hazardous materials are extremely dangerous for both the environment and waste management workers. Make sure these materials are never placed in a skip:
Do instead: use council HWRC/hazardous facility or licensed contractor (asbestos).
Electrical and electronic waste require separate recycling due to the valuable materials they contain and their environmental impact. include:
Do instead: council WEEE site or retailer take-back. Learn how to Dispose of Your Fridge Freezer Properly Here
Due to health and safety risks, certain medical items cannot be disposed of in a skip and must be treated with extra care. These include:
Do instead: licensed clinical waste service.
Skip hire companies do not allow mattresses in a skip. Considered non-recyclable waste because of the materials involved, such as foam, springs, and fabric. Use specific recycling centres and mattress collection services for efficient disposal. With a small fee, some councils offer mattress collection services.
Our policy: accepted by pre-approval with £40–£70 + VAT per mattress. Please confirm before booking.
Tyres, including car, van, truck, or motorcycle tyres, cannot be disposed of in skips under UK waste regulations. This is due to several key reasons:
What to Do Instead:
Take old tyres to a local tyre recycling centre, return them to a garage, or ask your tyre retailer if they offer a take-back service.
Highly combustible or explosive items are strictly banned from all skip types due to the extreme safety risks they pose during transport and processing. These include:
These materials can ignite or explode under pressure or heat, risking serious harm to people and property.
What to Do Instead:
Please contact a specialist hazardous waste disposal expert or your local council for safe disposal.
Old or unused paint, along with empty or partially full paint cans, must not be thrown into a skip. This includes:
Paint contains toxic chemicals and poses risks to our environment and workers who handle it.
Paint Disposal Tips:
Never try to place gas cylinders and canisters in a skip, that’s very dangerous, whether they are full or empty. These include:
They are pressurised and flammable, posing an explosion risk when compressed, punctured, or exposed to heat.
Dispose Safely:
Return empty canisters to the original supplier or use a certified gas bottle return scheme. Some gas companies run take-back programs.
Some types of wood are treated with chemicals that make them hazardous to process and illegal to dispose of via standard skips, and require licensed hazardous waste handling. These are classified as Grade D or Hazardous Treated Wood and include:
What to Do Instead:
If you are planning to dispose of any wood waste, make sure that it’s totally non-hazardous. For special waste disposal need please contact our team before hiring a skip.
Falls under new regulations due to the presence of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) from January 2023. These chemicals are harmful to both people and the environment and require special disposal methods.
Examples of affected items:
Skip Hire Team helps dispose of these items, but you need to pay an additional fee depending on the type and quantity. Please inform our team before placing them in your skip so we can guide you better.
Items like artificial turf, carpets, and rubber flooring may be accepted, but they need to be pre-approved and often require additional handling fees. These materials are not biodegradable and can clog processing systems at waste transfer stations.
If you plan to dispose of these, contact us beforehand—we’ll let you know your options and whether a surcharge will apply.
Skips allow only small occasional mirrors or frames with general waste. But if you need to dispose large amount of glass such as big window panes, glass doors, or shower screens, it poses a safety risk, and don’t mix with general waste.
Glass must be handled separately, and prices are based on weight and transport. Before hiring a skip, please confirm your disposal needs to ensure you choose the right skip. Reach out to our team for a tailored quote.
Food waste is next that is not suitable for disposal in a standard skip. While small scraps might seem harmless, larger quantities can:
You can use the council’s food waste collection service or a dedicated composting solution.
Fluorescent tubes, including compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and long strip lights, contain mercury, a hazardous material that requires special handling.
Take it to a dedicated recycling centre or household waste facility equipped to handle hazardous electrical waste.
Why are they banned from skips?
Check with your local council or WEEE recycling point to find the nearest drop-off location.
Paint/deodorant/air freshener aerosols (pressurised & flammable).
These should be taken to a hazardous waste facility or returned to a household waste recycling centre that accepts aerosols.
Message us anytime, we’ll confirm instantly what can or cannot go in your skip.
