5 useful tips for using a skip for garden waste

Whether you’re giving the garden an overhaul, preparing your outdoor space for spring and summer or winding the garden down at the end of autumn, garden clearances generate a lot of waste.

At 1st Choice Concrete & Skip Hire we’re often asked, can I use a skip for garden waste? Well, the answer is a resounding yes – skip hire is a great way to dispose of green waste, although there are some items of green waste that shouldn’t be put in the skip.

Here, we share some tips for using a skip to dispose of garden waste and getting the best from your skip hire with 1^st Choice.

Firstly, let’s understand what exactly garden waste is.

Garden waste for skips

What is considered garden waste? Garden waste varies from heavy plants, furniture, lawn cuttings, planters and sometimes rubble and masonry, to smaller items such as plant cuttings, grass clippings, leaves and branches.

While we would always advocate composting green waste where possible, most garden waste can be put in a skip. At 1^st Choice we filter out the waste for recycling, composting and landfill.

5 tips for garden clearances using a skip

1 – Garden waste items you can’t put in a skip

These include:

• Hazardous waste such as pesticides and oils
• Liquids
• Large items that exceed the dimensions of the skip such as fence panels
• Light bulbs and fluorescent tubes
• Asbestos (obvious but always worth a reminder!)
• Electrical garden tools or other electrical equipment
• Paint, fuel and solvents
• Batteries

Always check any items with us if you’re unsure.

2 – Garden waste items you can put in a skip include:

• Rubble and bricks
• Wood (so decking, broken down sheds and trellises are OK)
• Metal
• Concrete
• Leaves, plants and flowers
• Branches and grass cuttings
• Non-electrical garden tools
• Uncontaminated soil (but mention this to us in case the volume of soil will make the skip too heavy)
• Plastic packaging
• Glass
• Planters
• Furniture that doesn’t exceed the dimensions of the skip
• Fence panels that don’t exceed the dimensions of the skip

3 – Size of skip to order for garden waste

At 1^st Choice we have a range of different sized skips.

The smallest is the 4 yard skip which measures 0.78m x 1.52m x 1.52m and has a capacity of around 4 tonnes. It is ideal for garden clearances and other small domestic refurbishments or DIY projects.

We would always recommend the 4 yard skip for garden clearances.

4 – Make sure you have space for a skip

You need to be certain a skip will fit on your driveway or in your garden, and that the space where your skip will be stored is fully accessible when we deliver and lift it into place.

If there is no room for a skip on your property, you will need a council permit to leave it on the road. Permits vary in price depending on the council, starting at around £30.

As with cars, a skip cannot be left on yellow lines, other restricted areas or where it will cause an obstruction.

We can supply a permit if you are located in the following council areas:

• Liverpool
• Knowsley
• Sefton
• St Helens
• Wirral
• Warrington
• Wigan
• Halton

5 – Do not overfill your skip!

Overfilling skips is illegal as it can cause safety hazards when being transported. It can also make the skip too heavy to lift onto our collection vehicle.

The maximum level for filling a skip is usually to the top of the sides. We can advise you further on that when we deliver. We can refuse to collect an overfull skip which will incur charges and additional hire time.

Get in touch with 1^st Choice Concrete & Skip Hire to order a skip for your garden waste

Book your skip via our website or call us on 0151 549 1882.