Usually the vehicle delivering the skip to your house will be a LGV and are normally very large. Make sure there is enough room to allow it in and out safely.

Never fill a skip with waste materials that could present a potential fire hazard or cause an explosion. Also, materials that could release toxic fumes, pose a health or environmental hazard should not be thrown into a skip.

If you’re skip needs to be placed on the pavement or road, then it’s the up to the skip hire company to make sure they have a valid licence or permit for the skip.

Mini Skips: Small, convenient and suitable for small low volume waste projects.

If you need to hire a skip, contact your local council, they may have a list of approved skip hire companies.

An enclosed skip is the safest available skip because it will stop contents falling out and prevent dust flying up when waste is put into the skip.

Mini Skips: Capacity, 1-2 cu yards or 0.75-1.5 cu meters. Height, 2'6” or 0.76 meters. Length, 5' or 1.52 meters. Width 4' or 1.22 meters.

Builders Skips: Capacity, 6-8 cu yards or 4.6 - 6.1 cu meters. Height, 4' or 1.22 meters. Length, 12' or 3.66 meters. Width 5'6” or 1.68 meters.

When hiring a skip there are usually four sizes of skip available; Mini, midi, builders and large.

Make sure that waste materials don’t stick out from the sides of the skip. This can pose a potential hazard for road users or pedestrians.