A common site in construction yards, building sites and rubbish tips across the country, skips are robust, sturdy containers designed to temporarily hold waste material before it is removed from the site. Unlike a typical bin, however, skips are designed to be place onto a lorry to be transported to landfill or recycling centre.
Their size varies from between 2 to 32 cubic metres in volume, with the largest requiring huge lorries to transport them. Empty they typically weigh around 250kg, with most lorries able to transport total loads of around 8,000kg. For loads greater than 8 tonnes, specialist lorries or cranes are required.
Skips are typically rented by individuals or businesses from specialist skip rental companies. The rental companies are responsible for delivering the skip as well as removing it once it is full and replacing it with an empty one. Once the lease is finished, the skip will be also be removed for good by the rental company. Rental companies are typically local firms who will charge somewhere in the region of £200 per day per skip.
Almost any waste material can be placed into a skip for removal although there are certain restrictions. This list of banned materials includes (but is not limited to) asbestos, medical waste, any toxic substances and liquids. Most companies will also not remove electrical appliances, paint, batteries or tyres. It is always sensible to check with the rental company before hiring the skip if what you plan on depositing in it is permitted.
A typical skip (known as a builder’s skip) is either 6 or 8 cubic yards in size, although there are much bigger skips available. Both sizes are referred to as a builders skip so ensure you clarify exactly what size you are hiring. Whilst it is usually cheaper per cubic yard to hire larger skips be aware that councils will not usually permit skips larger than 8 cubic yards to be placed on a public highway. Hence, it is important to make a good estimate of exactly how much waste you plan on removing and depositing into your skip.
If you plan on hiring a skip it is vital that you enquire about a skip hire permit from your local council. You will need one to hire the skip, along with any parking suspensions if you plan to store it on a road. Both cost money so bear this in mind when totalling up the cost of hiring a skip. A hire company will usually collect the skip, full, after a week or two depending on the length of the hire period. If you require the skip emptying and returning, this needs to be agreed at the start of the contract.
Interestingly, whilst a skip’s distinctive shape is instantly recognisable, the more intimate anatomy of skip is not widely known. A heavy duty skip will have fully welded plate seams on both the inside and outside and be fully welded along the top of each channel. The base will be thick, gusset plates are welded onto all four corners and skip lugs are welded onto side plates and through the channels. Skips designed to lower specifications may not have double sided welding.
The lugs are forged components, manufactured by companies such as Brooks Forgings in the West Midlands. They are used for lifting and are attached to channels which are also fully welded onto the side plates. The cranes or specialist lorry that holds the skip host chains with hook ends that attach the lugs. A winch system then raises the skip and manoeuvres it onto the lorry for transportation.
Many skips are fitted with loading doors that allow uses to easily place material inside the container. The doors are often fitted to the rear end of the skip. The covers are light enough to allow for easy and simple hand operation from ground level whilst simultaneously being durable and strong.
For more information on skip hire, contact your local supplier. If your company is interested in procurement, contact a local manufacturer, such as the aforementioned Brooks Forgings, for a detailed quotation based on your budget and requirements.