Whilst hiring a skip is usually a simple, stress-free process there are a few things you should consider before your skip is delivered to avoid any unnecessary issues on arrival.

Access

Size of Vehicle – If you know the road you live on can prove difficult for larger vehicles or access to your property or site only has limited width/ length/ height it’s best to notify the skip hire company to avoid any disappointment on arrival. They will be able to provide the lorry dimensions so you can be sure there is enough space. Some companies, like us at Haulaway, can provide a smaller skip lorry if size is an issue.  

Roads – Although most roads are perfectly accessible for skip lorries, there are still a couple of factors to be considered. Does the road layout allow enough room for both the lorry and skip? For example, it is difficult to place a skip on a part of the road that curves.

Parked cars on one or both sides of the road can make skip delivery more difficult. If possible arrange for your skip to be delivered at a time when the road won’t be full of parked cars.

Height Restrictions – Due to their height, skip lorries will not fit under some height restriction bars or low bridges. If you are aware of any on route to your property or site please let the skip company know as they may need to find an alternative way.

Gates – If you have gates that the lorry will need to pass through to deliver/ collect the skip you will need to make sure that someone is present to allow access if necessary and also that they are wide enough for the lorry to fit through.

Manoeuvrability – If the skip lorry will be coming into a cul-de-sac to deliver the skip or a road with no through route, there needs to be enough space for him to place the skip and turn around safely. Notifying the Skip company of the road layout can help to prevent holding up and blocking other road users.  

Driveways

When possible, most people will request to have the skip placed on their driveway as this is usually the most convenient place for it. However, if your driveway has a poor surface a heavy skip could cause further damage.

If you are aware of any manholes or sewer entry points you should notify the skip company to avoid blocking or causing damage to poor structured areas. When a skip is delivered off the road it is the customers’ responsibility to ensure the area is safe to do so. The skip company will not be liable if any damage is caused.

Shared Driveways -  Most shared driveways will allow for a skip to be placed easily within one half and should not cause any interference with your neighbour, however as a matter of common courtesy it is a good idea to let them know.

Hazards

As skip lorries are larger than most of the other traffic on the road there tends to be more hazards to watch out for. A couple that you may not normally be wary of are:

Phone Wires – Low hanging telephone cables can be dangerous when trying to deliver a skip, especially if the lorry gets caught on one.

Trees – Although you may not need to take much notice of them in your car, trees can cause problems for skip lorries. Low hanging branches can cause access problems.

Notifying the skip company of any potential hazards will help to ensure your skip is delivered safely.

Health and Safety

 You will need to have your skip placed where it won’t be a danger to the public. A driveway is a good option as it is out of the way of the public and traffic. Lights will be required if it is in a place that cannot be seen easily at night, or if the skip is on the road. At Haulaway we can provide these where necessary but it is best to check with the skip company you are using.

What will be going in the skip?

It’s always a good idea to let the skip company know what you’re planning to get rid of. There are some types of waste that cannot be taken or that may incur extra charges. For more information on this please check out our blog ‘What Can I Put In My Skip?’

A few tips on good stacking…

Once your skip has arrived and you’re ready to fill it, it may be tempting to cram as much in as possible and overfill. This isn’t a good idea as the skip driver will refuse to take it if he deems it to be unsafe to pick up, or you could end up with extra charges.

Make sure you choose the right size skip in the first place then fill by layering. Start with heavy items at the bottom which will help to give it some stability when the lorry picks it up. Then add a layer of any soft items and finish with another layer of heavy. This will compact the soft items down and create more space in the skip. Break down any large items such as furniture where possible so they are less bulky and you make the most of the space in the skip.