Skips take the vast majority of household, garden and construction waste, which is exactly why they are so useful. But a handful of items are restricted by law and must be handled separately. Knowing the difference before you load saves you from extra charges and delays.
What you can put in a skip
- General household and office waste
- Garden waste, including soil, turf and branches
- Bricks, rubble and hardcore (in the smaller skips)
- Wood, metal and most building materials
- Furniture and non-electrical fittings
What is not allowed
These items are prohibited because they are hazardous, need specialist recycling, or are banned from landfill:
- Fridges, freezers and electrical items (WEEE)
- Mattresses (these can be added as a paid extra)
- Asbestos, paint, oil and hazardous chemicals
- Tyres, batteries and gas bottles
- Plasterboard mixed with general waste
Why the rules exist
Restricted items either damage the environment or require dedicated recycling streams. Putting them in a general skip can mean the whole load is rejected, so it pays to keep them out.
Dealing with restricted items
Need a fridge or mattress taken away? You can add those to your booking at checkout. For larger or mixed clearances, our other waste services can handle items a standard skip cannot. When your waste is skip-friendly, book online in minutes.