Question 1

Learn more about Skip Hire in London

Accepted Answer

Well run and reliable skip hire services are highly sought-after throughout London due to their flexibility and availability in a wide range of sizes for a variety of waste management needs. A range of clients look to us for excellent skip hire services, we meet this need as we are devoted to providing an excellent customer service that reliably delivers skips all over London.

Wayst offers a proficient skip hire service that offers the full range of skips that are always on hand and readily available through our first-class suppliers at short notice. We pride ourselves on providing excellent skip hire services which are carried out by teams of experienced professionals who handle all deliveries and collections in a highly organised manner, adhering to top quality health and safety standards and working quickly and efficiently to provide the very best and customer friendly experience for any type of skip hire.

Our mini skips and 4, 6 and 8 yard skip options are ideal for domestic clients, offices and small to medium sized construction sites loading heavy waste that need a proficient and reliable skip hire service. We also frequently provide 10, 12 and 16 yard skips to our commercial clients for bulk waste from refurbishments, plus roll on roll off skip hire and wait and load options. Our wide-ranging customer base of households, businesses, and organisations requiring builders skips are consistently impressed with how we handle the work, and we provide a repeat service to many long standing clients.

What makes us unique is our desire to help our customers break down the cost of hiring a skip, so that they know exactly what they are paying beforehand with no surprises along the way. Our highly knowledgeable enquiries team provide all the necessary information about renting a skip and can advise customers on any additional costs involved, obtaining permits and parking bay suspension certificates on behalf of our service users.

We provide you with up to date and excellent guidance and accurate pricing information to help you get the best value out of renting a skip in the city.

Need help with skip hire in London? One of our friendly team members is on hand to help.

Question 2

Skip hire prices in London

Accepted Answer

Skip hire prices in London can be considerably different throughout the city mainly due to the varying cost of parking permits and skip licenses as issued by the local authorities in the 32 London boroughs. The actual cost of a skip container does not fluctuate as much between companies that rent out skips, although it is a good idea to check if the base cost is for the skip container alone, which costs about £260 based on an average 8 yard skip rental.

The total cost for hiring a skip will take into consideration the skip license and parking permit (if needed). On street parking is also likely to add to the cost of skip hire with extras like lights and/or enclosed skips, which are often mandatory for skips placed by the roadside.

A parking bay suspension can cost anywhere between £16 and £390 depending on where you are in the city, and the average cost of a skip permit is £68. However, this also varies between boroughs with a cost of £30 in Newham up to in excess of £150 in other areas.

Altogether the average cost to hire a skip in London is £600 for up to two weeks of domestic use based on a 6 to 8 yard skip with a council permit and parking bay suspension across the city.

Key areas and associated costs of hiring a skip in London:

East London
Skip permit £70.00
Parking bay suspension £75.00

North London
Skip permit £57.00
Parking bay suspension £26.00

North West London
Skip permit £56.00
Parking bay suspension £39.00

South East London
Skip permit £60.00
Parking bay suspension £30.00

South West London
Skip permit £75.00
Parking bay suspension £44.00

West London
Skip permit £78.00
Parking bay suspension £50.00

West Central London
Skip permit £78.00
Parking bay suspension £50.00

Question 3

What size skip do I need?

Accepted Answer

Generally, a skip gets hired for large home clear outs and/or for DIY waste and leftover building materials. Mini skips and the smallest 2 yard skips are also great for one off garden waste clearance or for a small to medium loft or garage clearance. We recommend choosing a size up from what you think you need as the actual skip container size does not greatly impact the cost, and it is better to have a skip that is too big than not big enough. Also bear in mind what space you have available to park the skip in your garage or driveway, as you will need to be able to get around it easily as you load up.

Here is a helpful guide if you are wondering how much rubbish will fit in a skip, the following frequently used skip sizes equal to standard black refuse sacks should be a good guide:

4 yard skip = 30 to 40 bin bags
6 yard skip = 50 to 60 bin bags
8 yard skip = 60 to 80 bin bags
12 yard skip = 100 to 120 bin bags
16 yard skip = 140 to 160 bin bags

Question 4

How does skip hire work?

Accepted Answer

If you are thinking of hiring a skip to be parked by the roadside, the best place to start is by calling or checking your local council website for details as they will have access to the most up to date information about restrictions and prices for parking permits and other associated costs. Even if you know that you plan to park the skip on private land such as in a front garden or driveway, there may still be restrictions as to what size skip you can rent and whether your property has vehicle access for the truck which will need to deliver and collect the skip.

In this case the best place to start is by making an inquiry with the skip provider as they are used to dealing with the logistics of dropping off parking and collecting skips. It is also worth checking that the company is either nearby or familiar with the local area, as they will be able to tell you with more accuracy if they can provide the skip size you require in the space you have available.

Question 5

Do I need a skip permit?

Accepted Answer

If you need to park a skip by the roadside, on a residential street, or on a public highway you will need to obtain a skip permit from the relevant borough council for that area. While permits can be arranged by the company providing the service on behalf of the customer, some councils require the individual paying for the skip to order it directly, and this must be paid for before the skip is delivered.

Skip hire permits control the number of skips placed on the road since they take up precious space and can affect traffic flow and parking. If you put a skip on private land such as a garage or driveway you do not need a permit, however if a skip is found to be unlicensed it could be removed at any time.

If you do need a skip hire permit you are also likely to be required to pay a parking bay suspension fee, especially if the skip will be placed in a controlled parking zone, such as on a single yellow line or a residents parking bay. This can be as much as £99 per day in some areas of the city while it is free in others.

Question 6

What can I put in a skip?

Accepted Answer

You can put a variety of mixed waste into a general skip including inert waste, such as hardcore rubble soil and bricks and garden waste. The wide range of materials that can be placed in a skip makes convenient for general clear outs, redecorating and general junk clearance. As well as outdoor waste you can also throw in mattresses (at an additional cost), sofas, tiles, ceramics fixtures and fittings, carpet, and wood. It is also possible to hire skips solely for garden waste and inert outdoor waste, although in the case of heavy waste like concrete clay tiles and bricks you should check the maximum weight and skip size allowance as this is usually limited to a maximum of 8 tonnes.

Fridges, freezers, electrical appliances, and hazardous waste such as fluorescent tubes cannot be placed in a skip, and alternative arrangements should be made to dispose of these items.

Question 7

Skip sizes explained

Accepted Answer

Skips are referred to by their volume in terms of cubic yards, which is 1 yard (3 foot) high x 1-yard wide x 1 yard deep (roughly the size of a large upholstered armchair) or ¾ of a cubic meter (91cmx91cmx91cm)

4 yard skips are great for smaller jobs and popular with domestic customers doing home renovation or garden clearance. These skips can be placed easily in your driveway with room to move around, which means you can also save on the price of a council permit.

6 yard skips tend to be used for slightly larger DIY projects such as gutting a regular sized room, and are also the most common size used for on street parking, although they can also be parked in most standard sized driveways.

8 yard skips are usually hired by construction companies and are suitable for heavy waste such as soil, rubble, and concrete. They are often used for clearances, and shop refits and can hold the equivalent of 60 bin bags.

Remember that most councils do not allow skips larger than 8 yards to be placed on a public road so always call your local authority before ordering a skip as the rules vary between boroughs.

12 and 16 yard skips are suitable for larger clearances, which include bulky and light waste types, but not for large amounts of hardcore, soil, brick, or sand.

Question 8

Skip hire alternatives

Accepted Answer

There are circumstances where hiring a skip is not possible simply due to the geographical location of where it is required. This typically applies to inner city areas with narrow roadways and red zones in the city centre. However, road layouts in suburban areas can also be unsuitable for skips; for example, if you live on a muse close or crescent, as the trucks used require extra road space to load and unload the containers safely.

The most popular skip hire alternative that we provide is rubbish removal by man and van, where waste that is ready to be collected can be picked up by a team who do all the heavy lifting for you to remove unwanted waste and load it straight into the vehicle. Although skips are generally more economical when clearing heavy waste like bricks and hardcore, bulky waste with more volume, but less weight (like mattresses, carpet, and furniture) often works out cheaper when using a man and van type service.

Skip bags are another popular rubbish removal solution for those who only have a small amount of waste and can be purchased in a range of sizes from most hardware stores or online. These are collected by a grab truck once full, and the cost of this type of rubbish removal is just as affordable as skip hire.

Question 9

How long can you keep a skip bin for?

Accepted Answer

You can easily keep a skip for as long as you need to if it is parked on private property if the skip hire company can accommodate a long-term hire. However, most service users who are renting a skip that is parked by the roadside keep it for around 2 weeks, as this is the typical length of a skip permit. If you know you will need the skip for longer before you book the service, check with your local authority first about how long you can get the initial permit for, or if you want to extend an existing skip permit. For more details about skip permit applications and renewals as well as accurate pricing information, visit the relevant local authority website and search for ‘skip licenses and renewals’.

Many councils only accept an application for a skip permit directly from the waste management company providing the container, as they should be covered by the appropriate public liability insurance on behalf of their customers. When the permit runs out the skip hire company will automatically collect the container, as they become liable for any damages incurred after the permit expires.

Question 10

What you need to know about London

Accepted Answer

An ancient settlement that grew up along the banks of the Thames, London is one of the most well established and influential cities in the western world. It has reinvented itself many times throughout history to become the vibrant dynamic and complex entity that it is today with an infrastructure that is constantly developing to accommodate the progress and advancements of modern day Britain. It is well known for being one of the most integrated and culturally diverse cities in Europe, and accommodates many ways of living that make it stand out as a place that not only celebrates diversity but thrives on it. The pull of London for so many people from around the world and its increasing population demand a waste management industry that is highly organised, adaptable, and available for public use. Waste transfer companies have a large share of a market that is constantly in need of rubbish removal services, and the amount of businesses operating within this industry drives competition and a range of services that can overwhelm consumers and organisations when choosing a contractor for their rubbish disposal needs. One of the most important considerations when choosing a rubbish removal service is their commitment to the environment, re-use and recycling practices, and a diversion of waste from landfill. This can be achieved by companies who operate within statutory frameworks, practise due diligence, and adhere to the rules and regulations set out by the Environment Agency.

Question 11

What are the different ways to dispose of waste in London?

Accepted Answer

There are hundreds of waste facilities around the city, from council run tips and recycling centres, to materials and energy recovery facilities, which are gradually replacing landfill sites. Nearly every Local Authority provides reuse and recycling centres for residents, handling a wide range of reusable items, recyclable rubbish, and general or residual municipal waste.

The local authority run facilities provide the same basic services from borough to borough in addition to offering specialised collections for garden waste, furniture and white goods and clinical waste disposal. Some types of waste, like building materials, are often classed as restricted due to their commercial use, as traders and construction companies have to pay to use the tips, and residents are only permitted to dump small amounts for it to be considered domestic waste. Hazardous waste is also seldom accepted at local civic amenity sites, and most homes and businesses are advised to contact the city of London hazardous waste disposal team, for the disposal of asbestos, oil based paint and other chemicals.

Many councils also provide competitively priced services for the collection, transfer and disposal of commercial refuse, although companies requiring industrial waste management solutions will often turn to the same private companies who are currently contracted by the council to deal with large scale waste. Private waste management organisations work closely with local authorities in London to transfer recyclable waste and sell it onto treatment facilities both nationally and internationally.

Question 12

Where are the nearest recycling centres in London

Accepted Answer

The Reuse and recycling centres and micro recycling sites available for public use throughout the city all vary slightly in terms of materials they can accept. Paper card glass tin aluminium and plastic bottles are generally accepted everywhere. Some difficult to dispose of items include paint, tyres, and plasterboard which often have to be transported to specialist facilities to be reused or recycled. Building materials like rubble soil timber garden fences and bathroom fixtures and fittings are also not typically accepted at all civic amenity sites and may require independent waste collectors to ensure swift and convenient removal of items.

Some materials frequently accepted at local authority facilities that cannot otherwise be disposed of for free include fluorescent tubes (energy saving light bulbs) car batteries, cooking and engine oil, and gas bottles. Most boroughs provide micro recycling sites for household batteries, textiles and small electrical items, however residents are encouraged to donate reusable items where possible at charity shops or at the tip, which often has links to resellers and refurbishment programmes such as Recycle my Cycle. Donated items, might include furniture, sports equipment, toys, and bric a brac. For all other waste like large electrical items, white goods, garden waste and soft furnishings like sofas, mattresses and carpets, these may still be recycled however the council often collects them from domestic properties for a fee if residents cannot transport them to the tip.

Question 13

What rubbish collection services are available in London?

Accepted Answer

Standard collection services for general refuse and recycling have significantly improved over the years to accept more varieties of plastic such as tubs, pots, trays and cutlery in dry mixed recycling bins. This has been a progressive step in tackling the problem of single use plastic that ends up in landfills or contaminating the natural environment, and recovering the raw materials ready for reprocessing and remanufacture into recycled consumer goods. The other main area of improvement has been the introduction of kitchen caddies and bins for food waste throughout London, which can contribute to a huge amount of harmful gases in the environment if it gets sent to landfill. The local authority provision of free food waste caddies along with compostable liners and regular weekly collections has meant that it gets segregated service level, and can be transported directly to an energy recovery facility to be turned into biogas, biofertilizer and fuel, which in some areas has already resulted in a 100% diversion from landfill for all food waste.

Other organic waste services include garden waste collection which is offered across most London boroughs for a yearly subscription fee. For those households that do not produce enough garden waste for regular collections some councils offer one off collections, however most boroughs have a home composting guide on their website which they encourage residents to make use of, and to reuse their garden waste to enrich the soil.

Most borough councils in London offer bulky waste collection of furniture, white goods and large electrical items at competitive prices or for free for elderly residents and those in receipt of benefit, limited to a certain amount of collections per year. Some councils direct locals towards charity operated solutions from their websites that remove bulk waste for free, however the vast majority of boroughs are limited to offering their own collection services or inviting residents to transport large waste items to the tip, which is seldom practical in most cases. Instead many households opt for using the wide range of competitively priced independent waste carriers in London that offer the same services. However the choice can be overwhelming, and some unlicensed waste carriers slip through the net and fly tip rubbish on private or even public land that then needs to be dealt with by another waste management company or by the local authorities. The Environment Agency provides a public directory of licensed waste carriers, brokers and dealers which members of the public can use to check that their chosen waste provider is compliant with the statutory requirements for waste management at every stage of the disposal process.

Need help with a waste clearance in London? Get in touch

Question 14

How are the local authorities in London handling your waste?

Accepted Answer

Over the years many local authorities have risen to the challenge for the planning and delivery of environmentally sustainable waste management for the millions of people living within the 32 London boroughs. Even as the population continues to expand, increased pressure is placed on public services to produce cleaner waste management solutions through investment, technological innovations and the building of infrastructure to derive energy from waste and ultimately provide channels for decentralised energy provision throughout the greater London area.

Borough councils are combining their financial resources to build state-of-the-art waste management facilities for sorting and transferring waste, materials and energy recovery, reselling and in some cases exporting raw materials back to the manufacturers for reprocessing. As a response to the demand for more effective waste management solutions in the city and proposals in the The London Plan handed down at the local government level, the following authorities have been set up between borough councils to strategize and action events around public waste management.

ELWA (East London Waste Authority) which has been set up between Redbridge, Havering, Barking & Dagenham and Newham.

NLWA (North London Waste Authority) which has been set up between Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Waltham Forest, Camden, Hackney and Islington.

WLWA (West London Waste Authority) which has been set up between Hillingdon, Brent, Harrow, Ealing, Hounslow and Richmond-upon-Thames.

WRWA (Western Riverside Waste Authority) which has been set up between Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Wandsworth and Lambeth.

SLWP (South London Waste Partnership) which has been set up between Merton, Kingston upon Thames, Croydon and Sutton.

Several Large scale private waste contractors also work in partnership with borough councils to manage waste and deliver on their objectives for landfill diversion and the increased production of energy from waste. The building of new facilities funded by regional London waste authorities has already started to deliver on the long term sustainable waste strategies proposed by the London Plan and lead to the reclamation of natural landscapes. providing renewed conservation areas that used to be contaminated by man made waste or used for landfill.

At the service level, organic waste removal services such as home composting caddies and garden waste collection are now standard practice for many London Boroughs seeking to avoid the use of landfill sites. Residents are given brown or grey bins specifically for food waste including meat, fish, and poultry waste, which is collected periodically alongside general rubbish. The organic waste is taken to facilities where it will undergo treatment such as pyrolysis or gasification which are both methods used to heat organic waste at controlled temperatures in order to produce by-products such as oil, char and gas that may be used as fuel. These controlled heating methods are relatively new, although they are in the commercial stages of development, and composting remains the most widely used method for recycling organic waste materials collected by Local Authorities in London and the surrounding areas.

Question 15

What are the plans for a greener future in London?

Accepted Answer

In addition to London boroughs pooling resources and investing in waste management solutions for the future, each council runs public awareness initiatives promoting healthy habits around sustainable ways of living in response to climate change, and encouraging engagement with the ‘circular economy’ in collaboration with community organisations charities and businesses. This model of consumption encourages individuals to conserve energy fuel and resources by making small incremental changes to their habits and lifestyle from walking or cycling instead of travelling by car, to buying and using only what they need. This feeds into the circular model of reselling or donating unwanted material goods back into the local economy for refurbishment and reuse, as opposed to the ‘linear economy’ which ends with the disposal of consumer goods and wasted materials.

In recent years London has made many efforts to become an environmentally friendly city and has adopted a practice known as ‘urban greening’ which aims to bring purpose built green spaces into the infrastructure of the city, helping to lower temperatures, prevent flooding and improve air quality. With the population in London set to increase by an estimated 3 million by 2050, and with permanent changes in the weather due to climate, urban greening is mandated to become a key part of building in the city as it expands. This consists of planning permission for green walls and roofs as standard practice for any major developments.

The urban greening factor is included in the New London Plan which is the spatial development strategy for Greater London led by the Mayor of London and the Greater London authority. Other aspects of urban greening are set to include the ‘healthy streets’ initiative, which will not only change the physical environment of London’s streets and pedestrianised areas, but intends to shift public behaviour towards greener methods of travel such as walking and cycling, and increased use of public transport for long journeys. The ‘grey to green’ project as part of the sustainable drainage action plan also encourages communities to advocate for an increase in accessible green spaces by communicating with the local council about where such improvements could be made.

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Learn more about Skip Hire in London

Skip hire prices in London

What size skip do I need?

How does skip hire work?

Do I need a skip permit?

What can I put in a skip?

Skip sizes explained

Skip hire alternatives

How long can you keep a skip bin for?

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What you need to know about London

What are the different ways to dispose of waste in London?

Where are the nearest recycling centres in London

What rubbish collection services are available in London?

How are the local authorities in London handling your waste?

What are the plans for a greener future in London?

Service Providers in London

GSE Skips

Ashville Aggregates

Simpson Skip Hire

Enviro Skip Hire

Peter Norris Haulage

One Waste Clearance

London Recycling Services

Gowing and Pursey

Manns Waste

Ground Skips

AJP Skip Hire

White Skip Hire

Hintons Waste

Powerday

Latham Skips

RMS Skip Hire

Bywaters

Britannia Skips

O'Donovan Waste

B&K Environmental

Glynns Skip Hire

Skip Along Waste

PB Donoghue

Curley Skip Hire

Brewster Waste

GB Skip Hire

London Skip Hire

Services In Areas Of London