Where Can I Put My Skip?

If you have either a commercial or domestic project that requires the use of a skip, you might be wondering where you can put it, if you were to book one. The last thing you want is to pay for a skip service and then not have anywhere to place it on your property. If the skip is put in the wrong location, you could face hefty fines or even have the skip taken away by your local authorities because you don’t have a licence.

So where can you put a skip, do you need a skip licence to use this waste management service and what are your responsibilities should you go through with the skip hire process?

Where can I put my skip? 

If you have space for a skip on your own property or privately-owned land, then you won’t need a skip licence or skip permit as it’s otherwise known. However, not every homeowner has the space for the convenient placement of a skip on their property and so they’ll have no choice but to have it put on public roads, highways or pieces of land.

If you need to put your skip on public land, then you will need a skip licence. There are also some conditions that go along with putting a skip on a road, highway or pavement and they include ensuring that the skip isn’t an obstruction or causes anything else to become an obstruction. You should also make sure that the placement of the skip doesn’t cause any access issues to driveways, houses, parks and other publicly-used or privately-owned areas.

One way to mitigate the skip being an obstruction is to understand exactly how big or small you need your skip to be. There’s no need to hire a large skip when you could have made full use of a smaller one. If you aren’t sure about which size skip you require, then our team here at Willshee’s will be able to discuss this with you so as to ensure you’re provided with the most appropriately-sized skip for your project.

Something else that you’ll need to think about is that the skip you’re hiring cannot be placed on uneven ground or on surfaces that are loose, like gravel roads or highways. The ground will need to be solid so as to ensure the safety of both yourself and passersby. The Highways Act will outline all of this in maximum detail, but if you need further advice and guidance, Willshee’s will always be happy to help.

Do I need a skip licence?

You will need a skip licence if the skip will be placed on the roadside or public land in general. If the skip will be sited in a restricted parking area or a public or communal car park, then you’ll also need to apply for a parking bay restriction via your local council. Although, there are some instances where a skip licence is not needed, even if it’s being put on the roadside, but make sure you know where you stand by contacting your authorities for more information.

It’s important to note, however, that there’s a restriction on the size of the skip you order if it’s going to be sited on public land. Usually, the largest skip a local council will allow to be placed on a public road or highway is an 8-yard skip, mainly because this is generally the right size for a domestic project.

If you know you’ll be creating copious amounts of waste and you understand that hiring many 8-yard skips, one after the other, isn’t going to be cost-effective, then consider using grab hire services. As long as the waste you have is bagged up and ready to go when the vehicle gets to your property, the waste management company can drive by, pick up the waste and drive away, all without causing long-term disruption. 

Why do I need a skip licence?

You need a skip licence for any skips that are to be placed on public roads, highways or land in general. You’ll need a skip licence so that the local council can be sure that the skip is safely sited and will continue to be until it’s taken away again at the end of your contract.

Your skip licence request will most likely be rejected if the council thinks that the placement of that skip will endanger road users, block access to property, reduce highway width or reduce visibility at a junction or where pedestrians will be crossing.

Acquiring a skip licence will also help the council to determine how many skips are placed on local public roads at any one time. If there are already many skips sited on the same street as yours, then your request for a skip licence might be denied. If this is the case, you’ll be asked to apply again at a later date.

Who arranges a skip licence?

You will need to contact your local council to arrange a skip licence and this must be done before your skip arrives at your property. However, a number of skip hire companies, such as Willshee’s, will be able to arrange a skip licence on your behalf, upon you agreeing to a skip hire contract with them.

If in doubt, be sure to ask the waste management company who you’re hiring the skip from about the possibility of applying for a skip licence, especially if you know it’ll be placed on public land. Willshee’s will be pleased to acquire a skip licence for you – just provide us with the details of your skip’s prospective placement and we’ll be happy to help.

How long do skip licences last for?

A skip licence will expire, usually, within one or two weeks of acquisition. Although, this will entirely depend on your local council. If you need to extend your skip licence duration, then there’ll most likely be a fee involved with that depending on how much longer you’ll need the skip for. If you keep the skip on public land for longer than is specified on the skip permit, then you can expect to be landed with a considerable fine.

What are my responsibilities when I hire a skip?

If you’ll be keeping your skip on public land, then there are a few rules and regulations you’ll need to follow, including:

• Keeping your skip covered when you’re not filling it, including overnight
• Regularly checking that no prohibited items have made their way into the skip
• Having a flashing light attached to the side of the skip
• Ensuring reflective strips and other visual aids are applied to the skip

Even if the skip you’ve hired will be placed on your own, private land, there are several rules you need to follow and responsibilities you’ll have upon commencement of your skip hire and those are as follows:

• Ensuring the skip isn’t filled past the top level line
• Checking that there aren’t any prohibited items in the skip
• Making sure that skip hasn’t been dangerously overfilled
• Carefully filling the skip, ensuring bulky items are put in first and smaller items slotted down the sides or into any available gaps

Before you hire the skip, it’s important that you check the waste management company is licenced and registered. This will make sure that your waste isn’t fly-tipped once the contract is over. Another way to reassure yourself that your waste won’t be fly-tipped is to check with the company, before you hire the skip, that you’ll be given a waste transfer note upon taking the skip away.

Where can I hire a skip near me?

Willshee’s are proud to offer waste management services, including reliable, transparent skip hire, to customers throughout Burton-on-Trent and the surrounding areas. Whether you need a commercial skip, domestic skip or a construction skip, our specialist team will have you covered, regardless of how big or small your project might be. 

We have a wide range of different skip sizes available to suit your needs and your budget. Our friendly, expert team of professionals will always be on hand to help and advise you regarding the type of skip hire you might need. You’ll always be able to count on Willshee’s to provide you with guidance you need when hiring a skip, whether you’ve done it countless times before or if it’s your first time.

We’re pleased to be able to recycle the waste we collect, using our dedicated, onsite recycling facilities. From glass and food to cardboard and wood, you’ll be able to rely on us to sustainably and responsibly dispose of the waste you generate. 

For more information about the skip hire services we’re able to provide, get in touch with a member of our knowledgeable, highly-trained team today.