The rules on
What goes in a skip
Most household, garden and building waste: yes. Anything hazardous, pressurised or gas-filled: no — and mattresses and plasterboard have special rules.
Allowed in a general waste skip
| Waste type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Household junk & furniture | Sofas (non-upholstered rules vary — ask), tables, wardrobes, general clear-out clutter |
| Construction & demolition | Bricks, concrete, rubble, hardcore, tiles, timber, untreated wood |
| Garden waste | Soil, turf, branches, hedge cuttings, plants |
| Kitchen/bathroom strip-out | Units, worktops, baths, sinks, toilets, ceramic tiles |
| Metals & packaging | Scrap metal, cans, cardboard, paper, plastic packaging |
| Carpets & underlay | Fine in general-waste skips (some firms surcharge — ask) |
Banned or restricted — and what to do instead
| Item | Why | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Fridges & freezers | Contain refrigerant gases; need specialist disposal | Council bulky-waste collection or the retailer's take-back when buying new |
| Mattresses | Most firms ban or surcharge them | Council collection, mattress recycling services, or ask the skip firm the surcharge |
| Plasterboard & gypsum | Must be disposed of separately from general waste by law | Ask the firm for a plasterboard bag/separate skip, or the tip's dedicated bay |
| Asbestos | Hazardous — illegal in any normal skip | Licensed asbestos removal contractor only |
| Tyres | Banned from landfill | Tyre retailers and recycling centres |
| Paint, solvents & chemicals | Hazardous liquids | Council hazardous-waste service; dried-out paint tins are sometimes accepted — ask |
| Gas bottles & fire extinguishers | Pressurised — dangerous in compaction | Return to the supplier (most operate exchange/return schemes) |
| Electricals (WEEE) | TVs, monitors, appliances need separate recycling | Council recycling centre, retailer take-back |
| Batteries | Fire risk | Supermarket/DIY-store battery points, recycling centre |
| Medical waste | Clinical waste rules apply | Pharmacy or council clinical-waste service |
Two rules that save money
Ask about surcharges before booking. Mattresses, carpets, plasterboard and upholstered furniture are handled differently firm to firm — a quick question up front beats a £40 surprise at collection.
Fill it level, not proud. Overfilled skips are illegal to transport; the driver can refuse the lift or charge to level it. If you're borderline, you needed the next size up — check what that costs, it's less than a second hire.
Common questions
Can you put a fridge or freezer in a skip?
No. Fridges and freezers contain refrigerant gases and must be degassed by a specialist. Use your council's bulky-waste collection or a retailer take-back scheme instead.
Can you put a mattress in a skip?
Usually not — most skip firms either ban mattresses or charge a surcharge (often £15–£40), because they can't be compacted or landfilled normally. Ask before you book.
Why can't plasterboard go in a skip with other waste?
Since 2009 gypsum waste must be kept separate from biodegradable waste: mixed in landfill it produces toxic hydrogen sulphide gas. Skip firms offer plasterboard bags or a dedicated inert skip.
What happens if I put a banned item in a skip?
The driver can refuse collection, or the firm will charge you a sorting/surcharge fee — often more than disposing of the item correctly would have cost. Persistent hazardous items can void the hire agreement.
Can you put soil and rubble in any skip?
Soil, rubble and hardcore are fine as waste types, but most firms only allow them in skips up to 8 yards (many prefer 6) because of lorry lifting-weight limits.
Ready to book? Find skip hire companies near you or get quotes.