16 yard skip - Staffordshire Skip Hire

Everything you need to know about a 16-yard skip

Staffordshire Skip Hire‘s range of 16-yard skips can clear a substantial amount of waste from industrial and commercial sites.

This includes shop fittings and construction sites where light and bulky waste are produced plus they can also be used by domestic clients for large projects, including a complete house renovation.

A 16-yard skip is often referred to as a Maxi Skip, alongside the other larger skips in our portfolio, such as 8 cubic yard and 12 cubic yard skip.

What jobs are 16-yard skips suitable for?

Our 16-yard skips are popular amongst businesses for commercial clearances because they often have bulky waste that will not fit in smaller skips.

You can fit a lot of bulky items into this type of skip. 16-yard skip hire allows you to deal with all kinds of waste, such as furniture, large waste and large amounts of general waste.

This type of skip, if packed correctly is a cost-effective solution for any job.

What waste is unsuitable for this type of skip?

Skips of this size suffer from many of the same limitations that other skips must adhere to. Here are some of the waste types which can be placed in a 16-yard skip –

  • Waste Electrical Equipment & Electronics (WEEE)
  • Hazardous Materials (Including Asbestos & Plasterboard)
  • Gas Cylinders
  • Tyres
  • Chemicals
  • Aggregates such as Soil & Earth, Gravel, Loose Stones and Sand

This skip is also not suitable for heavy waste such as bricks, soil and clay.

Our skips require good site access or a permit for highway use. It can be very easy to underestimate the size of skip you need and in some instances consumers who don’t research first end up ordering 2 skips when a slightly bigger one would have worked fine.

Get in touch for more information

If you have any questions about any of the skips we have available here at Staffordshire Skip Hire, please do not hesitate to contact us now. Our team of specialists will be more than happy to help.

skip hire

Facts you didn’t know about skip hire

Skips are known as large open-topped waster containers designed to be removed by lorries, as opposed to being emptied by bin lorries.

While this is something you probably already know, Staffordshire Skip Hire will share a handful of other facts about skip you may not know.

What you didn’t know about skip hire

Where did the term skip come from?

The word ‘skip’ originally came from the old Scandinavian word ‘skeppa’ which means basket. The North Germanic people of the Early Middle Ages began an emigration in the 8th century bringing with them their language and culture. The word ‘Skeppa’ was absorbed into old English as the word ‘skep’ eventually became the term ‘skip’ we are familiar with today.

Why are skips the colour they are?

When skips started to become commercially available and popular, the UK Highways Act imposed regulations on skips stating that it should be visible in the dark and the colour that was regarded as the most easily visible in low light was yellow.
Today it is different with many skip companies choosing colours that more closely align with their businesses branding and they make their skips for visible with lights and cones.

Are there any restrictions on placing a skip?

Skips placed on a public highway must be licensed or permit and have the required safety lights and markings. Otherwise the skip provider could face fines of up £1000. To obtain this permit, you need to be an authorised skip hire contractor. This licence is obtained from the Local Highway Authority, as detailed under section 139 of the Highways Act 1980 and lasts for a maximum of 15 days.

Skips placed on private land do not have the same restrictions.

Why do skips exist?

Basically, convenience and cost. Let’s face it, it is much easier for people to simply fill up a large container and have someone else to take it away from the.
It is also often much more economical to a waste company that specialises in recycling such as Staffordshire Skip Hire to deal with your waste as we have the scale and facilities to effectively deal with it on a large scale.

When were skips first used in the UK?

Prior to 1960, some companies used carts or wagons that had the same function as skips. The introduction of builders skips as we know them now coincided with the widespread availability of portable machinery capable of lifting and shifting the weight.

Get in touch for more information

If you have any questions about skip hire, please do not hesitate to contact us today.

skip hire

How to maximise skip hire vehicle use

It may feel daunting if you have not hired a skip before, or you are already in the process of hiring one. Navigating the do’s and don’ts may seem straightforward but Staffordshire Skip Hire is here to help you maximise your skip hire vehicle.

Moving house or a shop renovation project could accumulate waste, bulky items such as sofas, fridges, and dusty insulation materials.

Whatever materials you need to dispose of, having a place to put it and ensure it’s recycled (if possible) effectively will give you peace of mind.

You will have more time to focus on the task at hand plus there are plenty of benefits of hiring a skip, some of which you may already know.

Choose the correct skip size

Thinking about how much waste you need to get rid of, is essential for choosing the right size skip. Picking the right size container can be tricky if you have not hired a skip before. Here at Staffordshire Skip Hire, we offer a wide range of different sizes to suit different customer’s requirements.

What you can and can’t put in skips

There are certain items that need to be disposed of elsewhere, such as a recycling centre that accept items that could include harmful chemicals.

Hazardous waste such as fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, batteries due to the possibility of lead inside, electrical equipment and appliances, solvents, and paints (unless the paint has solidified) cannot be put in a skip.

Another less obvious example is tyres and more specifically plasterboard which can release toxic gas when mixed with other materials.

Although there are some materials that should not be added to a skip, there are plenty of items that can, including –

  • Domestic waste
  • Gas cookers
  • Rubble
  • Construction waste
  • Non-electrical fittings
  • Solidified paint
  • Metal
  • Food and its packaging
  • Garden waste
  • Soil
  • Wood

Safely using skips

Making sure your skip is placed on a flat surface and the materials are distributed as evenly as possible to avoid accidents when it’s full. Place flat items down first and break up large items into smaller pieces. If you and someone else are able to lift larger items, load them in first and add lighter items last.

Our final bit of advice is to not overfill your skip.

Get in touch for more information

If you have any questions about hiring a skip from Staffordshire Skip Hire, please do not hesitate to contact us today. We are the leading provider of skip-hire vehicles across Stoke on Trent.

National Allotment Week

Making the most of National Allotment Week

National Allotment Week is an annual event (which takes place between 9th-15th August) that allows budding gardeners to learn more about how allotments work and how they can get started.

For this blog, we will tell you all you need to know about this awareness week and how Staffordshire Skip Hire can support you.

Now it’s time to grab your spade and get stuck in!

National Allotment Week explained

Ran by The National Allotment Society, this engagement event first started in 2002. The main focus is to build unity in communities and promoting the growing and eating of fruit and vegetables to help maintain health and nutrition at home.

Each year, there is a different theme, with 2021’s being ‘Plotting for the Future’, allowing participants to celebrate allotments’ contribution to a sustainable future.

The NAS will host a virtual allotment show for avid allotment gardeners, where viewers can judge entries and prepare to enter next year.

The benefits of allotment gardening

There are several benefits of allotment gardening, from community building to improving health and wellbeing. Here are just some ways to get your fingers green and enhance your life.

Become more social – Allotments are a great place to meet like-minded people who enjoy gardening and sharing some wisdom.

There is also a big online community you can become part of. You will be able to share knowledge and tips whilst meeting new gardening friends you may have not met in real life.

Improve your health – Physical exercise benefits your health, with gardening a great way to keep fit. You will be doing a lot of bending and pulling while breaking up the soil and digging up roots, using muscles you may not have used in some time.

Vitamin D helps keep your muscles healthy and spending 15 minutes every day in the sun helps with this. When it comes to gardening, time can fly by, meaning you must protect your skin with sun cream and dress appropriately to protect yourself from the sun.

Clearing your allotment area

Your allotment plot may need a lot of clearing and preparation before you start growing.

This is where you could consider hiring a skip from Staffordshire Skip Hire. This way, you can avoid multiple trips to the tip to get rid of garden waste and get rid of it all in one place.

Get in touch with any questions

If you have any questions about allotments and getting rid of garden waste using skip hire, please do not hesitate to contact Staffordshire Skip Hire now.

Skip hire -recycling

Do skip hire companies recycle?

If you have walked past a skip recently, you may have wondered what skip hire companies do with the waste materials? Also, do they recycle?

In this blog, Staffordshire Skip Hire will tell you what happens when our skips are taken away.

Knowing what waste management companies do with different types of waste may give you some inspiration on how to recycle and solutions for domestic and commercial scrap materials.

Working on a building project or clearing out your overgrown garden accumulates large amounts of waste plus people may not have the time to dispose of waste correctly.

Recycling explained for skip companies

Recycling is always the best solution to prevent large amounts of waste from ending up in landfill sites. Sadly, the amount of rubbish in landfills continues to grow with waste management companies looking to take waste to appropriate recycling facilities instead.

Hiring a skip is so much more than just getting rid of waste materials. Actions include collecting, sorting, and recycling the different types of waste. The extent of recycling often varies, depending on the individual skip hire company.

Here at Staffordshire Skip Hire, we are committed to maintaining the highest recycling rate to ensure very little waste ends up in landfills.

After collecting skips, waste management companies like us will separate the materials, garden waste, and scrap metal. We make sure that waste disposal is done ethically and as sustainable as possible.

Why is recycling important?

The percentage of household recycling in England has increased to around 45% in 2019/20. Hiring a skip helps to increase the amount of waste being sent to the correct recycling facility. Recycling companies manufacture products back into new products or packaging, which benefits our environment.

There is an increasing concern about fly-tipping, with rubbish being dumped on streets and public highways. This is why it can be useful to have a large space for accessible and sustainable waste disposal – like a skip.

Working with Staffordshire Skip Hire

As waste management specialists, we are proud to say we pride ourselves on recycling. We always try to take items to the right recycling facility so that items don’t end up in landfill sites.

We offer different sizes of skips depending on the amount of waste you may accumulate. If you need help with waste disposal or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us today.

waste hierarchy

Does the waste hierarchy matter?

Whether you are a homeowner or business owner, you may have heard the term ‘waste hierarchy’ before. This concept is based on the idea that the best way to deal with waste is organising our priorities so we produce less in the first instance.

For this blog, Staffordshire Skip Hire will talk you through this in greater detail.

What is the waste hierarchy?

If you have ever thought about hiring a skip before, you may have heard of the waste hierarchy. This idea revolves around the notion of the most efficient use of resources – with its objectives aligning with the current EU Waste Framework Directive and how this affects our own waste legislation and regulations. Here are some of the core ideas –

Prevention and minimisation

This is the highest priority of the waste hierarchy. The simplest way to deal with waste is if there is less of it, using less material is the key to cutting down on waste. Plastic bags are a prime example, with the use of plastic drastically cut down in areas such as supermarkets.

Reusing

Where cutting down on waste is not quite feasible, the next best thing is to reuse materials we already have. One example is reusing a plastic bag instead of purchasing new ones. Other examples include cardboard boxes, milk bottles, plastic water bottles and ink cartridges.

Recycling

Anyone who has worked with Staffordshire Skip Hire before knows we are big fans of recycling. Recycling helps us to deal with existing waste but managing not to produce it in the first place is a preferable option.

Disposal

The final option is to landfill, which is, of course, the least preferable option. Burying our waste is not the best idea and should be avoided at all costs.

Get in touch for more information

Efficiency and environmental friendliness are the main guiding principles of our work here at Staffordshire Skip Hire. We segregate everything we collect in our skips and use anything we can, only disposing of it as the final resort – which keeps in line with the waste hierarchy.

This means when you hire a skip from us, you can rest assured we will deal with your waste responsibly. Contact us now for more information or any questions you’ve got.

skip hire - garden clearance

Get summer ready with Skip Hire

With the UK currently experiencing a heatwave, there has never been a better time to get those much-needed garden jobs done.

The perfect solution for getting rid of the waste generated is hiring a skip from Staffordshire Skip Hire. For our latest blog, we will talk you through potential tasks you could take on and why a skip is generally needed for all of them.

Sort out your garden decking

People looking to spruce up their garden will often look at installing decking as their first task. While decking can look spectacular, it can easily show up dirt marks and disrepair. Most of the time this can be offset with a power wash or a quick session of oiling and staining that will have it looking brand new.

Sometimes decking boards can get beyond repair, whether they have been worn away, rotted with damp, or riddled with insects. Getting rid of damaged boards requires a skip hire, as you could potentially have plenty of waste.

Trimming trees

Overhanging branches are not an issue most of the time, but there could become a time when they become annoying and potentially dangerous. Piles of pine needles, dead leaves, and other debris can be irritating to clean up but add to these fallen tree branches this becomes a more serious situation. Fallen branches have been known to break windows, damage property, and even injure people.

Hiring a skip for your garden waste is the most environmentally friendly option, as we take care of all of the waste responsibly.

Fixing up old fences

Similar to low-hanging branches, wood fences have the potential to be dangerous if not given proper attention. Broken nails and splintered wood can be eliminated quite quickly during a renovation. As with decking, you could find it much easier to use a skip to get rid of your waste.

Talk to the skip hire specialists

If you are considering a garden renovation project this summer, get in touch with Staffordshire Skip Hire to arrange a skip for your waste.

skip hire - lockdown DIY

So many reasons to work with Staffordshire Skip Hire

Waste is part and parcel of life on-site for tradespeople all over the country, whether you work in construction or similar trade. The work can generate large amounts of waste, from building rubble and bricks to wood and soil.

Some tradespeople will use a skip from Staffordshire Skip Hire for their project to ensure the process is as simple as possible.

Working with Staffordshire Skip Hire

Here are just some of the reasons to work with us –

Save time and get the best deal

When you are working across a number of different construction sites over the space of a year, it can be a lot of hassle to source a skip from a different supplier every time. Having to research suppliers when you move to a new site is time-consuming and means plenty more admin.

Staffordshire Skip Hire is able to offer you an instant quote over the phone or by filling in our inquiry form; taking the leg work out of the process for you.

Choose your skip size

While many skip suppliers offer one or two sizes of skip, Staffordshire Skip is able to offer a wide range of skips that range from 2 tonnes to 10 tonnes.

Our service is designed to give you a variety of choices, plus if you are unsure we can recommend the best size based on your requirements. This again is another time-saver, which saves you sitting in front of a computer and scrolling through Google.

Dispose of waste responsibly

We don’t just collect your waste, we also ensure that it is recycled efficiently which gives you peace of mind, knowing you are fulfilling your environmental obligations. According to industry statistics, a third of the waste found in landfills is generated from construction sites.

Our aim is to provide a green, ethical service that eliminates unnecessary waste.

Ready to hire your skip? Get in touch now

If you are now ready to hire a skip, contact Staffordshire Skip Hire today and we can recommend the best size for your construction site.

sofa removal

How to safely remove your sofa

If you think it’s time to replace your sofa with a new and comfier style, it’s important to know how to dispose of the old one properly.

There are options available when it comes to sofa removal, such as having it collected or disposed of. For this blog, Staffordshire Skip Hire will talk you through each option in greater detail.

How to dispose of your sofa

While it may seem tricky to know where to start with disposing of your sofa, there are a number of options available, depending on how quickly or cheaply you want to be rid of it.

Donating – If you are feeling generous, you could always give it to charity, providing it is still in usable condition. Many charities also offer to collect donated sofas for free too.

Selling – Another option is selling your old sofa, either online or in the local newspaper. Before throwing it away, consider that someone else might be after a new place to relax after working all day.

Disposal – If your old sofa is not fit enough to be donated or sold, then disposing of it is the next best solution.

You could consider a man and van waste clearance service, who will take your sofa away and effectively takes its disposal out of your hands.

The Local Tip – A cheaper alternative to getting rid of your old sofa is taking it to the local tip. Most will accept old sofas, but we would always recommend you check they are a licensed facility first.

Once you have decided on the right choice for removing your old sofa, it is time to sit back and relax on your new one.

Get in touch with any questions

If you have any questions about sofa removal or need a skip for other home renovations, please do not hesitate to contact Staffordshire Skip Hire today.

asbestos-safety.

Asbestos Safety With Staffordshire Skip Hire

Asbestos was a widely used building material right up until the 1980s when it was discovered how harmful the fine fibres were when ingested. This means that any home or commercial property built before this time has the potential to have asbestos somewhere within the property. If you come across asbestos while undertaking any DIY, it’s important to call in professionals. That’s where we come in.

Signs Of Asbestos

When you are undertaking any DIY work on older buildings, it is imperative that you are aware of where it is possible that asbestos is present. A few places that asbestos was used includes:

  • Insulation
  • Interior wall paint
  • Ceilings
  • Wood stoves and fireplaces
  • Sheds and garages
  • Drywall
  • Home siding

The bad news is that you cannot tell that something contains asbestos unless it is put under a microscope. The tiny coloured fibres are too small to be seen by the naked eye, and it has no distinctive smell to be aware of.
While it is possible that you can collect samples of the material to be sent for testing, we highly recommend calling in a professional. They are trained in the best way to safely remove the sample without further disturbing the area.

Asbestos Removal

Due to the dangers of asbestos, it is important that it is removed and disposed of by trained professionals and should not be removed as part of your general DIY renovation.
When our team of experts attend to remove your asbestos (or potential asbestos) they will ensure that the space is adequately covered and the rest of the house is protected from debris or fibres. We complete the removal in a controlled manner to ensure minimal disruption.
Once removed from its location, we take any potential asbestos away with us to be disposed of at a dedicated disposal site to ensure minimal ecological impact.
All asbestos removal is undertaken with adequate PPE in place, however, it still poses risks to the health of the individuals carrying out the work. If we are working in your home, please take note of our precautions to help keep yourself and your families along with our team as safe as possible.

For more information on asbestos removal services from Staffordshire Skip Hire, please contact a member of our expert team today who will be happy to assist you. Check back to our latest news regularly for more information on the range of services that we offer.