Staffordshire Skip Hire blog

Choosing Between Skip Hire and the Tip

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There are a number of ways to dispose of large amounts of waste whether it is from a house, construction or garden project.

One of the most common is taking it down your local tip, but have you considered hiring a skip from Staffordshire Skip Hire?

Skip hire offers a number of benefits including being a convenient waste solution for you.

Reasons to Choose Skip Hire

Here we have put together four reasons you should consider using a skip instead of the tip –

1. Convenience – Hiring a skip is particularly convenient if you are looking to get rid of a large amount of waste. Rather than loading up your car for repeated trips to the tip, you can simply throw it into a skip at the front of your property.

While tips are considered a cheaper option you need to take into consideration the cost of fuel for repeated trips to the tip plus the amount of time you will spend separating the waste into the correct sections. This process will be repeated a number of times and can end up costing you time and money.

2. Waste Quantity – The amount of waste you want to move is one of the most important factors to consider. For smaller projects, it is more economical to use the tip if it only requires one trip. However, if you have accumulated significant waste, then a skip is a smarter choice. For projects such as a refurbishment or significant construction work, it is much easier to hire a skip.

3. Different Types of Waste – When choosing between the tip or skip you should always consider what type of waste you are moving. Dirty, dusty and bad-smelling waste will seep into the upholstery of your car and lead to permanent damage. If you have spent the whole day with endless trips to the tip you want to recuperate and not cleaning your car.

You also run the risk of causing visible damage to your car, including holes and tears in the interior and scratches in the paintwork. Remember you do not need to seperate waste when using a skip.

4. Where to Position Your Skip – If you choose skip hire from Staffordshire Skip Hire you are able to have a waste solution available on your front lawn or driveway. If you do not have space on your lawn or driveway you will need to apply for a permit to station it on your street outside your home. We offer a diverse range of skips to ensure we have the model to suit your waste removal needs.

Get in Touch for More Information

If you need any more information about our hiring a skip from Staffordshire Skip Hire, please do not hesitate to contact us today.

skip hire - recycling centre

What Happens to Waste When It’s Collected in a Skip?

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If you have decided to hire a skip from Staffordshire Skip Hire, you may be wondering what happens to your waste once it is collected.

This is why we have put together this informative guide to your waste once it leaves your property for the final time.

Explain the Journey of Rubbish Once Collected

Individuals and businesses have a duty of care ensuring their waste is disposed of in a responsible way. This is still the case even after its left their home or business premises. If you do not abide by these regulations it could result in a £5000 fine and a criminal prosecution.

There are a number of different items that are placed in our containers and mixed together. Your skips first destination is a specialised facility where the different waste streams can be separated out and then they are sent their separate ways for processing.

What About Individual Materials?

Glass – Glass is one of the most easily recyclable materials which can be recycled over and over again. It is taken to a proper facility where it is crushed, mixed with raw materials then it is superheated in a furnace then turned back into a reusable glass which can be used for bottles and jars.

Metal – Metal is another material which is easily recycled, that is separated into two main types of aluminium and steel although iron and copper are also common.

Aluminium is used often in drink cans but needs to be put in recycling bins. When recycled these cans are often used again in aerospace and the motoring industry.

Steel is recycled and often more used for heavier duty purposes. Train tracks are often manufactured from repurposed scrap steel as well as being used for bicycle frames.

What About My Garden Waste?

Staffordshire Skip Hire frequently arranges skips for garden clearances and complete remodelling projects. This means our containers can carry away plenty of green waste.

Waste such as glass, plastics or metal can be taken to industrial-sized composting facilities. Now it is checked to see if any in-organic or contaminated material has been mixed in. If this is the case, it is removed and left to compost in huge heaps. This material is turned into fertiliser and soil conditioners in both the commercial and industrial sectors.
The basics of our skip hire service are that we carry away 95% of your waste to be recycled. Everything else will be handled by our fully licensed waste specialists and disposed of properly.

Talk to the Skip Hire Specialists

If you are in need of skip hire for your next project do not hesitate to get in touch with Staffordshire Skip Hire now.

We are Stoke on Trent and surrounding areas such as Leek and Werrington’s leading suppliers of skips for hire.

skip hire - paint tin removal

Can I Dispose of Paint Tins with a Skip?

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If you have started renovating your home or office in the past few months, you may be wondering what is the best method to get rid of leftover paint tins.

Unlike other waste types, paint tins are classed as hazardous waste and thus require special treatment when it comes to their disposal.

In our latest blog, we will provide all the answers you need regarding paint tin recycling plus tips on disposing of them responsibly.

How to Dispose of the Paint

When you have finished your DIY project and are ready to throw out the leftovers, you will need to dispose of the excess paint from the old paint tins. There are a number of options available for getting rid of unused paint. Just make sure you do not pour it down the sink.

Pouring away unused paint blocks your sink plus it is a major environmental concern with its harmful chemicals in the paint potentially poisoning fish. You do have a number of options before you start looking at paint disposal companies which could also save you some money.

Here are some options to consider for unused paint –

Donate – Donating unused paint is a great option which can help someone finish off their DIY project plus you can get rid of your paint tins responsibly. Here are some areas you can donate your unwanted paint –

Family and Friends – You can always ask any family or friends if they are starting some DIY work soon and then your paint is not going to waste.

Charity and Community Groups – If you are donating unused paint to charity or a community group, you can start asking around for anyone who needs paint for a project near to you. This will save the charity or community group money on supplies too.

Household Waste Recycling Centres – If your unused paint is completely out of use it will need to be taken to a licensed recycling centre. Remember leftover paint will need to harden before it can be taken to a recycling facility.

Throwing out Empty Paint Tins

If you have used all your paint up or have disposed of the excess paint separately now it is time to get rid of the tins. It is a common myth that you can throw empty paint tins into your mixed recycling but this is not possible. Empty paint tins are still labelled as hazardous and require special care when throwing them out. This prevents harmful chemicals from ending up as landfill.

Can I Put Paint Tins in a Skip?

Old paint tins cannot be loaded into one of our skips as the paint itself is now banned from the landfill because of the hazardous chemicals. You need to treat paint tins with care when getting rid of them.

Can I Recycle Paint Tins?

Even with excess liquid paint, old paint tins can be recycled in most recycling centres all over the UK. Just make sure they are empty and give your local recycling centre a call to see if they accept paint tins.

Where Can Old Paint Tins be Taken?

As previously mentioned, old paint tins can be taken to your local recycling facility just make sure you specify whether the tin has any paint left inside as this may affect the facility collecting it.

Got any Questions? Contact Us Now

If you have any questions about the disposal of old paint cans or want to know more about our skip hire services get in touch today.

Staffordshire Skip Hire is the leading provider of skip hire services across Stoke on Trent and the surrounding areas.

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Can I Use Skips for Garden Waste?

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If you are looking to give your garden a bit of TLC, the best way to get rid of your waste is by using skip hire from Staffordshire Skip Hire.

This is the best way to dispose of garden waste in no time compared to waiting for your local council to pick up your green bin.

What Materials are Considered Garden Waste?

Here is a quick breakdown of materials that can be considered as garden waste –

  • Grass, weeds, shrubs, leaves, twigs and branch clippings
  • Lawn, turf, soil, slag, wood chip and bark
  • Bricks, slabs, rubble and hardcore materials
  • Garden furniture, plant pots or patio materials

Why Skip Hire is the Most Efficient for Garden Waste

1. The Most Cost-Effective Collection Service – It can always be tempting to hire a man with a van but remember this is twice the price. You will pay separate fees for the labour costs and the disposal of your garden waste (which is based on the amount).
Alternatively, skip hire from Staffordshire Skip Hire is charged at a much more reasonable rate for big garden waste clearances.

2. More Reliable than Council Bin Collection Service – If you are considering using your local council’s bin collection service there are many factors to consider, such as –

  • Picking the right day of the week
  • Choosing the right hour of the day
  • Positioning your bin on the footpath next to the curb
  • Ensure you are not blocking pedestrian pathways or vehicle access
  • Making sure your bin handle is facing your home
  • Bagging up all your loose rubbish
  • Not overloading your bin

3. Book Online – When you choose a skip hire from Staffordshire Skip Hire you can book with us online or by simply giving us a call and our operator can drop your skip right at your door plus we will pick it up once you are done. We will also ensure all of your garden waste will be recycled up to 100% of all its content.

4. Lower Carbon Footprint – Most councils in the UK still allow garden fires but have strict rules about this sort of activity. You can be charged thousands of pounds for unintentional violations.

Transform Your Garden with Staffordshire Skip Hire

If you are looking to hire a skip to help transform the look of your garden, contact Staffordshire Skip Hire now.

We are the county’s leading skip provider, including areas such as Leek and Werrington.

skip hire - lockdown DIY

Lockdown DIY Using Skip Hire

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The country has spent recent months in lockdown, which has sparked the creative juices of homeowners and builders alike.

During this time, Staffordshire Skip Hire have seen many different DIY projects taking place with a study from Aviva stating that 85% of adults in the UK have at least attempted some sort of DIY project.

One of the key items to complete these sort of projects is a skip from Staffordshire Skip Hire, as a safe and efficient way of dealing with all of your waste. We have heard about all kinds of projects such as back garden bars to new children’s play areas.

Here are a selection of DIY projects we have heard about that are worth shouting about –

Three Amazing Home DIY Projects from Lockdown

1. Back Garden Bar – A couple from Wilmslow were not quite ready to go back to the pub under the new guidelines, so they decided to bring the pub home instead!
With a budget of just £500, with all materials purchased through Facebook Marketplace, they added old beer pumps and a second-hand fridge to help create their very own beer garden.

2. Steam Train BBQ – A welder who has a love for DIY created his very own BBQ from parts of an old steam train using its scrap metal. While it can be tricky to find uses for old scrap metal, this is a great way to stop it being dumped at a recycling centre plus you get your own bespoke BBQ!
The welder even used the pipe of the train to filter out the smoke with the metal holding in the heat and doubling up as a rotisserie oven.

3. Home Gym – With all the gyms closed during lockdown people have been looking at different ways to maintain their fitness levels. A couple took this a step further by creating their own home gym with items from local DIY stores. They even took it a step further by sourcing their gym’s windows from their local scrapyard.

Talk to the Skip Hire Specialists

If you have been inspired to take on your own DIY projects, contact the skip hire specialists at Staffordshire Skip Hire for the most cost-effective solutions in Stoke on Trent.

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The Ultimate Guide to Carpet Disposal

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When you are having a new carpet fitted it is common practice to dispose of your old one.

Here at Staffordshire Skip Hire, we get regular calls about using our skip hire services for getting rid of carpets. This is why we have put together this comprehensive guide of all the ways you can dispose of a carpet.

9 Ways to Get Rid Of Your Old Carpet

Retailers – One easy way to dispose of your old carpet is to have it removed by the retailer that you purchased your new one from. Many carpet retailers with an offer this sort of service just make sure you clarify whether this includes uplifting your old one or simply collecting and disposing of.

Carpet Fitters – If your retailer does not offer a disposal service you can always ask your carpet fitter if they can remove it for an additional fee. You will need to ensure they have a waste carrier’s license from the Environment Agency as it is illegal for them to take it away without this.

Reuse – Old carpets can be repurposed for gardening, mats, animal bedding, offcuts or you could consider giving it to a friend. Having said this, new offcuts are more likely to be reusable as older carpets can sometimes be smelly and unpleasant.

Council Dump – If you are a householder, disposing of carpet at your local recycling centre is the most cost-effective option as most tips are completely free. The only downside if you have a vehicle is that it may require more than one trip to completely get rid of your old carpet.

Councils – Some councils do offer a bulky waste collection service, but you will need to check with your local council’s website first.

Skip Hire – Providing there is enough carpet to fill it, hiring a skip from Staffordshire Skip Hire is another way of getting rid of old flooring materials.

Man and Van Clearance – The obvious alternative to skip hire is using a man and van rubbish removal company.

Pulling Up Your Carpet – Before you can dispose of your carpet it will need to be lifted up from the floor. This requires a handful of tools but if you do not feel like getting your hands dirty you ask a carpet fitter to do this.

Landfill – Carpets contain complex fibres that can not be broken down in landfill as their process of biodegrading is slower and creates methane. We would strongly recommend not adding your old carpet to landfill.

Want to Know More? Contact Us Now

If you want to find out more about carpet disposal, please speak to Staffordshire Skip Hire today.

We are the leading supplier of skip for customers right across Stoke on Trent and the surrounding areas.

skip hire in stoke on trent

Three Weird and Wonderful Ways to Use Skip Hire

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A number of different sectors are using skip hire services of Staffordshire Skip Hire for a number of weird and wonderful things.

While we understand that skips are a fantastic practical solution for de-cluttering our homes and offices or refurbishment or construction projects run smoothly; the humble skip has enjoyed countless varying uses across many years.

For our latest post, Staffordshire Skip Hire have decided to take a look at three unique uses for skips, although we wouldn’t recommend you trying any of these.

Unexpected Uses of Skips

Swimming Pool – It may seem like a unique idea, but some people have converted empty skips into a swimming pool. This sort of project was undertaken by Oliver Bishop Young, who also converted a skate park and garden.

Wedding Transport – One young bride decided to commission a converted skip to transfer her to the church on time. The converted skip was painted blue and decorated with glitter plus its interiors were upholstered with chairs and carpeting too. Her fiance also kitted the skip out with bells, lights, a curtain plus a clear-roof in case of rain.

Art – While you may have heard the term modern art is rubbish, some artists have taken this to a whole new level. Artist David Bachelor transformed a yellow skip on the streets of Brighton into a unique art installation. The skip featured a glowing yellow trim with the intention to get people to think about their surroundings. Bachelor’s intention was to make an artistic statement and bring attention pieces of everyday life they took for granted.

Talk to the Skip Hire Specialists

Here at Staffordshire Skip Hire, our skips are hired out for more traditional services such as refurbishment and construction projects right across Stoke on Trent.

If you would like to know more about hiring a skip from us, please contact us today for a competitive quote.

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Using Skip Hire When Redecorating Your Children’s Bedroom

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If you are looking at refurbishing a bedroom in your home over the summer, you should consider hiring a skip to help clear away the rubbish effectively.

Here at Staffordshire Skip Hire, we know keeping refurbishment areas clean is extremely important to help keep your productivity high and to complete the job effectively.

Why Do You Need a Mini-Skip for Redecorating?

When creating the dream bedroom for your child, you will need to create an environment that reflects their personality. This could be with patterned carpets, expressive and brightly-coloured furniture or a wallpaper featuring their favourite cartoon characters. Don’t forget though, you will still need somewhere to get rid of the current decorations.

Removing pre-existing wallpaper using a scraper, even with a steamer, can be a long and messy process which leaves you with small individual pieces of wallpaper covering the room. Using a mini-skip hire gives you somewhere to throw your waste and keep your working area clean and clear.

The Many Advantages of Using Skip Hire

If you have never considered using a skip for a redecorating project, here are some advantages of working with Staffordshire Skip Hire.

Convenience – Having to make multiple trips to the dump or local recycling centre takes up a lot of your time. Using a skip hire will mean you only need to walk into your driveway to dump your rubbish.

Money Saver – While you can also save money on repeated trips to the dump or recycling centre, you will also save in the pocket if you get the correct size of the skip. If you decide to hire a medium-sized skip for your job instead of a large one for your job, it will ultimately be cheaper as long as it is ideal for your project.

Environmentally Friendly – Staffordshire Skip Hire is an environmentally-minded company. We transport your waste to a recycling plant where most of your waste will be able to be recycled or reused.

Versatile – Smaller skips can be stored in smaller locations, meaning you can easily fit a skip on your driveway whilst completing your redecorating project.

Talk to the Skip Specialists

If you are looking for the leading skip hire company in Stoke on Trent, get in touch with Staffordshire Skip Hire today.

We offer an unmatched variety of skips for any size of projects for both construction and domestic customers.

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Understanding Skip Hire Jargon for First Timers

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Staffordshire Skip Hire want to make waste removal understandable for everyone who uses our services.
This is why we have put together this useful guide which covers some of the essential jargon used in our industry.

When booking a waste disposal service withy any removal company, terms such as ‘builders waste’ and ‘maxi skips’ can be thrown around, which not everyone is expected to know the meaning of.

It is good practice to know as much as you can before booking a skip to clear your waste as an informed customer will know what type of skip they need for their specific waste. This will also help you to save money, as purchasing a smaller service than you need will mean having to book another skip at some point which will hit you in the pocket.

Know Your Waste!

Knowing the different types of waste is extremely important to improve your recycling with effective rubbish clearance plus knowing the difference between your builders and WEEE waste.

Here are some of the common waste types you will encounter when removing rubbish using our skip hire services –

Builders Waste – This is a term commonly used by many waste clearance companies to describe anything leftover or unwanted from a construction project. The waste can be made up of rubble and soils, general waste and other items left on construction sites.

WEEE Waste – This acronym means ‘Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment’, which means electrical items at the end of their life such as batteries or plug sockets for power.

Builders Skip (8-Yarder) – This describes an 8-yard skip, which is one of the most popular skips, sometimes referred to as a ‘traditional builders skip’. This is because it is the largest size available for soils and rubble plus it is the best option for waste disposal from a building project.

Small Builders Skip (6-Yarder) – This type of skip is the ideal choice for medium-sized projects.

Midi Skip (4-Yarder) – You will find the word ‘midi’ is the term used when booking a 4-yard skip. Ideal for garden clearance due to its easy to load size.

Cubic Yard – Cubic yard is the most commonly used metric to calculate the amount of waste that can be collected. This measurement covers the width, length and height of any skip or removal service. If your skip is 4 cubic yards then this is the total amount of waste which can be loaded into it.

Want to Find Out More? Get in Touch Now

If you have any more questions about our skip hire services, please contact Staffordshire Skip Hire today.

Our services cover right across Staffordshire, including Leek and Werrington.

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Staying Safe When Using Skips

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Whether you are undertaking a large construction project or just clearing out the garden shed, you will most likely require skip hire from Staffordshire Skip Hire.

You may not think that being around a skip is dangerous but there are certain safety guidelines you need to follow.

While businesses have health and safety guidelines when using skips, domestic customers don’t and are expected to use their own common sense. As the leading provider of skip hire in Stoke on Trent, and the rest of Staffordshire, we want to ensure all of our customers are using skips safely. This is why we are sharing three essential safety tips when using skips.

Three Tips on Skip Safety

1. Load Your Skip Reasonably – It is important to load your skip intelligently, as this can result in being able to fit more waste into it. Although not easy, try to ensure heavier and bulkier items are put into the skip first improving the security of your skip. For smaller items, you will need to pile them on top, allowing the skip to fill up naturally. Do not attempt to lift those heavier items yourself, make sure you ask a friend or neighbour to give you a hand, to avoid risking a back injury.

2. Do Not Overfill! – Make sure you know your skip’s limitations. Overfilling your skip can be extremely dangerous. Excessive use will make your skip immovable. Remember, the contents of your skip should be no higher than the sides of the skip itself.

3. Watch Out for Members of the Public – If your skip is placed in your street rather than on private property, you will need to ensure that the ground it is based on is flat, stable and free of obstructions. This will make loading and movement of your skip much safer for everyone. In some areas, you could need additional safety equipment such as hazard lights to alert pedestrians or traffic to the skip’s presence. Remember, a temporary permit will be required to allow your skip to be placed on public property.

Find Out More About Skip Hire

If you would like to find out more about our skip hire in Stoke on Trent services, please contact us today.