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.