Posted on 31st August 2015 by Hintons
When the time comes, should you need a skip, the amount of choice available can be rather baffling, and you may fear being bombarded with all the skip-related jargon if you phone a skip hire company up for more information. But before you go ahead and order your skip, why not have a quick glance over our skip hire glossary to familarise yourself with some common terms in the industry.
Builders Waste
Builders waste consists of any unwanted materials produced as a result of construction. For instance, this could be electrical wiring, insulation, nails etc. This can also includes general waste created on site e.g. rubble and dredging materials
Crane Tested Skips
Commonly used in the construction industry, a crane tested skip accommodates for bulkier waste items often produced from demolition sites. This skip has four handles, allowing it to be easily manoeuvred and lifted by a crane.
Cubic Yard
If a skip is one yard wide, by one yard deep and one yard high, the cubic yards refers to the amount of waste inside the skip i.e. the amount of waste a skip can hold, such as concrete, garden waste etc. For instance, there are various skip sizes, a 4 or 6 cubic yard skip will be appropriate for smaller DIY jobs, whereas a 16 cubic yard skip is more suited to site clearances or large construction jobs.
General Waste
Whether it is waste from a business or waste from a household, any materials that cannot be recycled e.g. food or non-recyclable plastics, is classed as general waste and should be collected separately to recyclable waste.
Hazardous Waste
This refers to any waste that poses a threat to public health or the surrounding environment. This can include solids, liquids and gases. Hazardous waste should be dealt with differently to general waste.
Inert Waste
This type of waste is not reactive in any way and will not decompose either. Inert waste requires lower disposal fees than hazardous waste or biodegradable waste, and typical examples include sand, concrete and drywall.
Level Load
A level load refers to not overloading a skip. The waste should not exceed the top of the walls as this is illegal and poses a hazard to passing pedestrians and motorists.
Mini Skips
As the smallest type of skip you can hire, the mini skip is perfect for light domestic waste. This could be the remnants of a garden waste clearance, or perhaps you’ve had a clear out of general household waste. Mini skips are 4 cubic yards which is the equivalent to roughly 22 bin bags or 4 wheelie bins, to help put it into context.
Midi Skips
Next up from the mini skip, the midi skip is the second smallest skip available to hire and is 6 cubic yards. Again, this is commonly used for domestic waste but for larger scale projects than what you would use a mini skip for. The midi skip is mainly used for bulky waste, such as kitchen or bathroom refurbishments, and can hold between 50-60 bin bags.
Maxi Skips
Commonly used for commercial purposes, a maxi skip is ideal for holding materials such as wood, plastic and metal. Although this is largely used by builders and tradesman working on commercial projects, it can still be used for extremely large domestic jobs too. This skip can hold the equivalent to 100-120 bin bags.
Non-hazardous Waste
Non-hazardous waste is that which causes no threat to public health or the surrounding area. This could be due to its low or non-existent reactivity, corrosivity or toxicity levels.
Private Land
This is land that is legally owned by yourself and is therefore not open for public use, i.e the front of your property or your driveway. It is best to keep your skip on private land so that it is safely out of harm’s way from the public.
Public Land / Highway
This refers to land that is shared by the general public, i.e a pavement. You cannot place a skip on a public right of way, or on land that is not solely your own, for instance a shared driveway. If you have no other option but to place your skip on public land, then you will need permission to do so (seen next term in the list for more details).
Road Permit / Skip Hire Permit
If you are placing your skip on a public highway or on public land, you will need a skip hire permit from your local council. This confirms that it is safe to keep the skip in that area for the duration of its use. Applications for permits can be rejected if the location of the intended skip is deemed to be hazardous to others in any way.
RORO
Roll-on-roll-off skips (RORO) are required for large volumes of waste e.g. factory waste and materials such as metal, plastic, wood and cardboard . It is the largest skip you can hire and cannot be placed on driveways or roads due to its large size. The RORO skip is recognisable by its low sides which allows for an easier loading experience.
Tipping Skips
A tipping skip works on a mechanical hinge, so that when the skip is lifted by a forklift truck, it can be released and tipped forwards to easily empty the contents. Tipping skips can take all types of waste, including both inert and non-inert waste.
Wait and Load
If it isn’t practical to have a skip, then a wait and load service is your next best solution. A skip will be dropped off at your premises, but only for a very short period of time (as little as half an hour), and then taken away once you are finished with it. A permit is not required for a wait and load service, and it is popular amongst commercial properties like shops, who do not have the space to store a skip.
WEEE Waste
An abbreviation for ‘waste electrical and electronic equipment’, WEEE waste is the collection of all hazardous electrical equipment, such as TVs, fax machines, phones, computers etc. This type of waste cannot be disposed of alongside general waste or recyclable waste.
Hinton’s Waste
If you’re looking for affordable skip hire, then Hinton’s are the people to call. With a variety of skip sizes available to hire, we can help offer you a sensible and straightforward way to dispose of your waste. Please feel free to contact us for more information today.