Posted on 31st October 2016 by Hintons
While a skip is a fantastic tool to rid yourself of all varieties of rubbish and debris, there are some limitations to exactly what kind of waste can be disposed of in a skip. However, it seems that not everyone got the message, and over the years some unexpected items have been discovered in skips across the country.
In this month’s article we’re looking at some of the more unusual things that have been found in skips, from the invaluable to the bizarre, the amusing to the downright alarming.
Zuma The Tortoise
Zuma, a 90 year old tortoise, ended up at the local tip when he crawled into a rubbish bag at his home. Zuma’s microchip helped his worried owner track him down, and when she did, she was faced with 1,000 bags of rubbish to rifle through to find her beloved pet. Zuma was, luckily, found safe and sound.
Invaluable Movies
Imagine Site Manager Robert Farrow’s surprise when he picked some film canisters from a skip and discovered two long-lost Peter Sellers films dating back to 1957! Death of a Salesman and Insomnia is Good for You were thought to be long gone, but thanks to Farrow’s actions, the films were shown to the public for the first time back in 2014.
A Shoeful Of Money
Yes, a literal shoe full of money was found in a skip. The shoe’s owner suffered from Alzheimer’s and had stuffed the shoe with almost £1,500 before her daughter had unwittingly thrown the shoe away. Luckily, the honest refuse worker who found the money traced it back to its owner and returned the money.
A £250,000 Motorbike
A 1930s motorcycle that was one of only 65 ever made was found dumped in a skip. The Vincent HRD Series-A Rapide was valued at £250,000 and was auctioned off as the owner did not claim the vehicle.
A Caravan
While you can dispose of most of your caravan in a skip, you have to break it up first! This was not the thought process for someone in South Wales who balanced a full caravan precariously on top of the skip expecting the skip hire company to duly take it away. A word of advice: they won’t! The skip hire company refused to remove the skip and caravan until the caravan had been demolished and put into the skip properly.
Joy Division Recordings
Music lovers around the world have skips to thank for unearthing some unheard recordings from the iconic Joy Division. These tapes were discovered in a skip by a lady who worked at a recording studio in Stockport over 20 years ago, although she only announced their existence in 2013.
Coffins
Oddly, there has been more than one reported case of coffins being discovered in skips, some of which the owners or reasons behind the dumping have still yet to be discovered. Thankfully, all the coffins discovered were empty!
To avoid mistakenly disposing of your valuable or needed items and losing them forever, use a professional service who will advise you on what can and can’t be disposed of in a skip (no tortoises!) and who can help assist you if you believe you have accidentally disposed of something important in your skip.
If you’re looking for high quality and reliable skip hire services in and around South East London, look no further than Hinton’s Waste. We have over 10 years of experience in handling and disposing of waste of all shapes and sizes. We are also certified to dispose of hazardous waste, including asbestos, in a safe and legal manner, so no matter what your waste may be, we’ll be able to help. Get in contact today to find out more.