What You Can and Can’t Put in a Skip: A Clear Guide for Homeowners and Builders

Hiring a skip is one of the easiest ways to get rid of waste during a renovation, garden project, or clear-out. But before you start loading up your skip, it’s important to understand what you can and can’t put in it.

At AJ Pain Waste Management Ltd, we provide skip hire across South East London and ensure all waste is handled legally and sustainably. To help you stay safe and compliant, we’ve created this simple guide to skip hire dos and don’ts.

✅ Items You Can Put in a Skip

Most non-hazardous, bulky, or construction-related waste is permitted in a skip. This includes:

🛠️ General Building Waste:

• Bricks, rubble, and concrete

• Plasterboard (in limited amounts)

• Tiles and ceramics

• Wood and timber

• Metal and pipes

• Soil and hardcore (in appropriate skip sizes)

🪑 Household and Garden Waste:

• Furniture (sofas, chairs, tables)

• Old carpets and flooring

• Non-electrical kitchen units

• Garden clippings, branches, leaves

• Broken fencing and outdoor furniture

🧹 General Rubbish:

• Black bags of non-food household waste

• Cardboard boxes and packaging

• Non-contaminated plastic and paper

If you’re unsure about a specific item, it’s always best to ask. We’ll be happy to confirm what’s acceptable and recommend the right skip size for your waste type.

❌ Items You Cannot Put in a Skip

Some items are restricted by law due to their hazardous nature, environmental risk, or special disposal requirements. These must never be placed in a standard skip:

⚠️ Hazardous Waste:

• Asbestos (very dangerous and requires specialist removal)

• Paints, solvents, and oils

• Batteries

• Gas cylinders and pressurised containers

• Pesticides or chemicals

• Medical or clinical waste

🛑 Restricted Items:

• Fridges and freezers

• Televisions and monitors

• Tyres

• Electrical appliances (WEEE items) like kettles, toasters, microwaves

• Fluorescent tubes or bulbs

• Plasterboard in large quantities (needs to be separated and limited)

Dumping these items in a skip is illegal and could lead to fines, refusal of collection, or additional charges for proper disposal.

♻️ What to Do with Prohibited Items

We can help arrange proper collection or disposal of items you can’t put in a skip. For example:

• Fridges and white goods can be collected as part of our bulky waste or scrap metal service.

• Electricals can be recycled under WEEE regulations.

• Hazardous waste can be handled through specialist partners we work with.

Just give us a call and we’ll advise you on the safest, legal way to get rid of anything that’s restricted.

🚫 What Happens If You Put the Wrong Items in the Skip?

If prohibited items are found in your skip:

• The skip may be refused at the waste transfer station

• You may face additional fees for sorting or hazardous handling

• It could delay your collection or replacement

We strongly recommend checking your load before collection. If in doubt — ask us!

🏡 Perfect for Homeowners, Builders, and Businesses

Whether you’re:

• Renovating a kitchen

• Clearing out a rental property

• Managing waste on a building site

• Running a business refurbishment

…our skip hire service is designed to be safe, compliant, and eco-friendly. We’ll help you select the right skip size and provide guidance on accepted materials.

Final Thoughts

Knowing what you can and can’t put in a skip is key to a smooth and lawful waste disposal process. At AJ Pain Waste Management Ltd, we don’t just deliver skips — we deliver peace of mind, expert advice, and sustainable waste solutions across South East London.

Ready to book your skip?
Visit https://ajpainskiphire.co.uk or call our team for guidance and quick delivery in your area.