What Can Go in a Skip in Manchester?
A straightforward list of what is and is not allowed in a skip, plus guidance on plasterboard, sofas and hazardous waste.
A skip will take most ordinary building, garden and household waste. Certain items, though, are kept out of general skips for safety reasons or by law, and putting them in can mean a refused collection, extra charges or a skip that stays on your street longer than you planned.
The main rules for skips hired from Skips Manchester in Manchester and the surrounding areas are set out below. Anything specific to your load will be confirmed by our team before delivery. Under the duty of care, describing your waste accurately is your responsibility, so checking before you load is well worth it.
Where an item you need to dispose of appears on the not-accepted list, a dedicated collection can usually be arranged. Call 0333 121 1056 or mention it when you request a quote.
What Can Go in a Skip? services
POPs: sofas and armchairs
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemicals that were once used in fabrics and foams, and they may be present in upholstered domestic seating – armchairs, sofas, sofa beds, footstools, dining and kitchen chairs with padded seats and similar items. Because waste containing POPs has to be destroyed, not landfilled or recycled alongside general waste, these items are not allowed in a general skip.
Put them to one side and ask about POPs waste disposal, as they must be collected on their own and sent for appropriate treatment. Curtains, carpets and mattresses are dealt with differently, so check with us at booking.
Plasterboard in skips
Being gypsum-based, plasterboard can give off harmful gases if it breaks down alongside general and biodegradable waste, so it has to be kept apart from them. It should stay out of a general skip unless that has been agreed beforehand.
Clean plasterboard can, however, be recycled. Through plasterboard recycling we can arrange a dedicated bag, skip or collection, or we can agree a segregated load with you. Keeping it apart also prevents it contaminating other waste that might otherwise have been recycled.
Hazardous waste and electricals
Hazardous waste covers asbestos, chemicals, most solvents and paints, fuels, oils, many batteries and fluorescent tubes. None of it may ever be put in a skip. Licensed carriers move it under a hazardous waste consignment note and supply the correct documentation. Our hazardous waste disposal services explain the options.
Special handling is also required for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), including TVs, monitors, computers, small appliances, fridges and freezers. We offer WEEE collection services mainly for commercial quantities, and you must declare any items containing batteries when asking for a quote.
Loading and heavy waste
Concrete, hardcore, rubble and soil can all go in, though weight sets the limit: heavy waste is normally confined to skips of 8 yards or smaller. Keep everything below the rim, spread the load evenly and never pour in liquids – a little damp waste is fine, but large quantities of liquid are not. A skip that is overweight or overfilled may not be lifted until it has been made safe. With bigger amounts of hardcore or soil, grab hire often works out better than several skips. If you are not sure which size fits your load, ask us.
What you can put in a skip
- Bagged rubbish and general household waste
- Furniture without upholstery (bed frames, wardrobes, wooden tables)
- Baths, sinks, and kitchen and bathroom units
- Timber, wood, skirting and doors
- Garden waste, such as turf, hedge cuttings and branches
- Bricks, rubble, soil and concrete (skips of 8 yards or smaller)
- Sanitaryware, ceramics and tiles
- Scrap, pipework and other metal
- Packaging, paper and cardboard
- Non-hazardous mixed waste and plastics
- Glass (safely wrapped or contained)
- Underlay and carpets (please check with us first)
What you can’t put in a skip
- Any form of asbestos
- Plasterboard (unless agreed beforehand)
- Sofas, armchairs, padded chairs and other upholstered seating (POPs)
- Freezers and fridges
- Electricals (WEEE) such as TVs, monitors and computers
- Energy-saving bulbs and fluorescent tubes
- Batteries of all kinds, car batteries included
- Gas cylinders and bottles
- Tyres
- Chemicals, adhesives, solvents and paint
- Fuels, oils and fuel containers
- Medical and clinical waste
- Liquids in large quantities
- Soil that is contaminated
Not sure? See what can go in a skip or ask us when you book.
What Can Go in a Skip? – your questions answered
Can’t see your question? Call 0333 121 1056 or send us a message.
Can a mattress go in a skip?
A mattress is not upholstered seating, so the POPs rules described above do not apply to it; even so, mattresses are sometimes collected on their own. Mention it at booking and we will check availability.
Why is my old sofa not allowed in the skip?
Persistent organic pollutants may be present in upholstered seating, and they have to be destroyed, not mixed in with general waste. Armchairs and sofas therefore need their own collection, which can usually be arranged alongside your skip.
Can I put paint tins in a skip?
Liquid paint is not permitted, although empty tins that have dried out fully may be accepted. Many solvents and paints are classed as hazardous waste. Safe options are set out under paint disposal, and you can ask us if in doubt.
What if a banned item ends up in my skip?
Collection could be held up until the item is taken out, or we may remove it and charge for disposing of it separately. Asking first is always the quicker and cheaper route.
Can garden soil go in a large skip?
A larger skip full of soil or rubble would be too heavy to lift safely, which is why heavy waste of this kind is normally restricted to skips of 8 yards or smaller. Tell us what you are clearing if you are not sure.
Can asbestos ever go in a skip?
No. As hazardous waste, asbestos has to be dealt with by licensed specialists under a consignment note, and we can help arrange asbestos disposal. Leave the area undisturbed in the meantime, and never break up suspected asbestos yourself.
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Skips Manchester provides skip hire, grab hire, concrete delivery, waste collection, recycling and construction support across Manchester on a same-day, next-day or wait-and-load basis.