Hiring a skip is one of the easiest ways to keep a project organised and once you’ve booked a skip, you can rest easy knowing that your waste will be taken care of without countless trips to the tip. However, it’s also worth spending a little time preparing for your skip delivery itself and making sure that you, your team or your site are prepped.
Planning for a skip not only helps to avoid delays, it will also protect your property and anyone else nearby. In most cases, preparation only takes a few simple steps, but it can make a huge difference once work gets underway.
At Morley Skips we’ve provided reliable skip hire for over 25 years and have removed waste from every type of clear-out that you can imagine; from small domestic renovations to larger commercial projects. Over the decades, we’ve also learnt a thing or two about best practice, which is why we’ve put together this handy guide of things to think about before your skip arrives.
A skip delivery might seem simple on the surface but there’s actually several steps involved in preparing for your skip delivery before dropping a container onto a driveway (a driveway might not even be suitable for a start!) Here’s some key things to consider:
The first thing to think about when preparing for your skip delivery is where it will go. The closer the skip is to your project, the easier and quicker loading becomes. Carrying waste across long distances can slow work down and create unnecessary mess and safety hazards. Most Morley Skips customers prefer their skip to be placed on a driveway, for ease of access. If you choose this option, always double-check that there’s an alternative place for vehicles and that pavements and doors/gates aren’t obstructed; a well-positioned skip shouldn’t disrupt daily life too much.
If you don’t have a drive, then you’ll need to place the skip on a public road or green which will require a pre-arranged permit from your local council (our team can help with this for a small fee.) It’s worth noting here that the largest skip size that can be placed on a public road is 6 yards.
Skip lorries are larger than many people expect and they need enough room not just for the skip itself but for safe unloading. At Morley Skips our delivery lorries weigh 18-tonnes and need at least a 2.7m width area. Even if the skip itself would fit, the lorry also needs space to reverse safely during delivery. Without adequate room, access points could be blocked and there’s the potential for damage to walls or land (especially in wet weather). If you’re unsure about whether access is suitable, the Morley Skips team are happy to advise in advance.
Before delivery day it’s also best to check for:
One of the best ways to make skip hire easier is to prepare your waste ahead of time, as even small bits of preparation can save time and effort later on. Rather than creating multiple piles around the property, try grouping materials together before delivery. This makes loading faster and can help you to work more efficiently once the skip arrives:
When loading your skip, it’s important not to fill above the top edge of the container. A good approach is to add heavier materials first and distribute waste evenly across the skip; this helps to maximise space whilst keeping everything stable.
Overfilled skips:
If you think that your project may produce more waste than expected, it’s always worth discussing this with the team beforehand. In some cases, a larger skip, RORO or skip exchange may be better options.
Once your skip has been delivered, it becomes part of your site or home for the duration of the hire.
To keep the area safe:
One of the most overlooked parts of skip hire is timing; and if scaffolding, deliveries or other contractors are involved, coordinating timings in advance can make life much easier.
Ideally, your skip should arrive:
Please note: A common thing that we see is hiring a skip before moving home. If you’re having a clear-out before property pictures are taken, we recommend checking that your skip can be collected in time to avoid it becoming part of the sales advert!
A traditional skip isn’t always the most suitable option and you may find that one of the alternatives below are more suitable for your needs:
For smaller jobs or properties with limited space, skip bags can be a practical alternative because they’re both compact and flexible; meaning that preparation is usually much simpler than for a full-sized skip.
They’re ideal for:
For larger projects or significant volumes of waste, Roll On Roll Off (RORO) containers may be more appropriate to consider when preparing for your skip delivery.
These can:
Please note: Because of their size, RORO deliveries require more access space and careful planning ahead of time.
With over 25 years of experience, Morley Skips provides reliable skip hire, skip bags and RORO containers across Essex and Suffolk. Whether you’re preparing for your skip delivery for working on a home renovation, garden project or commercial development, our team is here to help you prepare properly from the very beginning.
Customers choose Morley Skips because:
If you’re planning a project, the team at Morley Skips is here to make your waste removal straightforward, organised and stress-free from day one. To find out more, give us a call on 01621 815 287 or simply book a skip online here.
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