23FEB

How to load a skip bin

The best way to load your skip bin

It’s that time of year where we’re cleaning up our houses or making renovations. Thankfully our skip bins help us deal with the collateral damage of sprucing up our homes! Skip bins make life easier for us DIY Aucklanders, but even though we’re using it for rubbish, there’s still a right way and a wrong to fill a skip bin. I know! It seems crazy because all of your junk is just heading to the dump.

But if you know how to load your skip properly, you’ll not only be able to fit more in there, but you’ll also be keeping yourself and the people who remove your skip bin safe. It’s not rocket science! Just follow our handy tips and you’ll be getting more bang for your buck when you hire a skip bin.

Skip bin hire

Do you even need a skip bin?

Using a skip bin is a substantial financial investment and you may think you have more waste than you actually do. Before you order a skip bin, look through your waste materials and identify what exactly you want to get rid of. It’s wise to know what kinds of materials you need to dispose of ahead of time so both you and the company you’re dealing with know what they’re in for! If you pick the wrong bin for the type of waste that you have, you could incur additional charges.

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Make a list to you can see all of your waste materials and order the right skip and the exact size you need. Once you have everything written down you might realise that you’d be better off disposing of certain items, like wet paint, separately. Items like mattresses also need to be handed separately at landfills. Knowing your waste will help you save time and money!

The do’s and don’ts of loading up your skip bin

Before you start chucking everything and anything in your bin you’ve got to know that there are certain materials that you absolutely cannot place in a bin. Don’t fret! Most things can go in there, but the following can’t:

  • Household Waste such as food scraps, soiled nappies, sanitary items.
  • Poisonous Chemicals
  • Asbestos
  • Wet Paint in large quantities – talk to your local paint shop to see how you can dispose of your paint in an environmentally sound way!
  • Tyres
  • Batteries
  • Oils
  • Explosives
  • Flammable Items
  • Liquid Concrete

You might have some materials you don’t even know are considered hazardous – run a search of the waste list you made, or call us and we can advise you and what can and can’t go in your skip! You don’t want the surprise of additional charges so do your research before you start packing your skip bin.

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You can, however, fill your skip with the following materials:

  • General waste: furniture, appliances, office waste
  • Green waste: tree branches, timber, grass clippings, leaves
  • Hardfill & rubble: concrete, tiles, pavers, bricks, sand, soil

Of course, if you’re unsure you can always get in touch with us and we talk you through what can and can’t go in your skip! We’re here to help so don’t be shy!

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On the Level

Our skips are rented out by volume and while it may be tempting to overfill them, you can’t fill them above the rim. These restrictions don’t exist to make it harder for you to remove your rubbish, but are in place due to occupational health and safety legislation. It’s actually illegal to transport a waste container that is bursting at the seams and most companies won’t take the chance of incurring large fines and demerit points against our drivers’ licences.

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Full skip bins need to be covered during transit but tarpaulins don’t have the structural integrity to prevent heavy debris from dislodging. Overfilling your bin is a nightmare waiting to happen, and not just for you, but innocent people on the roads too! Simply ask yourself: Would I feel safe driving behind a truck transporting this bin? If your answer is no, you know what you need to do! Either hire a second bin or dispose of some of the waste in another fashion. Don’t put peoples’ lives at risk!

Financially speaking, if we allowed overfilling we’d be out of pocket, which would lead to us having to increase our fees. Here’s something to deter you from overfilling: overfilling will result in an excess charge on top of your skip bin hire, and we’re unable to pick up the skip when it’s overloaded.

Do the right thing and fill your skip to the level!

Maximise your skip bin Load

Follow our tips and tricks and you can be sure that you’ll never have to deal with fines or added costs of overfilling your skip bin!

  1. Break down and crush your bigger items. Furniture should be disassembled or even better, recycled.
  2. Heavier waste should be on the bottom with lighter pieces, such as green waste like branches, on the top.
  3. Pack your skip tightly like a jigsaw puzzle. You don’t want to leave gaping holes – you’re not paying to transport air! Lay flat objects, such as old table tops, down first and then load your bulkier items on top.
  4. Know your recyclables: why should you pay to get rid of recycling that your council may remove from your house free of charge?! Cardboard, paper, glass and plastic can go into your regular weekly recycle bins. Don’t waste your money by putting this material in your hired skip.
  5. Keep an eye on your skip! People might think your skip is the neighbourhood free-for-all! Try to keep your skip on your property to minimise the potential of people using it to dispose of their trash.

And there you have it! Now that you know what can and can’t go in your skip, how to pack it to maximise your money and your waste, and packing it to the level you’re ready to go with getting rid of the stuff lying around your house. We’ve got plenty of options available when it comes to getting rid of your junk, so get in touch with us today to see how we can help you manage your excess waste. Thanks again for understanding our commitment to the safety of your employees and the environment.

Further Reading:

Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lhnoXO0sR8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_cjHTZ5CvE

 

Posted on 23 Feb 2016
Posted in Junk Removal