What can I put in my skip and what is not allowed?
18 May 2016
When hiring a skip bin for a home renovation or clean-out, most people will imagine throwing all types of waste and junk into the skip and sending it on its way. However, you should be aware that:
- There are certain types of waste you are prohibited from putting in a skip by law; and
- Separating out some waste can actually save you money, rather than cost you more.
Check out these tips to remain compliant and get the most from your skip bin hire.
1. What is not allowed to be disposed of in skip bins?
Laws on waste disposal vary slightly from council to council, but in general it is against the law to dispose of the below items in a skip bin:
- Human or animal waste, as it is toxic in landfill and unsafe for our staff who are unloading and sorting the waste
- Hazardous Liquids, including oil, paint, poisons and pesticides – not even allowed in sealed containers
- Batteries
- Asbestos
- Vehicle tyres, as they are difficult to process and should instead be taken directly to tyre recyclers (see more on how separating out recyclable waste can save money in question 6).
2. Can white goods be thrown into skip bins?
This is a common question we’re asked, with many Perth homeowners wondering if they can throw their old fridges, freezers, washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers and microwave ovens into their skip. The answer is that, yes they are allowed, however,
- Fridges and freezers MUST be de-gassed
- All lids/doors must be removed.
However, it’s also important to note that it’s not an economical solution to dispose of your white goods in this way as they are bulky and will take up a large part of the skip bin you hire. It is better to take white goods to a whitegoods recycling facility near you. (See more on how separating out recyclable waste can save money in question 6).
3. What happens if prohibited waste is found in a customer’s skip on/after collection?
It is extremely important to follow the above guidelines when loading your skip bin as there are two possible repercussions if prohibited waste is found in your skip after collection:
- The entire waste load may be taken back to your home to be resorted by you
- If hazardous material were found in the skip and needed to be dealt with by specialists, we may need to transport the skip to another disposal site and the additional charges would be imposed on the customer.
4. Are there rules about over-filling? How high above the surface is allowed?
Yes, skip bins must only be filled level to the top of the bin.
This is because there are strict government rules and regulations regarding overfilling skip bins. Skip bins are transported by our trucks from your home to our waste recovery facility or to landfill sites via main roads and over and under bridges and overpasses, and there are strict load and load restraint laws around this to keep other road users safe. Overfilling the skip bins would mean a high risk of waste spilling out onto the roads or hitting bridges/overpasses as we travel below, which is hazardous to other drivers, our infrastructure and the environment.
So it is extremely important to put enough consideration into choosing a large enough skip bin to match your waste needs. If you’re having trouble deciding what size bin you need you can check out our resource on choosing the right skip size here.
5. What happens if a skip is overfilled?
If we find the skip has been overfilled when we come to collect it we are legally not allowed to take the bin. We must remove the additional waste and send a second bin to collect that waste, the cost of which must be covered by the customer.
6. How can separating green/recyclable waste can save money for residential customers?
As we mentioned above, separating out recyclable goods like tyres and fridges can save you money. This is because 1) they are bulky and take up a lot of room in your skip which could be used for other items, and 2) because it is more expensive to bring comingled waste to landfill than it is to dispose of or recycle these goods as well as things like construction waste.
Therefore it can actually be more cost effective for you to hire one skip bin for your general waste and bring your recyclables separately to dedicated facilities. Or in the case of a home renovation, hire two skips – one for general waste for landfill and another for construction waste (timber, sand, concrete and brick) that we can recycle at our waste recovery facility.
For any further questions on the rules and regulations around skip bin waste disposal don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 08 9379 2111! Otherwise you can order your skip online below:
