Skip Hire Blog

Name: TopSkips

Specialised subject: skip hire

Q: I have approximately 80 bin bags of soil to get rid of, what size skip will I need?

A: In this specific case the best skip to hire is the 8 yard large builders skip; this can take up to 80 bin bags of waste. More importantly though; this is the largest domestic-use skip you can fill with inert waste as it results in a 5-6 tonne load, which is the most weight the average skip wagon can take.

If you need a skip for industrial use; there are larger 'Roll on Roll Off' skips available that can take greater quantities of inert. As the name suggests, these are pushed off and pulled on to the back of skip lorries and require more room on-site.

To find the right size skip for you, including info on bin bag capacity, visit the skip sizes section of TopSkips.com where you can also see our video explanations in full glorious Technicolor!

If you need skip hire over the Bank Holiday weekend (which is this Friday!) make sure you get it booked in now.

It's our busiest time and we're already taking orders so if you're planning a clear out give our Skip Hire team a call on FreePhone 08000 82 10 82 or click here to book your skip hire online 24 hours a day on our safe and secure server!

And did you know we also do:

Portable Toilet Hire

Container Hire

Asbestos Removal

So whatever you need, it's best to get it booked in now!

Here's another skip hire question from one of our customers...

Q: "I have placed an order for skip hire and on your list of waste materials I selected paper/card/plastic/metal. Can I also place electrical/electronic waste in, eg cooker hob, computer, HIFI, monitor?"

A: Unfortunately, we don't accept a number of items in our skips, these include food waste, paint cans, aerosols, gas canisters, tyres, and electrical equipment such as cookers computers, HIFI's and monitors/TV screens. Waste electrical and electronic equipment is controlled by the WEEE Directive, if you have such items to dispose of; then you have a number of options available.

If you're a householder disposing of electrical equipment; it's not illegal to place it in your bin for regular collection, however, TopSkips encourages you to use one of the following methods for a more sound environmental solution:

- Community recycling projects can benefit from your old working equipment, try your local school, community centre, youth organisation or even Freecycle which is a non-profit online movement.

- Cash in and sell your working electrical equipment through a local paper or shop notice board.

- See if your nearest recycling centre accepts white goods and electrical equipment.

- Your local authority will collect bulky white goods items such as fridges and washing machines for you, some do it free and others will charge you a small fee.

- If you're buying a new appliance, check with the store whether they can take your old one away for recycling at the same time!

Computer Microchips ready for recycling

It's always great to hear what you think about our skip hire service and seeing as it's A-Level results day, let's hear how we've done from one of our customers...

“I wish all businesses had the problem-solving, negotiation skills, friendliness, positive attitude and professionalism of the people I have dealt with at TopSkips - principally Jonni George and the team. They have been unfailingly helpful, calm, constructive and adept at handling any little snag. I have had a difficult week with other things going on and they have made it MUCH easier to bear. Thanks a million”.

Heidi Botomley

Well surely that's an A or even A*! A big thanks to Heidi for her feedback and keep up the excellent work Jonni and the team!

Jonni hard at work, and no it's not a staged photograph; he really is writing something important down!

Be honest, when I wrote in Mondays skip hire blog entry about a skip that's a swimming pool, you didn't believe me did you? Well here's the proof and an intro from its creator Oliver Bishop-Young...

"I saw a TV advert in 1995 depicting a whole street throwing their 'chintz' furniture into a skip. The image revealed the potential for a skip to become a point of both material and experiential exchange within the community. From then on I submerged myself in the affairs of skips".

Submerged is definitely the right word, it's amazing what you can do with a hose and some damp proof membrane. Passers-by were said to be amazed at the sight of someone floating in a skip and who can blame them?!

As Oliver says "A Converted skip is a great tool for bringing the community together. And, after a long hot day, how good it is to plunge into your very own pool".

Well, it certainly puts a new spin on the term Skip Diving!

Get hold of Oliver at olly@oliverbishopyoung.co.uk and Don't miss next Wednesdays skip conversion, when we'll really 'ramp' it up!

What would you say if I told you we'd found a skip being used as a swimming pool and we have pictures to prove it?

Incredible right?

I mean, we've got a pretty open mind when it comes to skip hire but it seems there's some people who really do think outside the box when it comes to what can go inside a skip!

In fact we've got pictures of quite a few strange uses for skips as over the coming weeks the TopSkips blog will be showcasing the work of UK based designer Oliver Bishop-Young. Oliver is 22, was born in Pembrokeshire and studied a BA in Design at Goldsmiths University in London, his work is fantastic and we're particularly interested in his adventures in the world of skip conversions!

Starting this Wednesday and running every Wednesday for 7 weeks, we'll focus on one of Olivers' conversions. Each one will challenge your conventional viewpoint of the humble skip and definitely give you a midweek to remember!

Catch the first one this Wednesday 13th August...and bring a towel!

Here at TopSkips we get asked a lot of questions by customers about skip hire and it occured to us that there may be lots of you wondering about the very same issues. So we've decided to answer these questions through the blog...starting today!

Q: "I would like to know the price of a 6 cubic yard skip with a drop door".

A: The 6 cubic yard skip with drop down door allows one end to be lowered for use as a ramp and would have a hire charge around the same as a normal 6 cubic yard skip (remember though; prices vary dependent on location).

They are commonly available in 6 yard and 8 yard sizes with the very rare occurance of a 4 or 2 yarder being documented. The drop down door is particularly useful for work involving a wheelbarrow, possibly transporting heavy inert material and results in the largest type of this skip coming in at 8 yards as that's the most inert a wagon can carry.

Industry lingo: 'drop ends', 'drop down doors', 'tailgates'.

Here at TopSkips we're all about making skip hire easy, thats why we provide an easy to use online ordering system, online videos at www.topskips.tv to help you choose the right skip and our "7 Secrets to Successful Skip Hire".

Well just to make it even easier, we've now included Google Checkout as a payment method at TopSkips.com, so you can now order and pay for your skip hire in another fast, convenient, and secure way. This is in addition to the PayPal and credit/debit card options already available and powered by Worldpay!

I know you're itching to find out how the TopSkips boys got on last night so i'll hand you over to our in-house sports journo Matt Wilkinson for a full match report...

After weathering an early storm which saw the skip hire side go 2-0 down, two magnificent individual goals brought the team level and set the tone for the remainder of the game. Any danger of defeat soon fizzled out due to a tiring opponent and crafty use of the numbers game.

Thanks to regular substitutions and excellent passing, goals were quick and plentyful. Two each from Steven Long and Matthew Wilkinson, a stunning 8 yard drive from Mike Lahiri and a tidy finish from Dave Roberts saw TopSkips round off an impressive 8-7 victory and climb the league table.

"I just swung my leg and Bob’s your Uncle"

After the win we caught up with Mike Lahiri and asked about his wonder strike; “I just tried to kick it as hard as I could, I wasn’t really aiming for anything, I just swung my leg and Bob’s your Uncle. I hadn’t really realised it had gone in until Dan came up and hugged me".

Such friendship and modesty that's seldom seen in the modern game. With two wins in two for the TopSkips side and a joint 3rd position in the league, it's a great time to be one of the tens of faithful supporters. Lets hope the boys can make it three in next weeks game against the 'Orange Pencils'!

TopSkips skip hire-sponsored Year 7 Basketball team the 'Warriors' rounded off their season with a fantastic 50-28 win over the Mystics, the game saw a close opening 10 minutes after which the Withington-based side pulled away and victory never looked in doubt!

The previous week the 'Warriors' came within a minute of beating the impressive 'Westleigh Wildcats'. In the end, Westleigh ran out 32-29 winners but it was a measure of the development of the 'Warriors' as just a couple of months ago, Westleigh won the corresponding fixture by twenty points!

The two games marked an upbeat end to a tough Division 1 Summer season which was their first in the secondary school age band. The team narrowly missed out on the play-offs but next season they'll be graduating to Y8's and with new signings on the way, there'll no doubt be some silver-wear to display.

Great work and good luck for next season from all of the TopSkips Team!