Why Winter Is Different

Skips work just as well in December as they do in June, but cold weather, wet waste and short days all change how you should plan. A few simple steps can save you money and stop delivery day going wrong.

Keep the Waste Dry

Wet waste is heavy waste. Rain soaks into plaster, soil, cardboard, carpet and timber, and all of it counts towards the weight limit for your skip. Cover the skip when you are not loading it, and keep a tarpaulin to hand if heavy rain or snow is forecast.

Materials you need to keep separate are even more sensitive to the weather. Plasterboard should be stored somewhere dry until it can be dealt with properly.

Ice, Snow and Access

A skip lorry is a big, heavy vehicle, and it needs a safe route in and out. Before delivery, clear snow from the place where the skip will sit, grit any slope on your drive if you can, and move cars parked close to it. Tell us about steep drives, tight turns or soft ground when you book.

Frozen ground can feel firm in the morning and turn soft by the afternoon, so do not assume a lawn or gravel area will hold a loaded skip. Boards under the skip can help protect a surface that you are worried about. If the weather makes a road or drive unsafe, a delivery or collection may have to move to another day. We would rather rearrange than put anyone at risk.

Dark Evenings and Skips on the Road

Under the Highways Act 1980, a skip on the highway must be properly lit during the hours of darkness. It must also carry red and yellow reflective markings at each end. With darkness falling so early in winter, lighting and cones matter for much more of the day. Exact conditions are set by each council and appear on the permit, and some specify the lamps and cones needed.

Check each evening that lamps are working and cones have not been moved or blown away by the wind. Our guide to skip lighting and markings covers this in detail.

Never Put Hot Ash in a Skip

Log burners and open fires are in constant use at this time of year. Ash can hold its heat for longer than you would expect, and it can set fire to wood, paper or packaging in a skip. Do not put ash in a skip. Keep it in a metal container, away from anything that can burn, and follow your council’s advice on disposal. It is also worth remembering that burning rubbish in a skip is never a safe way to make more room.

Do Not Overfill It

Load the skip evenly and keep waste below the rim. Snow and rain can shift a loose pile, and an overloaded skip may not be collected. If you are thinking of raising the sides to fit more in, read our guide to greedy boards first. If the job is running behind because of the weather, check how long you can keep a skip and contact us before your hire ends.

Plan Around the Holidays

Christmas and New Year can shorten the working week for hauliers, tips and council permit teams. If your skip is going on the road, apply for your skip permit in good time. Give us your preferred delivery and collection dates as early as you can, so your skip does not sit full over the holidays.

If you are not sure what size you need, our skip size guide is a good place to start.