The Dos and Don’ts of Recycling

Recycling is a practice that we all know is beneficial to the environment. However, managing your household waste according to local recycling rules can be daunting and confusing.
Here we discuss some do’s and don’ts of recycling your household waste.

Dos
•    DO always what materials are accepted with your local council.   Whilst some recycling plants can handle certain materials, others will not have the facilities, so it is vital that you check.
•    DO separate items- again check with your local council for requirements. Whilst some people only have one recycling bin, others may need to separate their recycling waste into plastics, glass and metals.
•    DO remove grease before recycling- It is common for people to place pizza boxes in the recycling bin or believing they cannot be recycled due to the grease and place them in the general waste bin. The truth is that you can tear off the pieces of cardboard that are covered in grease and place in the general waste bin and place the clean cardboard in the recycling bin.
•    DO recycle your junk mail. The majority of the mail you receive is suitable for the recycling bin. Place all your unnecessary paperwork in the recycling bin unless it contains confidential information, which should be shredded where possible. Check with your local council before placing shredded paper in the recycling bin as some areas do not accept it.
•    DO try and reuse items as much as possible. Just because an item is recyclable can be recycled doesn’t mean you should not reuse it as much as you can beforehand.
•    DO flatten cardboard down as much as possible. The flatter you can get it, the more you can fit in the bin and therefore the smaller number of waste pickups are necessary, lowering costs and emissions.
•    DO rinse all containers- Ensure containers are cleaned thoroughly before placing in the recycling to remove any traces of food.

Don’ts
•    DON’T assume an item is recyclable. Even though you are trying to maximise your recycling, adding unrecyclable material to the recycling bin can be more harmful. An entire batch of recycling can be written off due to a very small number of unrecyclable items being found.    Before recycling anything you are unsure of, always check the label first.
•    DON’T recycle plastic bags- Try to reuse plastic bags as many times as possible. When they can no longer be used, take them to a facility that specifically recycles plastic bags. Many supermarkets have areas to dispose of them. Do not just place them in your recycling bin.
•    DON’T recycle food- Food is not recyclable but some of it can be compostable. Consider purchasing a compost bin to place organic food waste to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill whilst benefitting your garden at the same time.
•    DON’T recycle plastic containers that contained toxic material such as bleach. Be careful when placing plastic bottles in the recycling bin. Although they are plastic, if they have contained a potentially harmful substance, they will not be accepted at the recycling plant. For example, anti-freeze pesticide containers, spray paints and even some household cleaners
•    DON’T place garden waste in a recycle bin. Order a separate garden waste bin if you have garden waste on a regular basis.
•    DON’T recycle wrapping paper unless it states it’s recyclable- Many people do not realise that most wrapping paper and tissue paper is unrecyclable. Try and reuse wrapping paper as much as possible by storing it away for the future.

Unfortunately, recycling is becoming more complicated and it is important to understand what your recycling rules are in your local area. However, by following these dos and don’ts you can help ensure as much waste as possible is recycled. If you have a lot of waste in your house or garden, then consider hiring a skip to help. One of the major benefits of LSPS skip hire is that we will ensure your waste is separated into items that can be recycled and those that can’t to take the pressure off you.

To find out more about how we can help you with your waste disposal and recycling needs, please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

48 Things You Should Get Rid Of In Your House

Your house can soon fill up with rubbish and it is always a good idea to have a sort out every now and then. It is surprising the number of things you can find in your home that you do not need or have no use for and yet for some reason you haven’t thrown out yet. Sometimes it can be daunting to do a big tidy up however if you take it one room at a time and then do it on a regular basis, you can keep on top of the clutter.

Here are 48 things you will find around your hope that you should get rid of

1.    Old Toiletries
2.    Old Makeup
3.    Appliance manuals- These are important to keep but only whilst you own the appliance. Haven’t had it for years? Then why are you holding on to the manual? A lot of manuals are now available on line as well
4.    Cables and wires, you don’t need any more
5.    Old kitchen appliances
6.    Broken coat hangers
7.    Old underwear or worn out clothes
8.    Old Knives
9.    Dead Batteries
10.    Old Calendars, notebooks and stationery
11.    Broken fairy lights
12.    Old hairbrushes
13.    Old Electronic items
14.    Old sofas and other furniture
15.    Empty pens
16.    Worn out shoes
17.    Books you have read
18.    Games and Jigsaws with pieces missing
19.    Odd socks
20.    Exercise equipment you don’t use
21.    Expired Food
22.    Expired medicine
23.    Old pairs of glasses
24.    Broken Jewellery or single earrings
25.    Scraps of fabric or wool
26.    Dying house plants
27.    Worn towels
28.    Half burned candles
29.    Dried paintbrushes
30.    Receipts you no longer need
31.    CDs and DVDs
32.    Spices
33.    Old Christmas and Birthday Cards
34.    Old magazines, newspapers and catalogues
35.    Old crayons
36.    Old bathmats
37.    Old air fresheners
38.    Old toys
39.    Takeaway menus you don’t use
40.    Old sheets, bedding and pillow
41.    Photos, posters and artwork you no longer like or want to display
42.    Empty perfume bottles
43.    Tourist souvenirs from holiday
44.    Old train or gig tickets
45.    Expired vouchers
46.    Loyalty cards you don’t use
47.    Pay slips that are older than 2 years
48.    Old phone covers

Struggling to figure out what to throw away? If you haven’t used it in the past 6 months (unless the item is seasonal like Christmas decorations, you more than likely do not need it) You may find yourself exaggerating how much you use the item, and underestimate how much space the item is actually taking up.

To help decide what you should throw away and what you should keep, ask yourself the following questions

    When did you last use it?
    How often do you use it?
    How expensive was it?
    How much space does it take up?
    Does it have sentimental value?

Although some of these items can only be disposed of in specific ways, or you can donate the items that are still in good condition, many of these items can easily be disposed of in a skip. When you undertake a massive tidy session in your home, considering hiring a skip to help make the process a lot easier and more convenient for you.

To find out more about how we can help you with your waste disposal needs, please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

Recycling after Christmas

Christmas is the best time of year for many people, but the festivities and celebrations can cause a lot of household waste. You will be surprised however, how much of the waste can be recycled.

Here are some simple tips to ensure you recycle as much as you can, avoiding waste wherever possible to reduce the amount that ends up in a landfill site.

What can be recycled?

•    Christmas Trees- Look for a local collection point at a local park. There are some organisations that take old Christmas trees, shred them into wood chip and for use on flower beds. Ensure all your decorations have been removed.
•    Wrapping paper- Try and buy recyclable wrapping paper. We get through so much wrapping paper each year, ensuring we can reuse it makes it a lot more sustainable.
•    Tissue Paper- An alternative to wrapping paper is a few layers of tissue paper.
•    Christmas Lights (Check with your local council)
•    Mistletoe, Holly and Ivy- If they are real you can recycle them as garden waste (make sure they don’t have glue or glitter on them though.
•    Batteries- Go to your local large supermarket and they should have battery collection points.
•    Christmas Cards- If they are on clean paper or card and do not contain glitter then they can go into your household recycling. Some supermarkets collect your old Christmas cards as well. You could also create scrapbooks from your Christmas cards if you like to keep them as mementos.
•    Cardboard boxes- Remove any filling or bits of sticky tape first and ensure the cardboard is clean.

What shouldn’t be recycled?

As you can see from the list above, there is a wide range of materials that you can recycle, there are still some items that cannot be. Placing these in with genuine recyclables can contaminate the whole lot, rendering an entire batch useless.

•    Foil and some plastic films are not recyclable.
•    Don’t put wrappers that are greasy with food in the recycling bin.
•    Avoid wrapping paper with holographic designs as these cannot be recycled.
•    Christmas Decorations.

Food Waste

Many households throw away more waste during Christmas than any other time of year, especially food waste. Although you cannot send food off to be recycled, there are a few clever tips you can consider trying to reduce your household’s food waste.

•    Try and think about portion sizes during Christmas. Try and estimate accurately how much food your family will actually eat to avoid buying food you won’t realistically finish.
•    Freeze any leftovers that are freezer friendly.
•    If you have a lot of vegetables left over, create a soup which is easy to make and be easily frozen for later use.
•    Place any vegetable peelings into a compost bin rather than into your normal rubbish bin
•    Have leftovers as snacks whenever possible. There’s nothing quite like a leftover turkey sandwich.

If you have a lot of guests over during Christmas, you may want to consider hiring a skip for the festive season. A mini skip for domestic use doesn’t take up a lot of space and it allows you to discard of your waste in there that otherwise would be too much for your regular bins. The great benefit is that the rubbish will be sorted and recycled for you meaning you have one less thing to worry about this Christmas.

To find out more about how we can help you with your waste disposal needs, please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

5 Reasons to hire a skip before Christmas

Christmas time is nearly upon us and the thought of having guests over or finding room for more gifts can sometimes be overwhelming. You might even be considering having a big clear-out before the big day.

Here are 5 reasons why you should consider hiring a skip before Christmas for you to have a tidier start to the new year.

1.    Your chance to get rid of old junk

When you open your presents on Christmas Day, you can suddenly find your home filled with new stuff that you may not have room for. One way around this is to go through those boxes and bags you have been meaning to get rid of during the year but haven’t had the chance to in advance. You may be surprised how much you have been hoarding in your home that you no longer have need for. Items that do not work or things you just don’t like. It also allows your previously crammed wardrobes and attics to become a bit neater.

2.    Free up space

If you have guests during the Christmas period, you will probably notice a huge increase in your household waste. Although paper can easily be crushed, glass and metal items that are bulkier take up more room and so it is important you try and get this waste removed before your guests arrive or before Christmas day to avoid running out of space. A domestic mini skip is a great option for this.

3.    It saves a trip to the tip

Your time is precious during the build up to Christmas, and so hiring a skip can save you the trip to and from the recycling plant. Not only does this save you time, it also saves you on the money it takes in fuel to drive to the tip, but also gives you peace of mind that you can fit all the waste you want in a skip rather than deal with the prospect of going on multiple tip journeys.

4.    You can recycle a range of materials
From paper to glass, metal and electronics, these are just some of the materials you can dispose of in your skip. Although there are some items that you should not place in skips, the majority of items are fine. Hiring a mini skip is a great way to get rid of bulkier items which otherwise would take up a large proportion of your household bin (which needs to remain as empty as possible before your guests arrive and the amount of waste suddenly shoots up). Electronic items are great for placing in the skip giving you peace of mind that you are getting rid of your unwanted items in the correct way.

5.    You are promoting recycling
We all know the importance of recycling but over Christmas when you are rushing, household waste can end up being low down on your priorities. Using a skip to help clear space before Christmas itself can be a big help as not only is it an easy way to get rid of a large amount of rubbish in one go, you can be assured that your rubbish will be separated correctly and as much of the waste recycled as possible

To find out more about how we can help you with your waste disposal needs, please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

10 ways to teach kids how to recycle

Recycling is such an important topic and it has never been more prominent in our daily lives. Our children will be growing up with recycling being a more normal practice. We need to encourage this behaviour in order to ensure they and future generations continue to recycle as much as possible and understand the importance of it. Here are some ideas you can use with your children to help teach them about recycling and encourage recycling behaviour.

1.    Increase the number of recycle bins around the house - Try and have recycle bins on each floor of your house to encourage kids to recycle first rather than placing all rubbish in the general waste bin. Having a small bin in the child’s bedroom and teaching them what items to put in there will also help.
2.   Label your bin using graphics - Place a graphic of cardboard, plastic etc on the bin so kids can easily identify which bin is which. When you are throwing something away, hand it to the child and ask them which bin they think it should go in. You could also get them to decorate the bin themselves as a fun art project.
3.    Use both sides of paper - Colouring and art are great activities for your child to do but try and encourage them to use both sides of the paper to reduce the amount of waste. If you are using paints, get specific paper designed for paint so that both sides can be used. Try and get them to use crayons instead of pens or colouring pencils as they are softer and don’t dent the other side of the paper.
4.    Get creative with recycling materials - Before you throw anything in the bin, think about whether you can create anything with it. Building a rocket, musical instruments and more are possible with a bit of creativity. You can use old containers to place paint in for future art projects as well.
5.    Compost - Get you kids to place food waste into a compost container in the garden. This will show them how compost works, and they can help you use it in the garden to plant fruit, veg or flowers of their own.
6.    Go to the recycling centre - An easy way to teach kids about recycling is to take them to your local recycling centre so they can see recycling on a large scale for themselves.
7.    Games - There are online games available specifically made to help kids learn more about recycling.
8.    Donate clothes and toys - On a regular basis, get your children to go through their stuff and see if there is anything they don’t play with anymore or clothes that no longer fit and get your child to donate them. This teaches them how people less fortunate than them can benefit from their unwanted clothes and toys. It also helps keep your house a bit more clutter free.
9.    Rewards - Incorporate a reward system into your recycling efforts. Give them a gold star every time they recycle and keep a record of their progress so they can see how far away they are from a reward. The rewards only have to be small but it’s a great way to make recycling more fun and engaging.
10.   Demonstrate - You need to ensure all members of your family are taking part, not just your children. Kids learn a lot of their behaviour from their parents and older members of the family, so you need to lead by example.

A lot of these ideas are simple to implement but could have a massive impact. By normalizing recycling when children are young, they are more likely to continue this behaviour as they grow older. So, taking time to incorporate some of these activities into your daily routine can reap huge benefits in the long term. The important thing to remember is to try and make the tasks fun and easy to do, otherwise you will lose their attention and they will think recycling is boring and not something they want to do.

To find out more about how we can help you with your waste disposal needs, please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

Recycling at theme parks

Theme parks attracts thousands of tourists in the UK. They provide thrills and entertainment, making them a great choice for a day out. However, despite them being a great destination, the number of guests can lead to a massive amount of waste. Here we discuss what theme parks can do to ensure as much waste is recycled as possible.

Bins
It is a simple thing to implement, but planning is still involved when it comes to placing recycle bins around the park. When people are busy having a great time, recycling is sometimes quite low on their priorities, so theme parks have a responsibility to ensure it is as easy as possible for guests to recycle. Have a sufficient number of bins so that guests can always easily access one. Target high volume areas (around toilets and food areas) as this will be where the most waste will be. Also ensure you have bins throughout the queuing areas of the park. Customers do not want to have to leave the queue in order to get rid of their rubbish and this will lead to more littering. Also, ensure your bins are consistent. Use the same symbols and style of bin throughout the theme park so customers can easily identify them.

Lighting
Theme parks require a lot of lighting, especially on the rides themselves. Being able to use LED lights and eco-friendly light bulbs wherever possible is essential. It can be complicated to set up but having a renewable energy program in place will benefit you in the long run. You can also convert food waste to generate energy for electricity.

Food and drink
Water is a necessity for everyone, so this is a large area you should combat to ensure unnecessary waste is not created. Try and encourage customers to bring their own reusable bottles by providing free water fountains around the park. This is both convenient to the customer, avoids single use plastic bottles being sold in large quantities and will significantly reduce your plastic waste.
At your food stations, try and use reusable cutlery if possible. If not, try and use cutlery and napkins that have been produced from recycled materials. If possible, try and team up with a local charity and get left over food donated to those in need.

Greenery
Not only is greenery great for the environment, it helps improve the look of the theme park and improves the mood of guests. Use trees effectively around seating areas to create natural and tranquil areas for guests to have a sit down and relax. Using greenery to do this avoids you having to have as many indoor areas that require lighting and air conditioning.

Staff
It is not just about the customers at the theme park and worrying about the waste they create. You also need to consider the staff at the park. You need to provide enough training on your recycling program and ensure that all members of staff are on board and contribute to the cause. Get them to try and bring their own packed lunch, car share if possible and only use disposable products that you actually need. If your staff are fully behind the recycling program, they can help ensure the guests follow the rules as well.

Rewards
Consider rewarding customers who help with the recycling program. You can get vending machines that reward people for recycling and returning their bottles. If customers bring their own cups for hot drinks, offer a small discount. There are many ways you can use small rewards to encourage the behaviour you desire.

Paper
There are a few small changes you can make to reduce the amount of paper your theme park produces. Ensure customers can access their tickets online and just show a barcode or QR code at the entrance as opposed to having to physically print their tickets. Also, have an app for your theme park. Not only will this stop you having to print and hand out thousands of maps each day, it also helps improve the customer experience as the app will not only show them a map, but it can show them the best routes to get to the rides they want and also real time waiting times so they can plan their day more efficiently.

Some success stories
There are many theme parks that are already doing a lot in order to try and reduce the amount of waste they create. Disney has been known for trying to tackle this problem for years. Due to the sheer volume of guests that visit Disney theme parks each day, it is a massive challenge to tackle waste. They recycle over a dozen materials which equates to thousands of tons each year. They used recycled energy to cool their parks and even recycle human waste from their theme parks and hotels so that it can be used as fertilisers on farms. They have also teamed up with a charity and donated used soaps and bottles of shampoos from their hotels which are recycled and used to create hygiene products for people in need around the world. SeaWorld removed all single use plastic from their theme parks including single use plastic bags and plastic straws.

A Copenhagen park called Tivoli started a recycling deposit-based program back in 1998 where customers paid a deposit for a cup which they then got refunded once they returned the cup at the end of the day. This simple scheme has effectively been used across theme parks, festivals and sports events.

Merlin Theme Parks (which includes Alton Towers, Legoland, Thorpe Park and more) have also teamed up with Coca Cola. The initiative offers half price entry to the group’s theme parks in exchange for empty plastic bottles being handed in to get recycled.

From the examples above, theme parks are trying hard to combat the issue of waste. Some of the larger parks are putting in large initiatives to combat this problem but there is also room for improvement. Also, some theme parks are potentially lagging and should follow the example of others to ensure they are doing as much as possible to reduce waste. The first thing any theme park should do is carry out a waste audit. From here, they can identify which areas they are struggling with and have these as a priority.
 
To find out more about how we can help you with your waste disposal needs, please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

25 ways to reduce rubbish in offices

It is important that in this day and age, all companies try and cut down on the amount of waste they produce and recycle as much as possible. The number of green businesses and green offices are growing, but some companies are still lagging. This blog discusses some easy things offices can implement quickly and simply in order to start reducing office waste.

Packaging
1.    When purchasing any supplies for the office, try and choose options that do not include a lot of excess packaging. If packaging is unavoidable, try and recycle
2.    Speak to suppliers about delivering goods in returnable containers rather than loads of packaging. This is becoming more popular, so it is worth asking your supplier in advance
3.    Bulk buy coffee, tea and sugar supplies. This will stop staff bringing in their own or buying drinks from coffee shops. Buying in bulk also cuts down on the packaging used
4.    Provide a filtered water system to cut down on plastic bottles in the office

Food and drink
5.    Ask your employees to use reusable cutlery/ silverware rather than bringing in disposable plastic cutlery. If your company can provide staff with cutlery in the staffroom, they will be less likely to bring in disposable items
6.    Use reusable cups and mugs. Ask employees to bring their own or provide them as a gesture of good will. They are reasonably cheap and will mean you will significantly cut down on the number of disposable coffee cups you need to get rid of. They are notoriously difficult to recycle
7.    Consider buying a composting bin to place in the staff kitchen area. It’s a great way to avoid as much waste going to landfill as possible. By putting food waste in a separate compost bin, you can have it collected by a company or use the compost yourself if you have any green space or garden
8.    Also get your employees to try and bring their own lunches in their own containers or provide them with plates and bowls. This will cut back significantly on the amount of food packaging you have to throw away
9.    Invest in tea towels rather than providing staff with paper towels.

Paper
10.    Wherever possible, store files digitally. Although this is standard practice for many companies, there are a lot of businesses still heavily reliant on printed copies
11.    Change the settings on all computers to automatically print double sided
12.    Encourage your staff to make amends to documents digitally rather than printing off several drafts of documents
13.    If you can, re use scrap pieces of paper, envelopes, folders and other stationary whenever possible
14.    Buy lighter weight paper
15.    Leave messages for colleagues by sending them emails rather than writing messages down
16.    Before printing documents, look at the margins and line spacing on your documents to ensure you are using the space as efficiently as possible
17.    Recycle unwanted paper and shred any confidential information. Shredded paper can also be recycled, so ensure this always happens.
18.    Try and take a tablet or laptop into meetings to take notes on rather than pen and paper
19.    If you do have to print, try and avoid printing in colour
20.    Store important staff information such as policies and notifications in a central location on the computer system that people can access rather than printing several copies of each update.

Office Equipment
21.    Make the most out of all of your ink cartridges. Rather than buying new ones when they are finished, look into buying refills instead to cut down on the amount of plastic you are using
22.    When buying electrical equipment for your office always think quality over price. Although you may have to pay slightly more, going for higher quality equipment should last you longer and will therefore be more cost efficient but also reduce the waste created when you replace it
23.    If you only use certain equipment occasionally, see if you can hire it instead of buying it outright
24.    Ensure you dispose of your electrical equipment in the right way, such as batteries
25.    Make sure you have clearly labelled bins throughout the office and make it as easy for staff to recycle as possible. Get rid of individual bins at people’s desk as it will make them head over to the main bins and are therefore more likely to split their rubbish into the correct bins.

Some offices have managed to become completely paperless. Although this may not be achievable for some companies, the list above shows that there are a variety of things you can implement to ensure you are going in the right direction. The main thing is to implement waste cutting techniques and ensure your staff stick to them. It will take some time for staff to get used to all the new initiatives, but once they have got into a routine, you should see a significant drop in your office waste. Trying an incentive and rewarding the member of staff who reduces their waste the most is also an effective tactic.

To find out more about how we can help you with your office waste disposal needs, please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

11 ways to stay safe around skips

Hiring a skip is a quick and easy way to get rid of the rubbish you have been storing in your home or business. Although you might not think that hiring a skip is particularly dangerous, if you are not sensible and careful during the process it could lead to potential injuries. Here are a few tips to make sure you and other people remain safe whilst you hire and use your skip.  A lot of the tips are common sense, however if you are in a rush, even the simplest things can be forgotten and that’s when things can become risky.

1.    When preparing for your skip, ensure you are ready for the skip’s arrival. Remember that your skip needs to be placed on a stable, flat surface that is free from any obstructions. Ensure all vehicles have been removed from your drive if this is where you are planning your skip to go. Also make sure if you are placing the skip on the side of a road that the height and position of the skip will not obscure the view of any cars driving past or reversing.

2.    Ensure your skip can be delivered with ease. Remove any cars or obstacles that could stop the delivery truck accessing your property.

3.    Once your skip has been delivered, do NOT try and move it. It is important you know where you want the skip in advance, as once it is placed on the ground you will not be able to move it yourself. They are extremely heavy and attempting to move a skip can not only cause you injury, it can damage the surface it is placed on.

4.    When the skip is being delivered, keep your young children and any pets inside the house. They can be extremely inquisitive to new things and want to get involved but it can be dangerous if they get in the way. Small children and pets will not be easily visible to the driver delivering your skip.

5.    Be careful when filling your skip. Always check there are no small animals, pets or children that have climbed in the skip before you place heavy items into it.

6.    Never put hazardous waste in skips or any other item that is not suitable for skips. Check online or contact us for the full list of items you should not place in skips if you are unsure. Gas cylinders, paint, white goods and batteries are all good examples of what you cannot place in skips.

7.    Be careful when placing heavy items in the skip. Always lift with your knees and always ask for help if you need it. Skips have really high sides so although you may be able to lift the item, being able to lift it high enough to place into the skip can be another matter. It can cause back injuries and lasting damage, so you must know your limits.

8.    Don’t overfill your skip. If your skip is overfilled it may not be collected as it would be unsafe to drive on roads with a skip that full. Each skip has a weight limit that you need to stick to. Even if you are not exceeding the weight limit, if you have overfilled your skip there is a chance items could fall out and cause damage.

9.    Have a system when loading your skip. Don’t just throw it all in at once. If you take a minute to think about how to load it properly, you will be able to fit more in it and ensure nothing can fall out.

10.    Always think about the public. This is slightly less of a risk if the skip is on your private property but if you have it placed on a street you need to ensure that it is not getting in anyone’s way. You may want to consider hazard lights to indicate to people that the skip is there.

11.    Monitor your skip, especially if it is on a public street. You need to make sure that other people are not taking advantage and using your skip as well. Not only is this rude, they could be putting hazardous material in the skip which does not belong there.

All these tips are easy to stick to and by following these rules, you will not only stay safe around skips, you will be able to make the most out of your skip hire.

To find out more about how we can help you with your waste disposal needs, please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

Top recycling tips at home

Recycling is a major consideration for us and we are dedicated to recycling everything possible to reduce waste going to landfill sites. When we collect your skips, we will separate your rubbish in order to recycle as much of the waste as possible. However, there are many elements of recycling that you yourself can do at home as well to cut down on your normal household waste. Here are few of our top tips.

Tip #1 Donate to charity
A great way to reduce waste is to consider donating your clothes and other household items to charity. Just because you no longer want the item, doesn’t mean someone else will not benefit from it. As long as they are in good enough condition, you should take your clothes to your local charity shop. With donation bags distributed to homes, stores across the country and donation banks at a lot of supermarkets, there are many ways you can give your unwanted clothes to someone in need.

Tip #2 Repurpose items
This requires a bit of creativity but it’s great when you can discover another use for an item that you would otherwise have just thrown away. For example, you can use old woks, pots and painted cans and create plant pots for outside, or you can use the material from old clothes to create a blanket. The possibilities are endless.

Tip #3: Don’t waste leftovers
When it comes to food, try and reduce the amount you throw away. A lot of leftovers can make lovely meals. If you have slightly older vegetables that need using, make a soup rather than automatically throwing them away. Composting is another great option for food waste. It reduces your household waste and helps you keep your garden healthy.

Waste is a problem that is continuing to increase, so by doing small things to try and reduce this waste wherever possible we can collectively make a huge impact.

Tip #4: Make some money
Even if you no longer want some items, they could be seen as valuable to other people who will be willing to pay for it. All it takes is for you to give up some time to list the items online to sell and you will be surprised how much money you can make. If you have old electrical items that no longer work as well, you can take them to specialised shops that may buy them off you and restore them to resell.

Tip #5: Get the whole family involved
The best way to ensure you continue recycling wherever possible is getting the whole family involved so recycling and reducing waste becomes part of your daily life. If you have young children, then set them recycling challenges and reward them when they have done a good job. Label your bins so they know what can go in which one and talk about the benefits of recycling, so they know they have to continue as they grow older.

These tips are easy to do but can still create a great impact and reduce the levels of waste in your home. All it takes is a bit of creativity, time and effort. To find out more about how we can help you with your disposal needs, please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

The Skip vs The Tip

When you have a large amount of waste to get rid of that will not fit in your regular bins, you tend to have two main options available for you. Either go to the tip or hire a skip. Here we discuss the benefits of both, and which one is the better and most efficient and effective option.

Location
A lot of people have a waste management centre or tip that is within driving distance of their home, but the distance can vary dramatically. When considering going to the tip, calculate how many trips you think it will take you to remove all of your rubbish, calculate the time it will take for you to drive there, empty your rubbish into the relevant sections of the tip, and then drive back to potentially repeat the process several times over. In addition to this, depending on when you go, there could be dozens of people with the same idea as you as you never know how busy the tip will be. During busy periods, it can be extremely stressful and time consuming to go to the tip.

The great thing about skip hire is that you know the location of the skip will be as near to your house as possible. If you have room, it can be on your land or on your drive which is fantastic. Even if you must have the skip on the road, you know that it will be closer to you than the tip is. This is extremely convenient, especially if you have a few last-minute bits of rubbish that you have forgotten about as it means you don’t have to do another trip to the tip. Once you hire a skip, you know that the skip is only for your use, so you have don’t have to worry about the potential crowds and queues.

Cost
Because you do not have to pay for the tip, it can seem like the obvious choice to go for. However, taking into account the several trips you may have to do, you need to calculate how much fuel you will use in the process as it can add up quickly, especially if your car is full of heavy rubbish. You must think about cost not just in monetary terms but also how much time it will cost you to go to and from the tip. If you need multiple trips this could take you a whole day or even an entire weekend. The time saved will be significant if you chose a skip instead.

Amount of waste
Your decision will be made for you automatically if you have too much rubbish to fit in the car – in that scenario a skip may be your only option. Having a skip means to can get rid of it all in one go and even if you could fit it in your car, it will save you having to make several trips. On the other hand, if you only have a small amount of rubbish, there may not be any point in hiring a skip at all. Measure the quantity of rubbish you are expecting to have and see if there is a skip size that will suit your needs. There is no point hiring a massive skip if you do not have a lot of rubbish, however there are many sizes available. You will also be surprised how much rubbish you have. You may think you will not have a lot, but once you start on a project, the rubbish adds up quickly so a skip may be the choice for you.

Type of waste
A deciding factor is also the type of waste you are wanting to get rid of. If the rubbish smells or is dirty, it will not be a good idea to have it in your car as it could cause permanent damage. Although there are some items that are not suitable for skips, the majority of rubbish can be placed in skips and the great thing is you do not have to separate your waste as this will be done for you once the skip has been collected.

Flexible
A major concern for people when hiring a skip is where to store it. However, this shouldn’t put you off hiring a skip. Even if you do not have space on your private property or to stay on the street overnight, then we offer a same day skip hire service / wait and load service which allows you to get rid of your rubbish quickly within 30 minutes and then the skip will immediately be taken away. By choosing a skip you can be more flexible as you are not dependent on the opening and closing times of the tip, avoiding peak traffic hours or the need to queue when you get there.

Although tips are great places to get rid of your rubbish, a skip may be the best option for you as it provides you with flexibility, they come in a range of sizes and is for your use only which can save you time, money in the long run and energy.

To find out more about how we can help you with your waste disposal needs, please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

LSPS guide to using a skip for house clearances

Whether you are moving to a new house, renovating a property or just want a big spring clean and a fresh start, using a skip can be really useful. In this guide we will try and answer all the questions you might have.

Do I need a skip license?
If you are placing the skip on your private property, then you will not require a skip permit. However, if you are intending to keep the skip on a public road, you will have to have a license to do this. LSPS will take the hassle out of this and we will handle all of the paperwork for you, so you don’t have to. Usually local councils take about 3 days to issue a license so please take these timings into consideration.

What are the benefits of using a skip hire for house clearances?

• There are so many reasons why hiring a skip might be the best solution for you:You can choose the size you need. Whether it is for a small or large clear out, you are in control of what size skip you need. There are five different skip hire options that we offer, so we can be flexible around your needs
• Convenience- having a skip delivered to your door can be extremely convenient and a precious time saver. It means you can get rid of your rubbish in one go and will save you time and money on travelling to and from the tip. If you only need a skip for a short while, we also offer a wait and load service which means you have a short window of time to get rid of your rubbish and we will immediately take the skip away for you, meaning you don’t have the skip outside your house overnight.
• Environmentally friendly - we will ensure that the rubbish in the skip will be recycled where possible.

Which size skip is best for me?
This question completely depends on the individual circumstances. The ideal skip for you will depend on the amount of rubbish you need to get rid of. It is usually a case of the bigger the house, the bigger the skip needed. Refer to our skip size guide here which provides a visual representation of how much you can fit in each skip size. Just remember before choosing that it’s not always best to go for a smaller size if you think there is a chance you may fill it completely. You will be surprised once you start clearing stuff out how much more rubbish you have then you initially suspected. If you get a skip that is too small, you risk overfilling, and this could mean your skip cannot be taken away due to safety reasons. Alternatively, don’t go for too large a size as you need to consider how much space it will take up.

What can you put in the skip?
The list is almost endless of things you can put in the skip. It is more important to know what you can NOT place in the skip. Forbidden items include:

Liquids, oil, paint, asbestos, batteries, fridges, freezers, medical waste, AC units, hazardous and toxic materials, tyres and gas bottles.

Where do I put the skip?
Ideally you would have space on your private land or driveway to store the skip. This is convenient for you in many ways as it stops you needing a skip license, it is close to your house, and you can keep it there until you need to get rid of it. If this is not an option for you then you can usually have it on the road outside your house (as long as they are no restrictions). The only difference with this is that you will have to try and get a place as close to your home as possible and you will have to receive a skip license beforehand, so please bear this in mind when you are considering timings.

If you need any more advice about your house clearance and your skip requirements, then please speak to LSPS today. Contact us on 0800 083 7807. We are open Monday- Friday 07.30 and 16.30 and Saturdays from 7.30 until midday.

Why is plastic so harmful?

We know it has been in the news a lot recently about the damage plastics are doing to the Earth and how it is almost becoming a plastic planet. Plastic has become a huge part of our day to day lives and we may not even be fully aware of how much we use plastics and waste a lot of it. Here we discuss the reasons why plastics are so bad for our environment and what steps we can take on an individual level to try and help.

Reason 1: They take a LONG time to decompose
This is one of the main reasons why plastics are so damaging to our environment. Plastic products vary in how long they take to decompose and the length of time in a lot of cases is shocking. Here are a few examples of typical household items and how long they take to completely biodegrade:

• Toilet Roll - A month
• Cardboard - 2 months
• Plastic Bag - 10-20 years
• Styrofoam cup - Approximately 50 years
• Aluminium can - 200 years
• Plastic Bottle - 450 years
• A nappy - 450 years
• Plastic Straws - Up to 200 years
• Plastic Cutlery – 100-1000 years
• Some plastics - Never

Because plastic is extremely strong it is a desirable product but it is also one that’s difficult to destroy. Because they take so long to decompose, people have tried to suggest alternatives such as burning the plastic, however doing this would produce a lot of harmful pollutants which will have an even worse effect on the environment.

Reason 2: They are cheap
As consumers, we are very strongly driven by price, so when we see something that is both practical and cheap, we are tempted to buy it. A lot of plastic items however are very cheap to buy and cheap for the manufacturers to produce. Changing packaging to something that is fully biodegradable can be a lot more expensive, which is why some manufacturers are put off.

Reason 3: They are not made sustainably
Plastic is manufactured by using coal and crude oil which are both unsustainable sources. We have a limited supply of these materials which is another reason why we shouldn’t be using them all up by making plastics.

Reason 4: They are only being used once
Single use plastics are a main area of concern as the amount of waste they produce is off the scale. People are using the plastics sometimes for a day, hours, if not minutes before they are getting thrown away.

Reason 5: They kill animals
It is horrific to see the impact plastics can have on animals. There is loads of plastic waste entering our oceans each day which is severely affecting marine wildlife like turtles, seals and whales. Some animals are being caught up in the plastics, whereas others are eating the plastic and choking. It is affecting all types of wildlife as well. Even smaller organisms such as plankton are being affected as they are consuming microplastics which are barely visible. 

Reason 6: Humans are eating plastic
Without us even realising, there is a good chance we are consuming traces of plastic fibres and microplastics. In fact, one study suggests that humans can actually be eating the equivalent amount of plastic as a credit card each week! This is a scary thought to consider, however people are unsure of all the details yet.

What can we do?
Although a lot of damage has been caused, we can still carry out some changes to our daily lives to try and reduce the amount of plastic that we use:

• ALWAYS re use your plastic bags if you go shopping rather than buying new ones
• Use paper straws instead of plastic ones
• Be conscious of the products you buy and what packaging they are in. Try and choose items that are packaged in a biodegradable alternative whenever possible
• Use reusable coffee cups and water bottles instead of buying disposable
• Try and get involved in beach clean-ups or other events specifically set up to help clean up the plastics
• Use correct waste disposal. Separate your waste as efficiently as possible to increase the amount of stuff that will get recycled.

To find out more about how we can help with your waste disposal needs, please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

5 common mistakes people make when hiring a skip

Hiring a skip is an easy and great way to get rid of your unwanted clutter, either from your home or office. However, although hiring a skip is a simple process, there are some common mistakes people make that you should be aware of so you can easily avoid making them yourself.

Mistake 1: Ordering the wrong size skip
This seems like a simple thing; however, it is extremely easy to under or over estimate how much rubbish you have. Once you start on a clear up project, you can sometimes get carried away and not realise how much rubbish you had to start with. People often order a skip that is too large and that takes up a lot of room when storing and is a waste of both space and potentially money if they are not intending to fill it. Alternatively, they order a skip that is too small, which leads to more work and multiple trips to remove the waste. You also need to make sure you are not driven too much on price. Do not order a skip just because it is the cheapest. You need to ensure it’s the best option for you.

Tip: If possible, in advance try and gather as much of the rubbish as you can to get an idea of how much space your rubbish takes up. Take this into account before choosing your skip size. Also take into consideration the space you have available to store the skip itself. If you are unsure what size to go for, ring and discuss it with someone who will be able to advise and try and match the skip to your requirements.

Mistake 2: Overfilling the skip
Linking to mistake number 1, a common occurrence is when people hire a skip which is too small and end up overfilling it as a result. A skip is considered overfull if it exceeds the fill line or if items are bulky and protruding from the top. A skip can be refused to be taken away as it is not safe to transport an overfilled skip, making it both an inconvenience and illegal. It can possibly end in a fine being issued.

Tip: Always monitor the amount of waste that goes in the skip to avoid overfilling. If in doubt of the amount of rubbish you have, go for the next size up to be on the safe side.

Mistake 3: Putting restricted items inside skips
Although the list of items you can place in a skip is extensive, there are some materials and items that are forbidden. Liquids, oil, paint, fluorescent tubes, asbestos, batteries, tyres and fridge / freezers are just some of the items you cannot place in your skip. If you are concerned about whether the waste you have is suitable for a skip, then please get in contact and we can advise you. 

Mistake 4: Exceeding weight limits
Along with underestimating how much rubbish you must dispose of, another common mistake is underestimating how much your rubbish weighs. Each skip size is suitable for a certain amount of rubbish. Even if your waste fits nicely in the skip, it still may not be taken away if the skip becomes too heavy. Always be realistic when ordering a skip. If you think it will end up weighing a substantial amount, then please take this into consideration.

Mistake 5: Not considering parking space
Another mistake is not thinking realistically about where the skip is going to go. It needs to be close enough to your property that you can access it easily, however it also needs to be accessible when it gets collected. Ensure you are fully aware of the size of skip you want to hire and ensure you have enough space. This is even more important if you are planning on keeping the skip on a public road. You need to ensure the space is large enough and available for when the skip gets delivered. If you suddenly want to place it on public land rather than your own land you will need a permit which comes at a cost. Although we can sort out the paperwork for this, it could cause delays which are avoidable with forward planning.

Before hiring a skip, make sure you consider your budget, your space to store the skip, the amount of rubbish you have to get rid of, the weight of the rubbish as well as the type of waste. This will make it easier for you to choose the best skip for your needs. If you have any concerns about choosing the correct skip, LSPS are always happy to advise you. To find out how we can help you, please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

Recycling at UK Festivals

There are almost 1,000 music festivals that take place across the UK each year, and with thousands of people in attendance, the amount of waste that these events can cause is off the scale.

Due to this huge amount of waste being highlighted by concerned individuals and organisations, there has been a rise over the years of new initiatives being rolled out across many festivals in order to try and combat the waste issue and the overall environmental impact these events have. Here we discuss a few of the initiatives that some of the biggest UK festivals are carrying out.

Glastonbury – Worthy Farm, Somerset
One of the most iconic festivals in the world, what started as a festival for 1,500 people in 1970 has grown rapidly, with a record number of guests recorded in 2005 - 153,000 people in attendance. With audience numbers this high, the festival site becomes a temporary town and with this comes a lot of waste. One of the main problems is the amount of plastic being used. Glastonbury are combatting this in several ways. Recently they have banned the sale of single use plastic bottles, informing people that they would not be allowed to purchase them from food sellers at the festival site and instead they should bring reusable bottles that can be filled at the numerous taps provided. In addition to this, it has been announced that a dance arena will be created using 10 tonnes of plastic found on beaches, parks and on the street.

Latitude – Henham Park, Suffolk
Latitude Festival has run several initiatives over the years to reduce its environmental impact. They have, like many other festivals now, a cup deposit scheme where people pay an additional £2 for their cup, which is reusable. They can either keep the branded cup at the end of the festival as a keepsake or they can return it to be used next year and receive their deposit back, thereby reducing the number of disposable cups significantly.

Green Man Festival - Brecon Beacons, Wales
The festival wants to live up to its name and try and be as green as possible. They work alongside charities to reuse unwanted camping equipment and food that they send to refugees around the world as well as to local charities by using designated recycling and donation points.

Cambridge Folk Festival - Cherry Hinton Hall, Cambridgeshire
This festival is known for a large array of vegan food options as well teaming up with charities that offer a waterless eco-friendly hygiene pack for guests to buy. These innovative packs include antiperspirant in an aluminium can, a biodegradable bamboo toothbrush & face wipes and eco leaf toilet paper, among other things. This is to ensure people can stay clean without producing waste that is harmful to the environment.

Tents
A problem for all music festivals that include camping is the tents that are left behind at the end of the event, either because they are broken or because people simply do not want to take them back with them. It has been highlighted recently that people should not think of festival tents as single use items and should only bring stuff to the campsite that they are happy to take away with them. Not only are tents predominantly made from plastic, the tent pegs often left in the ground can end up being broken up into pieces when the ground is being farmed, and animals can end up eating them with damaging consequences.

Litter
Most festivals now offer an extensive waste system which provides people with colour coordinated bins split for compost, recycling and general waste. Many festivals hand out recycling and general waste bin bags to camping guests to promote recycling.

Glitter
Festival goers love glitter, however people’s awareness of microplastics and the damage they cause has risen over recent years. Bearing this in mind, some festivals are banning plastic glitters from festival sites entirely and only providing glitter that is biodegradable.

Although there is an argument that festivals will never be able to be completely green, there have been some significant steps in the right direction over recent years which should continue to be developed in the future.

To find out more about what we do and how we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

Loft Conversion Guide

Taking on a loft conversion is a massive project. However, they are a wonderful way to increase your storage space without having to move to a new house, as well as add value to your home.

They are not only ideal to create an extra bedroom, but can also be used for studies, an extra living room or a games room. The possibilities are endless. Regardless of your ideas for the attic, it is still a big challenge. Here are a few things to be aware of and do before you get the loft conversion you’ve been dreaming about.

1)    Do an initial survey
This is the most important stage. It is vital you get permission to have a loft conversion in the first place. If your attic doesn’t meet the regulations and criteria, but you continue with the project, you will make your house practically unsellable. Also, although a lot of properties in the UK will be suitable for a conversion, this will not always be case. It depends on what is there to begin with and how the roof was constructed. Hiring a specialist structural engineer will ensure you know whether the project will be possible.

2)    Make a detailed plan
Having a vague idea of what you want your loft conversion to look like will not be enough. There are many things to consider which could easily be forgotten if you don’t have a detailed plan. Knowing what windows you want, where the staircase will go, where the heating and electric points will be placed are just some of the things to consider. Although it will be an additional expense, its highly recommended to use a professional architect. Not only will they be able to produce detailed plans for you, they will have experience with project management and could have good connections and could help you find a reputable building company which will save you the hassle.

3)    Choose the right builders
A loft conversion can add value to your home but only if you hire builders that are professional and know exactly what they are doing. They are probably going to be more expensive, however it will be worth it knowing they will do a good job and will probably finish it in a decent amount of time. There have been many cases of people hiring the wrong builders who stop half way through a job, and leave your house in a mess. Let experts help you at every stage of the process to ensure the best results.

4)    Get more than one quote
It is best to ask several building companies what they would charge for the loft conversion. This will ensure you can get the best price possible. However, do not just make your decision on cost. The cheapest quote will not necessarily be the best for you. Take into account how professional they seemed when you met them, whether you think they will do a good job and what time scale they are predicting the job will take. Always ask for examples of their previous work so you can ensure it’s a good enough standard. Also, ensure you have a payment scheduled sorted in advance. Never pay them in full before the job starts. Organise an initial deposit and a payment plan for the rest upon completion.

5)    Think about light
Try and place the biggest windows possible in order to get as much natural sunlight into the room as possible.

6)    Think about storage
This is your chance to plan a room from scratch and it is always good to think about where the storage will go from the beginning. Deciding at design stage means you can plan clever storage solutions and built in wardrobes which will save space and make the room look bigger.

7)    Go green
Where possible, think about the environmental impact of your project. Not only should you think about the building materials used, you should consider the effects this will have once the project is finished. If you create an insulated house which will conserve energy, it will not only be good for the environment, it will also be good for your bank account.

8)    Hire a skip
Converting your loft will create a lot of mess. Not only with the building work itself but also from having to empty the attic to begin with. Preparing for a loft conversion is an ideal time to go through your stuff and get rid of anything you don’t need. Ensure you hire a skip that will be big enough for your project and be suitable for the type of waste you want to dispose of.

If you are looking for advice for suitable skips for loft conversion projects, then speak to LSPS today. Contact us on 0800 083 7807. We are open Monday – Friday between 07:30 and 16:30 and Saturdays from 7:30 until midday.

Disposable coffee cups: How big of an environmental problem are they and are we doing enough?

As a nation, we love our coffee and our coffee shops. According to parliamentary papers there are four times as many coffee shops in the UK than there were in the year 2000, with 20% of the population visiting a coffee shop daily. It has been estimated that 2.5 billion coffee cups are thrown away each year - that’s approximately 7 million cups a day!
 
Almost all the high street coffee shop chains now run a recycling scheme which tries to encourage people to bring their own reusable cup, but are these schemes actually working?

What is the problem?
The reason why this enormous number of cups is such a problem on the environment is that they are difficult to recycle. The lining on the takeaway cups is a mixture of paper and plastic which is used to make the cups both heatproof and leakproof. However, this makes them difficult to recycle. The figures suggest that the vast majority of cups (more than 99%) are not recycled, even if they are thrown into the recycling bin.

The success of documentaries such as Blue Planet has forced people to realise what a huge problem plastic is on our planet, as it takes years to break down if not recycled, adversely impacting the natural environment. The plastic is not the only problem. The paper element of the cups has environmental issues of its own. Trees must be felled to produce products that only end up being used for the length of time it takes for someone to drink a cup of coffee.

What schemes are coffee shops running to help?
Recently there have been many schemes set up in coffee shop chains in order to try and encourage customers to bring their own reusable cup. Starbucks, Nero, Costa and Pret a Manger all offer a discount of between 25p and 50p when customer present their own cup.

Costa were also the first coffee chain to turn their stores into recycling points for people to place all of their takeaway cups, regardless of the brand.

Despite these efforts though there have been backlash saying that some places are still using disposable cups to pour the coffee in before putting it in the reusable cup, thus defeating the point.

What are some other options?
It is not just the coffee chains themselves that are coming up with ideas to reduce waste. Shrewsbury have become the first city to offer a cup deposit return scheme in the UK. A selection of cafes across the town let you buy a bright reusable cup for £1 which can be refunded when you return the cup to a participating store. The trial of the scheme was a success, leading to it being rolled out across the town centre a few months later. The cups can be used hundreds of times and created from a good quality plastic which will last.

There are also companies trying to develop completely biodegradable cups. Others have suggested a coffee fine for using a reusable cup is a solution, thinking that the discount off a drink is not enough of an incentive and psychologically people will do more to avoid a fine than to receive a discount.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state-of-the-art equipment.

To find out how we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

The advantages of same day skip hire

Whether you’re working on a large construction project or a small DIY project, there are many instances where you may need a skip for only a short period of time. No matter how small or large your project is, hiring a skip is undoubtedly the easiest and most efficient solution to disposing of your waste quickly and safely.

But what if you only need a skip for a day? You can use our short-term rental “Wait & Load” service which allows you to get rid of your waste quickly and hassle free whilst we wait.

Our Wait & Load options involves us coming to your home or premises, waiting until you have loaded the skip, then immediately taking the skip and rubbish away for you.

Reasons why you would use Wait & Load service

-    You are short on time
-    You don’t think it will take you long to get rid of the rubbish
-    You don’t want a skip staying on your premises
-    You don’t have the space to have a skip for a longer period of time

Benefits of the Wait & Load service

-    It is quick – We wait for you to load the rubbish then will immediately take it away for you
-    It frees up space - Not having the skip on your premises overnight or even longer will be a benefit to you. Even the smaller skips are still bulky so having it gone quickly may be the ideal solution for you
-    It saves you time - By using the wait and load option, you are saving yourself both time and money on not having to make several trips to the local recycling centre and tip.
-    No need for a licence - Because the skip is not there for long, you do not need to be granted a permit from your local council which makes it a very convenient option.
-    It is adapted to you - Whether it is general household waste, construction waste or garden waste you need to dispose of, we can provide a range of different skip sizes and types to match your requirements.

If you are looking for more information on our Wait & Load service, then speak to LSPS today. Please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

Skip Hire: Do’s and Don’ts

Before you hire a skip for your project, whether it be at your home or for your office, have a look at these Dos and Don’ts to help you make sure you choose the perfect skip for your needs.

DO think about what you are going to put the skip. If there are very heavy items you made need a skip with a drop door for easy loading.

DO think about how long you need the skip for. Again, don’t underestimate the time you need. If you are doing a large renovation project or just a clean out, you will be surprised with how long the process can take.

DO get a skip license if you cannot store the skip on your personal property. If the skip will need to go on a public road or pavement, you will need a skip license. If you fail to do this, your skip can be removed (sometimes even before you have managed to use it) and you may even be fined.

DO put the following in a skip: Bricks, soil, garden waste, metal, sand, timber, plastic, general waste.

DO you have any access restrictions? If so, you will need to consider this before hiring a skip.

DO think about whether you have any overhead cables of obstructions that could get in the way of the skip.

DO think about what the weather conditions will be when you are hiring the skip. It’s best not to have a skip on tarmac drives during really hot weather.

DO make sure your drive is suitable to take the weight of the skip. They can weigh a lot, especially once they are full.

DO let your neighbours know you are having a skip, especially if you share a driveway with them or if it will be a nuisance to them when they are trying to park, or if it is directly in front of their house.

DON’T put the following things in a skip: Asbestos, tyres, aerosols, paint and paint tins, hazardous waste, electrical equipment, household appliances.

DON’T underestimate how big a project you are undertaking. It’s easy to think you will have enough space, but you will be surprised with how much rubbish you will probably end up having. If you are unsure, always go for the next size up.

DON’T leave it too late to hire a skip. If you know when you need the skip for, it’s always best to hire it ASAP so you are more likely to get the skip you want.

DON’T start any fires in the skip.

If you’re looking for more advice on what to consider before hiring a skip then speak to LSPS today on 0800 083 7807. LSPS is an established, family run firm in Leicestershire offering skip hire, waste disposal & recycling services.

What can and can’t be recycled when cleaning out your home

Clearing out your home can be very stressful at the best of times, but trying to figure out what can and what can’t be recycled can make it even worse.  With everything from electronics, cardboard or even old furniture to handle – it’s important that you know what can and can’t be recycled.

How to recycle
First, you need to know how to recycle and where to do it before you even start to sort your rubbish out. Most cities and towns often now have some sort of recycling plant. This is where you can take the things you want recycling and it is sorted into the correct areas e.g. garden, wood etc.

It is as easy as driving/walking to the sorting centre and dropping off your rubbish into the correct areas, almost like a ‘sort and drop’ service making it very convenient and time effective so there are no excuses about not doing it.

You should also read up about the rubbish that can be recycled as most of it needs to be clean, for example most cans, bottles etc. need to be rinsed out fully and dried as the liquid that is inside of them can contaminate the plastic itself making it unrecyclable.

Recyclable household items
Now you know how to recycle, you need to know what you can recycle. Here are just some of what you can recycle when clearing out your home:

Junk mail, cards, bills etc. are all forms of rubbish that you have in your home which can be recycled. Instead of just leaving them around in drawers etc. around the house which causes more clutter, you should bundle it all together and recycle it.

Cardboard is another great asset to recycle in your house, from things such as cereal boxes, pizza boxes or any other type of paper packaging.

CD’s, DVDs are not the first thing that springs to mind when someone mentions recycling, I know. But yes, they are recyclable, only if the recycling centre allows them and approves. If they are not then there are many other ways you can dispose of or reuse them, for example making a collage of your CD’s on your wall.

Old Televisions: TV’s hold many dangerous chemicals, so they are a bit hard to recycle yourself, but a lot of TV stores are happy to trade in your TV when you buy a new one and they often recycle them in a professional manner that is needed.

With all this in mind you may be wondering where you can put all of your unwanted rubbish? Well that is where we can help, by offering you affordable and convenient skip hire right to your door. Find out more here or call us today on 0800 083 7807

How paper straws are saving the planet

As the world is becoming more and more environmentally friendly there are new inventive ideas emerging every day for saving waste. The latest trend on the eco-scene that is being heavily adopted is the use of paper straws.

What is so bad about plastic straws?
Firstly, plastic straws are not recyclable, meaning that large amounts of waste end up in landfills or oceans. The biggest waste patch is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch which is reportedly twice the size of Texas. It may not look it on the surface, but it is because most of it ends up on the ocean floor. Since these plastic straws are not biodegradable, it can take up to 200 years for them to decompose.

This then has a domino effect on marine life as they often mistake it as food, and when they try to consume it, it can become lodged in their stomach. It is estimated that up to 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles end up ingesting plastic to their stomachs.

Apart from affecting sea life, there is another reason as to why plastic straws are bad. It is because they release toxic chemicals when they start to break down which in turn pollutes the ocean waters.

The benefits of changing to paper straws
 
•    Safer for marine-life: of course, this is the first positive, but it is a major one as it can save the lives of many animals and maybe even prevent some species from going extinct. This is proven as paper straws are supposedly meant to breakdown within six months, which is a whole lot better than that of 200 years for a plastic straw.

•    Less time to decompose: linking to the previous benefit, paper straws only taking a short amount of time to decompose will be very beneficial for our oceans as it will also reduce the amount of toxic chemicals being released into the ocean waters.

•    They’re affordable: although plastic straws are cheaper, the rise of demand for paper straws is only going to increase the production meaning eventually the price will go down again even though they are already cheap enough as you can pick them up in bulk for as little as two pence each.

Businesses cutting out plastic
Many large-scale companies and businesses are cashing in on cutting out or limiting plastic straws. Some of these include Disney, Starbucks and McDonalds. This is a wake-up call to you and how you should be trying to limit how you use plastic on a day-to-say basis for your business.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state-of-the-art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

Tips for reducing office waste

Much is spoken of about how we can improve recycling rates at home, however, much less so is commented on how we can reduce the impact of waste from our places of work. Recycling is often low down the priority list for our businesses but doing so can not only help the environment but can also save you money and give you something to brag about to your clients and customers.

Here are some simple and easy to adopt tips that you can use to reduce wastage in the workplace.

1 – Turn off all of your electronic items at the end of the day rather than leaving them on standby overnight

2 – Set your computer monitors to switch to standby during periods of inactivity

3 – Switch to energy efficient lightbulbs

4 – Take advantage of natural light and leave artificial lighting off for as long as is possible without impacting on your work

5 - Recycle paperwork but try and move towards electronic communications wherever possible through online systems, phone calls and emails. Paperless is the way forward.

6 – When you do have to print try and use products like recycled paper, refillable ink printer cartridges and opt for manufacturers that use non-toxic chemicals. Better yet use one communal printer rather than several around the office.

7 – When ordering food or sourcing food for your office try and shop locally. Not only are you supporting other local businesses, but you’ll also be reducing your carbon footprint.

8 – Be flexible with working. If an employee can work from home, car pool or use public transport to begin their working day then you should try and encourage it to reduce emissions

9 – Allow casual attire during the summer. There’s nothing worse than being stuck in stuffy suit and tie during a baking summer’s day. Allowing more casual clothing during the summer can not only keep your employees happy but also reduce the need for expensive and resource intensive air-cooling systems.

10 – In the bathroom opt for recyclable products such as non-single use plastic handwash and paper towels.

11 – Retain packaging such as boxes and mailers for reuse later down the line

12 – Waste sorting is essential but in a big workplace this can be time consuming. Delegate up tasks between several members of staff to even out the workload.

13 – Enquire about recycling and green policies with suppliers carefully before choosing to strike up a relationship – otherwise all your efforts could be of no use

If you’re looking for advice and help with creating a thrifty and eco-friendly waste policy then speak to LSPS today. We offer a complete waste disposal management package to businesses and offices in Leicestershire to help them meet their needs and adhere to regulations. We also have a secure shredding service to dispose of confidential waste. To find out more please contact us on 0800 083 7807.

24-hour plastic-free challenge – could you do it?

According to research from the environmental charity Greenpeace – nine in ten people asked admitted that they were concerned about plastic waste and the effect that it has on our oceans.

Single-use plastics are often dubbed an ‘unavoidable’ part of our everyday lives. However, from coffee cups and plastic straws to single-use carrier bags there have been plenty of victories in recent years to help curb the mountains of plastic making their way to our oceans, polluting water sources and harming marine life.

Environmental charity Friends Of The Earth is encouraging people to go one-step further and take on a new challenge called Drastic On Plastic. This experiment asks those taking part to take a pledge to avoid single-use plastics for a 24hour period, or as long as they can.

The idea is to start your timer on your phone and leave it running until you use your first piece of single use plastic such as a packaging on food. Once this happens you stop your timer and record your findings on their website. These findings will help to highlight the difficulties people face in reducing plastic waste and where stronger action is needed. Those interested in taking part can register here: foe.uk/0702-timer-challenge.

Friends of the Earth’s plastic-free campaigner Julian Kirby said:

“Lots of companies have made proud claims about reducing plastic - but just how easy is it to avoid plastic bags, cups, bottles and packaging in our everyday lives?

“Take the plastic challenge and find out how long you can go before you have to use an item of throw-away plastic.

“And by letting us know which bit of unwanted plastic ended your challenge, it will help us put pressure on retailers and manufacturers to reduce the waves of pointless plastic pollution that blights our environment and harms our wildlife.

“It’s time for the government to get drastic on plastic - and that’s why we need a new law to ensure tougher action to end the plastic pollution crisis.”

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state-of-the-art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.