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LSPS Ltd
61-70 Harrison Close ,
South Wigston ,
Leicester , LE18 4ZL
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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.

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