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.