
Understanding Skip Hire Regulations
Skip hire is a simple and efficient waste management method. One of the benefits of skip hire is that, except for filling the skip, the hire company takes care of everything: removing the skip and sorting all your waste for processing. But there are some rules around skips that you must follow, or you risk causing delays, legal liabilities, and even fines or criminal prosecutions.
Fortunately, most regulations are straightforward and common sense, although a few often confuse people. This guide highlights some things you need to know to ensure the smooth operation of your skip hire and project.
What are skip hire regulations?
Skip hire and waste disposal rules come from two main places.
Local controls
Your local council is responsible for the roads and pavements in your area and, as such, will control the skip placement on a public road.
Your local authority is also responsible for waste management. It may do this through a private contractor, in partnership with other nearby councils, or both. Depending on its facilities, it may have specific rules about what waste and rubbish can be handled and how it must be managed.
National rules and regulations
A legal framework around waste management consists of several acts of parliament and associated regulatory orders. Much of this is derived from European law and remains in force even after Brexit.
Most of the law covers how and who can handle waste (for example, skip hire companies must register with the Environment Agency), but it also includes restrictions on what can and cannot be put in a skip.
You will also be affected by laws that are not directly related to waste. One obvious example is road legislation that prevents us from taking an overloaded skip because of the dangers loose materials can cause.
Key regulations you need to know
Fortunately, you do not need to be a legal expert to hire a skip. However, being aware of the basic rules will help you know when to ask your skip hire company for advice and guidance.
Skip permit requirements
The first restriction is that you cannot place a skip on public land without a permit. If your skip is on the road or pavement or even overhangs it, you will need a skip permit from your local council before it can be placed.
This is not just about gaining permission – applications are rarely refused – but also about ensuring your skip does not pose a hazard. Depending on where you put the skip, you might be required to have warning markers or hazard lights.
Failure to gain a permit or follow any conditions imposed can result in fines from your council.
Prohibited waste
A long list of items cannot be thrown in a skip, and many will not be surprising. They are generally excluded because they pose a risk to those handling the waste or the environment.
Items that are prohibited include:
- chemicals
- paint
- tyres
- large electrical appliances
- medical waste
But some items might surprise you. If you are undertaking a home renovation, then plasterboard cannot go in a skip. This is because it contains sulphur, which creates hazardous compounds when it starts to break down. Another example is some treated wood used externally, again because of the compounds it contains.
If you let your skip hire company know the type of work you are doing, they can always advise on restricted items.
General safety
Both you and your skip hire company have a duty of care to others who work with or might be affected by your skip. This means you need to be careful about some issues.
First, do not overfill the skip. The maximum line is clearly marked, and a reputable skip company must refuse to take an overfilled skip because of the risk of losing items while on the road. We will always try to help fill the skip more efficiently, but if we cannot, we must leave some waste or return with an additional skip.
Second, ensure you do not breach the weight limit. Some materials, like soil or rubble, are very dense, and when filled, some skip sizes are too heavy to move safely. If you will likely generate a lot of soil or rubble, please let us know, and we can suggest suitable skip sizes to ensure everyone’s safety.
What happens if you do not follow the rules?
Failure to follow the rules will bring consequences.
- Delay. Perhaps the best-case situation is delays to your project. For example, if you do not get a permit, the council might insist on the skip being moved until a permit is secured.
- Additional costs. You might have to pay extra as well as the costs caused by delays. For example, if you overfill your skip and have to pay for an additional skip delivery and collection to take the extra.
- Fines and legal consequences. You are responsible for your waste; failure to dispose of it properly can result in hefty fines, especially if it causes environmental harm.
How can you avoid falling foul of the rules?
The easiest way to ensure you follow the rules is to use a reputable skip hire company like What Skip.
From the very start of the process, we can help you comply with waste law by helping you apply for your skip permit (or even applying on your behalf), providing guidance on how to place and use your skip, and ensuring that you are fully aware of what can and cannot go in your skip.
You will also know that we sort your waste afterwards, helping ensure everything goes in the correct waste stream and that as much as possible is reused or recycled, keeping your project's environmental impact to an absolute minimum.
The law is always complex, but if you want help navigating it and low-cost and reliable skip hire, just call What Skip. We can help you focus on your project, not waste law.

Contact us
To book a skip or other services, or just to have a chat about your requirements, please get in touch.