Skip hire or man and van: which is right?
Both are legal ways to get rid of rubbish. The right one depends on how much waste you have and who will do the loading.
Skip hire
A skip is left on your property, or on the road, and you fill it yourself over a few days before it is collected. It suits big jobs such as renovations, garden clearances and house moves where you will be sorting and loading over time. If a skip has to go on a public road, you normally need a skip permit from your local council, which the skip company can usually arrange. Rules and charges vary by council.
Man and van
A crew arrives, loads the waste for you and takes it away the same day. It suits one-off clearances, bulky furniture and jobs where you do not want to lift anything. Prices usually depend on how much space the waste takes up in the van.
How to choose
- Lots of waste, loaded over several days: a skip is usually better value.
- Bulky items or a quick clear-out: man and van is usually easier.
- Heavy or hazardous materials: ask the company first. Some items, such as asbestos, plasterboard or chemicals, cannot go in a normal skip or van load.
Whichever you pick
The company must be a registered waste carrier. Check the register before you book, and keep your receipt or waste transfer note.
More guides
How to check a waste carrier is registered
Anyone who takes your waste away as a business must be a registered waste carrier. Here is how to check in a few minutes, and the warning signs to look for.
Your household waste duty of care
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Fly-tipping: what to do and who is responsible
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Getting rid of bulky items: your options
Sofas, mattresses, fridges and old furniture: the legal ways to get rid of bulky household items in the UK, from council collections to registered carriers.
Questions to ask before hiring someone to take your waste
A short checklist of questions to ask a rubbish removal company before you book: registration, insurance, where the waste goes and what paperwork you will get.
Waste transfer notes: what householders need to know
What a waste transfer note is, whether you need one for household waste, and why keeping a receipt from your waste carrier is a good idea.