Skip or collector: which suits your job?
A skip sits on your drive for a week while you fill it. A collector comes once, loads it and goes.
Which suits you depends on how much waste there is and how long it takes to make.
What a skip needs
Room for it, on your drive or on the road. If it goes on the road, the council must give permission first, and the skip firm usually applies. A skip on your own land needs no permit.
The rules that come with a skip
Putting a skip on a road without the council’s permission is an offence under section 139 of the Highways Act 1980, with a fine of up to £1,000. A skip on the road must be lit and marked, and show the owner’s name and phone number. Skips can’t go on the pavement.
Which to choose
| A skip suits you if… | A collector suits you if… |
|---|---|
| The job runs for days and waste builds up as you go | The waste is already there, ready to go |
| You have room on your drive, or can wait for a permit | You have no room for a skip, or don’t want one on the road |
| You’ll fill most of it | It’s less than a skip’s worth, or an awkward mix |
| You’re happy to load it yourself | You want someone else to carry and load it |
Neither a skip firm nor a collector will take everything. We can’t take plasterboard, asbestos, tyres, paint or chemicals, among others: see the full list.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Apply for a skip permit. Checked 8 October 2026.
- Highways Act 1980, section 139: builders’ skips. Checked 8 October 2026.
Last updated 8 October 2026.
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