Where did the skip even come from and when?

by stuarts-admin | Aug 2, 2023 | Skip Hire, Skip Trivia

THE SKIP HAS BECOME AN ESSENTIAL ITEM FOR THOSE CLEARING THEIR HOME OR PLACE OF BUSINESS OF UNWANTED CLUTTER BUT HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW IT CAME TO BE?

WE THINK YOU’LL FIND THIS INTERESTING!

Here are 5 little-known facts about the humble skip. You can use this trivia and store it away in your brain until that all important pub quiz question when you can swoop in and nail it for your team!

1. THE SKIP FIRST CAME TO BRITAIN IN THE SWINGING 60’S

IT WAS DURING THE HEIGHT OF LEGENDARY BANDS LIKE THE BEATLES IN THE 1960’S THAT SKIPS FIRST APPEARED ON BRITISH SHORES WHICH COINCIDED WITH RECYCLING IN THE UK BECOMING ROUTINE. THEY WERE IMPORTED FROM GERMANY, LEADING NICELY ONTO ONE OF OUR NEXT FACTS…

2. SKIPS ORIGINALLY CAME IN ONE STANDARD SIZE

AT EMS WASTE SERVICES WE SUPPLY SKIPS IN A VARIETY OF SIZES, FROM 2.5YD SKIPS TO 35/40YD RORO SKIPS. BUT DID YOU KNOW THE FIRST SKIPS TRADITIONALLY MEASURED BETWEEN 5-6 CUBIC YARDS.

3. THE GERMANS CAME UP WITH THE FAMILIAR SKIP PLACING

IT HAS BECOME CUSTOMARY FOR A SKIP TO BE DELIVERED TO AND PLACED AT THE FRONT OF A PROPERTY OR COMMERCIAL BUILDING AND IT WAS THE GERMANS WHO FIRST CAME UP WITH THIS NOVEL CONCEPT.

4. THE COST OF THE FIRST SKIPS WAS SURPRISINGLY EXPENSIVE

SKIPS WERE INITIALLY THE PRESERVE OF THE RICH AS THEY COST £5, WITH A FURTHER 3 SHILLINGS DAILY RENTAL CHARGE. THAT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT, BUT IT WAS BACK IN THOSE DAYS. YOU ALSO HAD TO PAY AN EXTRA 7 SHILLINGS FOR THE WASTE TO BE TRANSFERRED TO A NEARBY LANDFILL.

5. YELLOW HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE STANDARD COLOUR

IN THE 1970’S, THE HIGHWAYS ACT DETERMINED THAT SKIPS SHOULD ALL BE YELLOW COLOURED TO MAKE THEM PROMINENT DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS. THIS RULING HAS BEEN RELAXED SINCE, BUT THOSE SKIPS NOT IN THE CONVENTIONAL YELLOW HAVE TO BE APPROPRIATELY LIT AND MARKED.

So there you have it! Some totally interesting facts about Skips that we bet you never knew! If you’d like further informattion on any of our services please feel free to get in touch. Or remember you can book your skip online.