Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

We get asked a lot of questions like ‘what can actually go into a skip?’

so we thought we’d share some of the most common questions and answers with you.

If you ever need additional information or help please feel free to get in touch with the team.

1. What size skip do I need?

You need to think about how big a skip you’ll need and what it is you want to fill it with.

We offer many different options. Have a look at our sizes page as this should give you a better perspective of actual size rather than just a measurement. A good tip is to try to work out how many black bin bags they will hold. This should give you a better indication as to which is best for you.

Also take into consideration that the black bin bag method is a very rough way of making things clear in your head and will also depend on what you are filling the skip with.

2. What can I put in my skip?

You can pretty much put anything you want into your skip. Most people tend to hire a skip to get rid of unwanted household rubbish.

There are obvious restrictions which we’ve listed below. We also have variable pricing for different waste streams such as wood or plasterboard etc. Please ask one of our staff for further information or if you have a different waste stream not listed.

Restrictions.

Any mattresses placed in a skip or bought into the yard will be charged £20 + VAT each

Certain types of waste CANNOT be placed in general waste skips under any circumstances.
Including:

  • Any electrical items
  • Asbestos (We do offer a specific service for this)
  • Fridge/Freezers
  • Batteries
  • Tyres
  • Pressurised Containers
  • Paint/varnish Tins
  • Gas Cylinders
  • Fluorescent Tubes
  • Liquids of any description.
  • Telegraph Poles
  • Marine wood
  • Railway sleepers
  • Contaminated soils – If soil has come from a brown field site or may be contaminated further testing is required before it can be accepted.

There are many types of hazardous waste. The best advice we can offer is that if you’re unsure about anything please give us a call and one of our team can help.

3. How high can I fill my skip?

You can only fill it level with the top of the skip as this is a legal requirement. Our drivers are not allowed to take the skip if it is loaded beyond this point.

Using boards around the side of the skip to increase the height is also not allowed.
To prevent any of the above and to make use of the space you have – we’d advise you to break items down into smaller bits wherever possible.

If you know that you have a lot of larger items that need to go into your skip, we would recommend that you over-estimate the size of skip you may need. This will ensure that you don’t incur additional costs by having to hire a second one.

4. Can my skip go on the public road?

If you are unable to place your skip on private property then you have the option of placing the skip on the public road or grass outside the property.
Before we deliver your skip your local council must first give permission. The local council offer a permit to enable you to do this. We can advise you on the procedure. Just give the office a call and one of the team will be able to help.
Council permits can take up to 10 working days to obtain so it’s worth bearing this in mind. The application period and cost also varies dependent on your location.

4. Do I need to consider anything if my skip is on private land?

Once you have decided what size skip you need, you just need to decide where to put it.

Putting the skip on your own land is always the best option but make sure there is sufficient access for delivery and in the best position for you to fill.

We have a specialist vehicles for delivering skips to tight access jobs, and on the other end of the scale a 6 axel skip lorry for those heavier skips

5. Are there any skip restrictions?

YES! As we’ve explained above there are many restrictions. This does not mean that there are not other ways to dispose of your unwanted waste though so please call the office for advice from one of the team.

Restrictions.

Certain types of waste CANNOT be placed in general waste skips under any circumstances.

Any electrical items

Asbestos (We do offer a specific service for this)

Fridge/Freezers

Batteries

Tyres

Pressurised Containers

Paint/varnish Tins

Gas Cylinders

Fluorescent Tubes

Liquids of any description.

There are many types of hazardous waste. The best advice we can offer is that if you’re unsure about anything please give us a call and one of our team can help.

* Please scroll to the bottom of the page to see clearly in the table about what we can and can’t accept.

6. How long can I keep the skip for?

The average time is usually 2 weeks. If there are special circumstances meaning you require the skip longer than this please speak to one of the team who will be able to advise you of the options. We hold the right to charge £50 plus vat per week for Skips that have not been agreed outside of the usual hire periods.

7. Can I specify a delivery time for my skip?

We offer an all day delivery service at EMS. Unfortunately because of the amount of deliveries and collections we cannot give specific timeslots. Your skip will be delivered between 7:00 – 17:00 on the day it was ordered for.

8. How can I pay for my skip?

We are happy to accept most payment methods.

Either call the office to make payment by debit or credit card. Order your skip via our book online system.

If you have any payment queries please speak to one of the team who will be able to help.

9. Waiting Time

Our prices are based on our vehicles loading within 30 minutes (unless specified). If there are delays on site, not attributed to our equipment or personnel, a demurrage charge will be applicable. (Currently at £1 per minute).

10. Damage

EMS will not accept any liability for damage caused to any part of the customers property, driveway or garden (including access) if the ground or site is unsuitable for a HGV. As well as BT lines, overhead cables and sky dishes.

Placing SKIPS on block paving, slab driveways or soft and uneven ground is not advisable and is done so at the customers own risk. The customer is responsible for the safe keeping of the skip and contents whilst it remains on their property. Any damage will be charged.

11. Unrecyclable materials

Skips containing mostly unrecyclable material such as roofing felt, insulation etc will be charged a haulage and tonnage rate instead of the set price. Please speak to a member of the team if you’re unsure whether your material is recyclable or not.

12. Plasterboard 

Although recyclable, plasterboard is also chargeable at haulage and tonnage rather than a fixed price. 

Builders Skips – What you need to know!

Builders Skips – What you need to know!

SO WHAT ACTUALLY IS A BUILDERS SKIP? WELL THERE ARE LOTS OF EXPLAINATIONS BUT IN CONSTRUCTION, A SKIP IS USED FOR HOLDING WASTE AND DEBRIS PRODUCED BY WORKS SUCH AS BUILDING, DEMOLITION, LANDSCAPING, AND SO ON.

WHEN FULL IT IS LOADED ONTO THE BACK OF A LORRY AND TAKEN AWAY FOR THE WASTE TO BE DISPOSED OF AT OUR WASTE TRANSFER SITE AND USUALLY REPLACED WITH ANOTHER ONE.

SKIP HIRE FOR BUILDERS AND TRADE
Commercial skip hire tends to involve a fleet of skips of various sizes, while a sole trader can hire a builders skip for each job as and when they need to. There are convenient options for any scale of operation, from the smallest of jobs to the huge volumes of inert waste produced during demolition, for example.

Skips are measured in (cubic) yards. The standard builders skip size is 6 yards: that’s one of our medium skip sizes, which is available in different formats (open, closed and drop end) to cater to a range of sites and equipment. Drop end skips are great for wheelbarrow access, while open skips are easy to fill with earthmoving equipment.

Can you put builders rubble in a skip?
Soil and rubble – Can you put soil or rubble in a skip? Yes, you can put soil or rubble in a skip but you must tell us at the time of booking your skip.

SKIP SIZES AND COMPARISON

Not every job needs a standard sized builders skip. For smaller projects, or removing a small amount of rubble, mini skip hire offers a far more rugged and convenient alternative to using heavy duty refuse sacks. On the other end of the scale, large skips offer huge capacity: the equivalent of 80 bin bags in volume.

At 1.8 metres tall, a large skip hire is best reserved for large-scale domestic or smaller commercial jobs.

ROLL ON/ROLL OFF

For the biggest projects, you need the biggest skip size – and roll on/roll off (RO/RO) waste containers are the biggest in the business. Our RO/RO waste disposal containers are available up to a capacity of 40 cubic yards.

If you have enough space onsite, you may find these particularly useful if doing a complete home renovation project.

Can you put bricks into a skip?
Suitable items you can put in your skip include: Household items such as – wood, tiles, plaster, furniture, paper and cardboard, garden waste and clothes. Heavy materials such as – bricks, concrete, metals, pottery and clay, rubble and stones.

How do you fill a builders skip?

The key to efficiently filling a skip is to layer. Ideally different types of item will need to go into the skip at different times.Items should be sorted into these four categories:

  • Flat items.
  • Tessellate objects (e.g objects that can be stacked together, such as bricks)
  • Large or bulky items.
  • Loose debris.

What is classed as builders rubble?
Building rubble means waste produced during the construction, alteration, repair or demolition of any structure, and includes rubble, earth, rock and wood displaced during such a construction, alteration, repair or demolition

COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL SKIP HIRE

EMS Waste Services can provide a wide variety of Skips and Roll-On Roll-Off containers for all your commercial or industrial waste. These include Open-Topped, Lidded and Compactor Skips and RoRo in a wide variety of sizes.

We can assist your company by providing a waste management plan and advise you on how best to segregate your materials and reduce waste.

CONSTRUCTION & DEMOLITION SKIP HIRE

We can look after all waste management arrangements for your construction or demolition project. We can provide a wide range of Skips and Roll-On Roll-Off containers. We can collect segregated wastes such as rubble, clay, plasterboard, timber and scrap metal.

We can assist you with the development of your Site Waste Management Plan and provide you with waste management reports for your project.

What is a RORO and why would I need one?

What is a RORO and why would I need one?

RORO SKIP HIRE IS PERFECT FOR DEALING WITH ANY WASTE COMING FROM LARGE SCALE BUILDING PROJECTS DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE SKIPS.

BY HOLDING SUCH A LARGE VOLUME OF WASTE IT MEANS YOU DON’T HAVE TO WASTE TIME GETTING MULTIPLE SKIPS DELIVERED TO YOUR SITE.

For large scale projects, sometimes a standard skip doesn’t cut it. That’s where ROROs come in!

A Roll On Roll Off Skip is one of the biggest waste containers in the industry, specially designed to load, store, and remove immense quantities of non-hazardous waste.

EMS are leading the way when it comes to waste management. From our state-of-the-art Facility in Exeter, we process over 150,000 tonnes of waste each year and recycle at least 95% of it. Our aim is to constantly improve this!

WHAT IS A ROLL ON ROLL OFF (RORO) SKIP?

RORO skips are essentially truck attachments. They are large waste containers that can be rolled on and off a flatbed transport truck, this method of operation allowing them to be much larger and carry a much greater volume of material.

Their size means they have to be stored off-road, making them more suitable for commercial use, especially on large construction projects. They can be used for large-scale domestic projects, such as full home renovations or home builds, so long as there is a suitable place to store the skip.

A FLEXIBLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY SERVICE

Here at EMS waste Services, we pride ourselves on a personal service. You can hire a roll on roll off container to suit your specific needs as a business, whether that’s on a permanent basis or simply as and when you need one.

We will deliver your RORO skip at an agreed date, collect it when you have finished with it and return the waste to our waste transfer station for processing. As with all of our waste removal services, we’re committed to recycling as much waste as we can to reduce our impact on the environment.

BENEFITS OF RORO SKIP HIRE

WHATEVER TYPE OF PROJECT OR INDUSTRY YOU WORK IN, HIRING A RORO SKIP AS PART OF YOUR WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN CAN BE A GREAT OPTION. HERE ARE SOME OF THE KEY BENEFITS.

Large-Scale Clearances – Of course, the key advantage of RORO skips is their size. Able to safely contain huge quantities of mixed waste, they make it easy for busy construction sites and more to rapidly clear areas on a vast scale.

Cost Effective – As a result of their large capacity, RORO skips are highly cost effective. This is because is it likely you will require fewer bins and, as a result, fewer collections. For businesses watching their pennies, hiring a RORO is an economical way to manage waste.

Environmentally Friendly – Fewer skip deliveries and fewer collections? That means less time on the road for your waste management provider’s trucks, and less emissions as a result. Using ROROs is therefore a great way to make your project a little greener, and reduce your business’ overall carbon footprint.

We’re passionate about helping businesses discover how easy and economical recycling can be, because effective waste management doesn’t have to cost the earth!

Ensures Safe Worksite – A clear and tidy construction site is vital, and RORO skip hire can help achieve it. These skips make loading and managing waste streams on a project easy whatever the sector, meaning the site is likely to get cleared more quickly and stay cleared. This minimises hazards and other health and safety risks, resulting in a safer work environment for all.

Easier to Unload – RORO skips have a tipper door, meaning unloading can be completed without the need for lifting equipment. This makes the whole process much more straightforward and facilitates the easy movement of heavy and bulky waste.

Streamlined Waste Solution – Finally, as we have discussed, RORO hire means you will need to arrange fewer bins and fewer collections. This will make your waste management plan simpler, and result in less disruption all round. Construction and other industrial projects are often held to strict deadlines; ROROs can help you meet them.

WHAT CAN I PUT IN A RORO SKIP?

The great thing about RORO skips is they can accommodate a wide range of non-hazardous waste types.

These can include everything from hardcore like rubble, masonry, and bricks to groundworks waste such as sand, gravel, and topsoil. They can also be used to dispose of things like furniture, glass, cardboard, bathroom and kitchen fittings, and even UPVC.

As a general rule, if it fits and it doesn’t contain anything dangerous or volatile, you can probably put it in there! But check our restricted section to be sure or give us a call to ask!

RORO skips are ideal for big construction projects, industrial applications, as well as some other large scale commercial uses.

Building or demolition sites as well as manufacturing centres frequently incorporate ROROs into their waste management because they produce large quantities of waste, making smaller bin sizes impractical.

ROROs can also be used for domestic applications where the site permits their safe off-road storage.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE SOME FURTHER INFORMATION OR THINK THAT A RORO WOULD SUIT YOUR NEXT PROJECT GET IN TOUCH. WE’RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO HELP AND ADVISE.

Expansion into Cornwall for EMS with the acquisition of Masters Skips in St Austell

Expansion into Cornwall for EMS with the acquisition of Masters Skips in St Austell

EMS Waste Services are thrilled to announce the purchase of Masters Skips based at St Austell. Cornwall.

This is an especially exciting expansion and partnership as Masters Skips is the first depot based outside of Devon for EMS.

Masters Skips has been supplying Skip and Roro hire to south east and central Cornwall for over 20 years and have built an excellent reputation along the way.

We look forward to continuing this great service and building more working relationships with the residents and businesses of Cornwall. 

RECYCLING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE OF DEVON – And now cornwall!

EMS Waste Services Ltd is one of the top waste management services with head office based in Exeter, Devon.

We have skips suitable for every purpose, whether you need a waste recycling service or asbestos collection and disposal, we work diligently to ensure that our services meet and exceed your every expectation.

With yards in Exeter, Paignton and Plymouth the acquisition of Masters in St Austell means we can continue the great service they’ve been providing in Cornwall.

We can book a permit on your behalf to ensure that your skip can be placed on the road without any worry at all.

With over two decades of experience and a track record for success, our unwavering services are continually expanding to ensure that we recycle every kind of waste possible.

Masters have a great reputation in Cornwall so will fit well with the EMS business ethos

Quality service you can rely on

We pride ourselves on our customer service, which we feel is reflected in our ever-increasing portfolio of returning customers. We understand the importance of punctuality, particularly for commercial clients, and we will always be there to deliver or collect your skip on time.

Masters Skips Ltd provides a complete skip hire, waste transfer and recycling centre in St Austell. Established over 20 years ago, we deliver, collect and exchange skips for our customers in south east and central Cornwall.

From small domestic customers to large construction companies, we have a range of maxi, midi and mini skips to meet your requirements.

Why choose us?

  • Prompt, reliable delivery and collection
  • Well-established with an excellent reputation in and around St Austell
  • Flexible hire contracts
  • A green philosophy – anything that can be recycled will be
  • Licensed waste transfer station

We believe firmly in waste recycling where possible, and are committed to minimising the amount of waste sent to landfill.

All glass, wood and plastic waste is recycled at our licensed waste transfer station and customers can also visit the station to drop off rubbish or recycling.

Prompt delivery and collection in Cornwall

Our skips are delivered, collected and exchanged promptly – either on the same day or the following day. Rather than charging per day for skip hire, we operate on a flexible two-week hire basis. If the skip is still needed at the end of the two weeks, we can then extend your skip hire contract.

Sometimes a council permit may be required in order to put a skip in a public area. If this is the case, we will help fill out all the necessary paperwork and organise a site inspection on your behalf – all you have to do is pay for the cost of the permit.

So if you’d like some more info on our services just give us a call. We’re always happy to help.