Skip Loading Tips: Avoid Overloading

Written by Nick Towens

At Towens we strive to make skip hire as convenient, simple, and sustainable as possible. However, there are steps that the customer can take to help achieve these goals.

One of these is to avoid overloading the skip. An overloaded skip can cause safety issues, through being too heavy to transport, or items sticking out and posing risks to the general public.

To avoid these scenarios and ensure a pleasant experience, here are a few tips on how to load a skip.

Pick the correct size

The first step to success in loading your skip is to order the right skip size for what you need.

This is a good idea to avoid overflowing your skip, which may incur additional charges as well as safety risks.

At Towens, we offer 2 yard, 4 yard, 6 yard, 8 yard, and 12 yard skips for a variety of materials. We do appreciate that it can be tricky to visualise these numbers, so you can see the images on our site to get a feel of the skip’s size.

Our friendly customer service team are always on hand to offer advice on which size of skip may be the best fit based on your amount of waste.

Know the weight limit

Most skip hire providers impose weight restrictions on their products, usually displayed on the side.

This is largely for safety reasons, which have been made law to ensure no risks are taken during transportation.

At Towens, our weight limits are available to view below.

Skip Size	Skip Type	Weight Limit
2 yards	Heavy inert / soil or mixed waste	2 tonnes
4 yards	Heavy inert / soil or mixed waste	4 tonnes
6 yards	Heavy inert / soil or mixed waste	6 tonnes
8 yards	Mixed construction	6 tonnes
12 yards	Mixed construction	7 tonnes

The loading process – What to do

You can take several steps to maximise the space you have in a skip. These include:

Breaking the items down

If you’re placing furniture, such as chairs, sofas, or wardrobes into the skip, a great way to optimise space is to dismantle them as much as possible.

We’ve all put our recycling out and attempted to fold down cardboard boxes having had  our fair share of Amazon deliveries, or cereal that week.

The same space-saving techniques can be used with a skip, folding and dismantling where possible, as well as crushing plastic.

Tactical layers

The first step to creating a resourceful skip is to make a flat base layer.

We advise placing heavy, flat items such as wood at the bottom of the skip, creating a stable base whilst utilising available space where possible.

Then we recommend that you continue to add flat layers as high up the skip as possible, to ensure there is no empty space.

It can also be beneficial to place large bulky items at the top of the waste pile. These heavier items effectively weigh down the rubbish, creating a more secure and space-efficient skip with a level load.

Fill the gaps

It may not always be possible to layer your skip right to the top.

In this case, we recommend slotting smaller, lighter items like bin bags, unwanted plastic toys, or any other loose debris in these pockets of space.

Just view it as a game of Tetris.

Don’t overload

Most skips will have a fill line marked on the inside wall, indicating the maximum height you can load the skip to avoid overfilling.

It is advised to never fill the skip above this line, as it will often mean items are at risk of falling or injuring the general public during transport.

Who are Towens?

At Towens, we’re proud of the exceptional skip hire services we provide across Somerset.

A family-run business for over 30 years, we also offer waste management, machinery hire, and sell various recycled aggregates and soils.

Recycling and being sustainable are at the heart of our values, as we aim to visit landfill sites as little as possible.

If you are looking to hire a skip, you can get a free no obligation online quote, at a reduced price for Spring.

If you have any queries or questions, our friendly team of experts will be happy to assist you on 01934 424242. Alternatively, you can email skips@towens.co.uk.