What You Can & Can't Put in a Skip
Written by: Samina Ahmed
Date: 12 September 2025
Categories: Tips & Advice - Home Improvement, DIY, , Home, Tips & Advice - Health & Safety
Skips are extremely helpful when it comes to waste removals.
You can use them for so many clearance projects but are you putting the right things in them?
Believe it or not, there are rules on what items can go in a skip. You can even get a fine for if you put prohibited items in them!
Read on to find out what you can & can't put in a skip.
The yes list
Garden waste
Luckily garden waste is on the list of what you can put in a skip.
And thank goodness is it!
There are so many gardening projects that can be done throughout the year that will accumulate A LOT of rubbish.
So if you have soil, grass cuttings, leaves, branches and other organic matter, get it thrown in the skip.
You can even throw away old decking, fencing & other bits of wood too.
Household waste
Moving home or just having a general clear out generally involves huge piles of items that you either no longer want or is damaged.
Here's what household items you can put in a skip.
Clothes
Shoes
Broken toys
Furniture - as long as it doesn't contain POPS (Persistent Organic Pollutants)
Carpets
Paper
Cardboard
Plastics
and other general junk is allowed in a skip.
You can even dispose of old bikes, scooters, carpets & flooring too.
Renovation waste
Finally getting that new kitchen or adding that extension on?
Congrats!
But what are you going to do with all the waste from your reno job?
Luckily, bricks, metal, rubble & tiles, all make the cut and can be put in a skip for disposable once you're done with them.
Plasterboard is also permitted in a skip ONLY if it is kept separate and bagged up or placed in a different container so that it doesn't mix with general waste.
The no list
Now let's look at what items you definitely can't put in a skip.
Plasterboard
Picking up from where we left off in the yes list, mixed plasterboard can't be put in a skip with general waste.
Why? - Plasterboard has a high gypsum content.
When it gets wet or is mixed with biodegradable waste, it creates hydrogen sulphide which is a toxic and poisonous substance.
You definitely do not want to be exposed to that!
To safely dispose of plasterboard, you can take it to your local household waste recycling centre or hire a licensed waste removal service.
Electrical goods
We know what you're thinking...."why oh why can I not just toss my old fridge in to the hired skip?"
Here's why.
Anything that falls under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment category (WEEE) can't be put in a skip as they contain toxic chemicals, making them hazardous.
If tossed into a skip and sent to a landfill, they may leak these chemicals which will contaminate the soil and water around it.
The best way to get rid of fridges, freezers, computers, tv's, washing machines, mobile phones or pc monitors is to take them to a designated electrical recyclable centre. You can even donate them to charities if they're in good shape.
Batteries
It doesn't matter whether they're household batteries or from your car, unfortunately, batteries can't be put in a skip.
As they have heavy metals and toxic chemicals, they can cause serious damage to our health & the environment if they leak.
They could also start a fire too, if mixed with other material.
Car metal dealers may be able to take the car batteries off your hand. For the smaller batteries, some supermarkets, shops & local libraries have collection bins.
To find your local battery recycling centre, pop your details in to a recycling locator to be shown where your local drop off point is.
Paint, solvents & oils
Paint is a big no no when it comes to skips.
Not only can the left over paint damage the skip but they too, it's also full of harmful substances.
The same goes for solvents & oils.
These liquids are highly dangerous and should never be put in a skip as they can cause fires or chemical burns if touched. They can also be harmful to the environment.
For paint, solvents & oils to be disposed of correctly, you either need to:
- Let it dry out on old materials so it can be thrown in your regular waste
- Find a recycling centre that accepts paints
- Contact a hazardous waste collection service
Asbestos
One of the biggest red flags when it comes to waste - asbestos!
You should never, ever put asbestos or materials containing asbestos in a skip.
It's so unsafe and dangerous that you'll need to call a specialist waste company to dispose of it.
If the lose fibres of materials containing asbestos is released in the air and you breathe them in, it can cause serious respiratory issues.
Trust us, it's not worth your health!
Tyres
They're big, bulky, heavy and not great for the environment.
So it's no wonder tyres can't be put in skip.
They'll need specialist recycling as they fall under special waste material which has specific rules on how they're disposed of.
To dispose of tyres correctly, either contact a local scrap yard, a tyre garage or you can find a local recycling centres that accept tyres.
Mattresses
Another one for the no list.
Mattresses are bulky, made from multiple materials & are generally too large to be put in a skip. They might also contain POPs too, so will need to be specialist disposal.
To properly throw away your mattress, contact your local council who usually accept mattress collections or take it to a recycling centre.
If it's in a good condition, donate it to a second hand shop or a furniture bank. Just make sure the fire safety label is still attached & that the mattress is clean.
Gas cylinders
When you think of the dangers of gas, what's the first thing that comes in to your head?
Fires and explosions!
Well that's what could happen if you put a gas cylinder into a skip, even if you think it's empty.
The best thing to do with gas cylinders when you have finished with them is to return them to the supplier you got them from or contact a local gas cylinder disposable company.
Food waste
For hygienic reasons, food waste can't be put in a skip.
If it is, it'll attract pests, it'll start to smell and believe it or not, but once send to landfill, decomposing food waste releases methane which is a potent greenhouse gas.
Instead, stick all your food waste in your food caddy provided by the council. You can even use used tea bags, egg shells & fruit and veg scraps to make your own compost.
Let HSS DIY help with your clearance projects.
And there we have it!
A list of what you can and can't put in a skip.
Some of the items might have seemed obvious but it's always good to check before you go ahead and toss them out - for a number of reasons.
Garden waste, household items and building materials from a recent reno are all items that get the green light for being put in a skip.
However, tyres, large electrical goods, paints, tyres and many more can't be put in to skips as they contain dangerous substances that can be harmful to our health and the environment.
Need a skip for your waste & disposal?
No matter the project, HSS DIY has skips of various sizes for hire to help you get rid of your unwanted items.
Just make sure you don't add any prohibited items in the skip. If you don't you risk getting a fine or other additional costs or refusal of collection.
