Soil and Rubble Disposal: Skips, Grab Lorries and Muck-Away

Soil and rubble come from garden landscaping, digging foundations and footings, patio and driveway removal, drainage work, and demolition of walls and outbuildings. Topsoil, subsoil, clay, stone, hardcore and broken masonry all fall into this category.

A skip’s weight limit is often reached long before it is full when loaded with soil. As an approximate guide, a 4 yard skip or 6 yard skip is the usual choice for heavy loads, and some suppliers allow an 8 yard skip if it is only part-filled. Skips of 12 yards and above are generally not suitable – see Can I put soil in a 12-yard skip? Do not overfill: loads must be level with the skip sides. Exact weight allowances vary by supplier and are confirmed at booking.

When you have more than a couple of skips’ worth, a grab lorry is often more efficient. It loads loose material directly from your site with its own crane, so there is no skip to place or permit to arrange in many cases. For bulk excavations, muck-away using 8-wheel tippers removes large quantities quickly. Availability of these vehicles varies by area and is confirmed when you book.

Clean inert waste is highly recyclable. Rubble is typically crushed and screened to produce recycled aggregate, and clean soil can be screened for re-use or used in restoration and engineering projects. Contamination – for example with plastic, timber, plasterboard or Japanese knotweed – limits these options and may need to be declared. Contaminated soils may need testing and specialist handling.