General Waste in a Skip: What’s Allowed and Which Size to Choose

General waste comes from almost every kind of clear-out: decluttering a loft or garage, preparing a house for sale, end-of-tenancy work, small office or shop refits, and the everyday overflow that does not fit in a wheelie bin. It is often mixed with some garden or light renovation waste, which is usually fine in the same skip.

General waste is typically light for its volume, so you can make use of a larger skip without running into weight limits. As an approximate guide:

• 4 yard skip – a single room clear-out or small garage.
• 8 yard skip – a larger house clear-out or mixed general and light DIY waste.
• 12 yard skip and above – bulky furniture, whole-house clearances and commercial clear-outs.

If you are adding heavy material such as rubble, choose a smaller skip or keep it separate. Capacities and weight allowances vary by supplier and are confirmed at booking.

Mixed general waste goes to an authorised transfer station where it is sorted. Recyclable materials such as metal, wood, cardboard and some plastics are picked out and sent for recycling. The non-recyclable residue is commonly used for energy recovery, with landfill as the last resort. The more you separate in advance, the more can be recovered – see our recycling page for the process.

If you have too little for a skip, no space on the driveway, or would rather someone else did the loading, a man and van waste collection can be a practical alternative. For ongoing business rubbish, regular commercial waste collection or wheelie bins are usually better value than repeated skip hire.