What can and can't go in a skip (and why)

Published 28 August 2026  |  Scarborough Skip Hire

Most of what comes out of a house or garden can go straight in a skip. A short list of things can't, and it's not because we're being difficult; the processing site won't take them and we'd be fined for carrying them. Here's the list, with the reasons, and what to do instead.

Definitely not

• Asbestos. Old garage roofs, Artex ceilings pre-1999, soffits, some floor tiles. It needs a licensed removal contractor and separate disposal. If you're not sure whether something is asbestos, don't break it up; ask.
• Fridges, freezers and air-con units. The gas in them has to be recovered. Household ones can go to the council recycling centre; trade ones need a WEEE collection.
• Tyres. Any tyre place will take them for a small fee.
• Gas cylinders. Calor and similar will take their own bottles back.
• Paint, solvents, chemicals, oil. Even dried paint tins are a problem. The recycling centre has a hazardous waste point.
• Batteries and fluorescent tubes. Supermarkets and the recycling centre both take them.
• TVs, monitors and most electricals. WEEE rules. Recycling centre again.
• Liquids of any kind. Skips aren't sealed.

Yes, but ask first

• Plasterboard. Fine, but it has to be bagged separately from other waste because of what it does in landfill. Tell us roughly how much and we'll explain.
• Mattresses and carpets. Accepted, sometimes with a small surcharge because they're bulky and hard to process. One or two is no problem; a house clearance with six is worth mentioning.
• Soil, rubble, concrete. All fine, but heavy. The issue is weight, not the material. See the note below.
• Treated timber, fence panels, decking. Fine.

Yes, no need to ask

Furniture, wood, metal, cardboard, plastics, garden waste, turf, kitchen units, bathroom suites, tiles, bricks, doors, flooring, general household junk. Fill it up.

The weight thing

Heavy inert waste (soil, hardcore, concrete) is welcome, but a skip has a weight limit the lorry can lift. An 8 yard skip full to the brim with rubble weighs more than the truck can pick up. That's why we say heavy waste should go in skips of 8 yards or under, and why we'll sometimes suggest a smaller skip than you asked for. It's not us upselling downwards; it's physics.

Level load

Everything has to sit below the rim. Overfilled skips can't be sheeted or transported legally, and the driver will have to leave it. If you think you'll overfill, order the next size up or ask about an exchange partway through.

The short version lives on the homepage under what can and can't go in a skip. If your item isn't on either list, ask on the quote form and we'll give you a straight answer.