Skip hire across Somerset: Coverage, costs, and how to book

Written by Nick Towens

If you’ve been searching for ‘skip hire Somerset,’ this blog covers everything you need to know, from costs and logistics to permits and eligible materials. After all, it would be frustrating to spend hundreds of pounds on skip hire, only to discover that your chosen company doesn’t accept soil for a garden renovation or hasn’t mentioned the need for a permit on your property.

At Towens, we’re a family-run business offering skip hire services across the majority of Somerset and North Somerset. With local depots in Weston, Middlezoy and Clutton, we pride ourselves on transparency and a simple booking process. We clearly outline which materials are eligible, our costs, hire duration and where your waste goes, all before you book. Booking can be completed in just three simple steps.

Costs vary depending on your location and the size of skip you need. Our postcode tool gives you the best price instantly, with standard hire lasting two weeks. If your skip needs to be placed on a public highway, we can also arrange the skip hire permit on your behalf. With over 25 years of experience, our own waste transfer station (where more than 92% of waste avoids landfill) and a strong focus on sustainability, we make skip hire straightforward and stress-free for every homeowner.

This blog details everything you need to know about skip hire in our beautiful county, stating which materials are eligible, expected costs, covered locations and much more.

An overview of Towens skip hire services

We offer skip hire for domestic jobs, commercial use, building projects and everything in between. Our range of skip sizes includes compact 2 yard skips for small projects and inert materials, 4 and 6 yard skips for larger garden clearances and builders’ waste, and 8 or 12 yard skips for bulky items and mixed materials. RORO skips are available for sites with plenty of space and a higher volume of waste.

Every skip we collect is taken to our own waste transfer station where we separate, sort and process a wide variety of waste streams. Soil and stone become recycled aggregates, plasterboard is processed for reuse by plasterboard manufacturers and mixed waste is broken down using a mix of handpicking and mechanical sorting. We work to a professional standard of service that keeps everything as local and efficient as possible.

Sustainability is central to how we operate. More than 92% of all waste we handle is recycled, reused or recovered, supporting local construction projects and reducing the amount of waste heading to landfill sites.

Skip hire Somerset: What areas do we cover?

Our coverage spans a wide area across Somerset and North Somerset. If you live in or near any of the following, we almost certainly deliver to your area:

• Somerset
• North Somerset
• Weston super Mare
• Bridgwater
• Taunton
• Clevedon
• Portishead
• Street
• Nailsea
• Glastonbury
• Shepton Mallet
• The Chew Valley and surrounding villages

If you’re unsure, our postcode tool will confirm your delivery zone instantly.

What materials are allowed inside a Towens skip?

Different projects create different types of waste, so it’s important to know what can go in the skip. This helps keep everyone safe and ensures we recycle correctly.

Materials permitted:

• Wood
• Stone
• Paper
• Plastic
• General waste
• Sand
• Soil
• Cardboard
• Metals

Materials not permitted:

• Electrical items
• Asbestos
• Batteries
• Gas cylinders
• Paint tins
• Fluorescent tubes
• Treated wood including railway sleepers
• POPs items such as sofas and upholstered furniture
• Tyres
• Plasterboard (unless arranged separately)
• Fridges or freezers
• Pressurised containers
• Food waste
• Liquids of any description
• Mattresses

If you’re unsure, feel free to call us and we’ll advise on the best skip for your specific requirements or recommend alternative waste disposal options.

What happens to the waste inside your skip?

Once we collect your skip, everything is transported to our own waste transfer station, where it is sorted and processed with a focus on sustainability and reducing landfill. For over 25 years, Towens has treated waste as a resource, finding ways to recycle, reuse and recover as much as possible to benefit both the local community and the environment.

Here’s what happens next:

• Inert materials like soil, sand and stone are turned into recycled aggregates or screened topsoil for construction projects across Somerset.
• Plasterboard is separated and sent to plasterboard manufacturers for full recycling.
• Mixed household waste and construction waste, including metals, plastics and other recyclables, is sorted using trammelling, air separation, handpicking and magnetic recovery.
• Bulky items and heavy waste are broken down so each type of material can be sent to the correct recycling or recovery process.
• Non-recyclable materials are compacted into large ejector trailers and transported to designated landfill sites within our region.

Each year, we process over 100,000 tons of waste. In 2021, 85.55% was recycled or reused, including plasterboard, metals, plastics, hardcore, aggregates and soils. A further 6.4% was sent to energy recovery facilities, and only 8.05% went to landfill. Across all waste streams, more than 92% of what we handle avoids landfill, supporting Towens’ long-standing commitment to sustainable waste management and the circular economy.

By using innovative technology and continuously improving our processes, we ensure that materials like wood, stone, soils, metals and most plastics can have a second life, reducing the need for new raw resources and helping homeowners and commercial customers across Somerset meet their environmental goals.

How to book skip hire

Booking with Towens only takes a few minutes.

Step 1: Enter your postcode

This shows you the best price for your area and confirms your delivery zone.

Step 2: Select your skip size

Our sizing guide helps you choose a type of skip that suits your waste. You can also contact us if you’re unsure.

Step 3: Check if you need a permit

If your skip will sit on a public highway, you’ll need a skip permit from your local council. We can handle this for you.

How do Towens help with skip hire in Somerset?

As a local, family-run skip hire company, we focus on offering a hire service that’s clear, simple and responsive. We employ our own drivers, maintain our own fleet and manage our own waste transfer station, which means you get reliable next day delivery, transparent skip hire requirements and a team who know the area well.

If your skip needs to sit on the road or on public land, you’ll need a public highway permit. These normally cost between £70 and £100 and take around 3 to 5 working days for approval. We can arrange the road permit for you as part of your service.

Our team are always happy to help with questions about types of waste, the size of the skip you need or the overall weight of the vehicle for your particular job.

Skip hire prices Somerset

Prices vary depending on your location, the type of waste and the size of skip you need. As a rough guide:

• Smaller skips for garden waste or minor house clearances start from the low £100s
• Medium builders’ skips usually fall within the mid £200s to £300s
• Larger skips for bulky items, larger construction projects, mixed materials or commercial customers may range from the mid £300s to £400+. Our largest skips are 12 yards, a versatile choice for industrial projects, full household clearances etc.

To get an accurate price, simply enter your postcode into our booking system or call our office.

What towns does Towens cover in Somerset?

We cover the majority of Somerset, including Weston, Bridgwater, Taunton, Clevedon and surrounding villages with our affordable skip hire. You can check delivery availability for your postcode using our online booking tool.

Who are Towens?

Towens is a family-run recycling, waste management and environmental services business based in Weston super Mare with three decades of experience. We operate local depots across Somerset and handle more than a million tons of waste and recycled aggregates every year.

Our services include skip hire, tipper and grab hire, aggregates, plant hire and civils & demolition. We employ local people, support community causes and invest in innovative processes that help reduce waste and protect the environment.

To book your skip, call our friendly team on 01934 424242, email skips@towens.co.uk or use our quick online booking tool.

Key findings

• Towens provides skip hire across Somerset and North Somerset with quick delivery
• A full range of skip sizes is available for household and construction projects
• Booking takes three simple steps using our postcode tool
• We can arrange public highway permits when required
• 92% of all waste collected is recycled, reused or recovered