Skip hire vs full waste management: What’s the difference?

Written by Nick Towens

Working out the best way to deal with site waste can be confusing. Skip hire and full waste management both clear rubbish responsibly and efficiently, yet they suit very different jobs.

Skip hire is ideal for contained projects where you fill a container at your own pace, as you’ll have it at your site/home for two weeks. Full waste management is a complete service designed for larger, more complex sites.

As a trusted provider of waste management Somerset contractors rely on, we cover everything from recycling and soil testing to construction and demolition support.

We also have an incredibly popular skip hire service, and whichever you choose, we promise to deal with your waste responsibly; over 90% of the material we receive avoids landfill completely, a number that’s constantly rising!

Comparing skip hire and full waste management

The right choice depends on the size of your job, the materials involved and how much labour you want to take on. Here is a quick comparison to help you decide.

Feature	Skip hire	Full waste management
Labour	You load it yourself	Our team handles the lot
Speed	Flexible, kept for two weeks	Fast, often same-day
Permits	May be needed for public roads	None required
Best for	Heavy, longer-term projects	Mixed waste, complex sites
Where waste ends up	Over 90% recycled or reused	Over 90% recycled or reused

What happens to the waste we collect?

Skip waste arrives at our transfer station, where it is tipped, sorted and separated by machine, magnet and hand. Soil and hardcore become recycled aggregates, topsoil and road planings. Across our facilities, 92% of material is recycled, reused or recovered, with only 8% reaching landfill.

Introducing skip hire from Towens

Our UK skip hire service is responsive, competitively priced and supported by a friendly team. We deliver across North Somerset, Somerset and Bristol, usually within 24 hours of booking. Skips range from a handy 2 yard right up to a 12 yard.

Materials permitted in our skips include:

• Wood and timber
• Stone, soil and sand
• Metals and plastics
• Paper and cardboard
• General waste

Some items are not allowed, including asbestos, plasterboard, tyres, food waste, liquids and electrical goods. Each skip comes with two weeks’ hire as standard. When you are ready, give us a call and we will arrange collection. If you intend to place the skip on a public road, then a permit will likely be required, which our team can sort for you. There’s an option on our booking form to tick a box if you will require this!

Choose skip hire if

• You are clearing builders’ rubble, soil or stone over several days
• You have garden waste from a landscaping project
• You have space on a driveway or at the edge of your property
• You want a flat fee based on container size
• You prefer to load household waste at your own pace

Introducing full waste management from Towens

Full waste management treats waste as a resource. Most things we receive have a second life, including wood, stone, soil, metals, plasterboard and most plastics. Our complete range of waste services goes far beyond collection, giving site managers a single point of contact for everything.

Our waste management services include:

• Recycling and weighbridge services
• Soil testing, permits and CL:AIRE support
• Tipper and grab haulage of soils and aggregates
• Plant hire, including crushers, shredders and road sweepers
• Civils and demolition contracts for selected customers

Choose full waste management if

• You are running a large construction or demolition site
• You need multiple waste collections and ongoing haulage
• You require soil testing or permit and consultancy advice
• You want recycled aggregates or road planings supplied back to site
• You need a partner who manages compliance from start to finish

Who are Towens?

We are a family-owned recycling, waste management and haulage business with a 30-year track record. Based in Weston-super-Mare with depots across Somerset, including the Taunton area (Westonzoyland), we handle well over a million tonnes a year through our recycling facilities and a modern fleet of vehicles. Our drivers are employed in-house, so specialise in waste management.

If you’re interested, please get in touch with us on 01934 424242, email skips@towens.co.uk or complete our online form.