Commercial skip hire means skips and roll-on roll-off containers for building sites, trade and business premises, usually on an exchange so a full container is swapped for an empty one. Every business that produces waste has a legal duty of care for it, so check the supplier's waste registration and keep a waste transfer note for every collection.
Which container for which job?
Heavy waste decides the size before volume does. Sizes and weight limits vary between suppliers, so confirm them when you enquire.
| Container | Best for |
|---|---|
| 4 yard skip | Soil, rubble, hardcore and concrete from small groundworks |
| 6 yard skip | Mixed trade waste, and the largest skip most firms let you fill with heavy waste |
| 8 yard skip | General building and refurbishment waste |
| 12 yard skip | Bulky, light waste: strip-outs, packaging, timber and furniture |
| 20 yard roll-on roll-off | Heavy or mixed site waste in volume |
| 30 to 40 yard roll-on roll-off | Large volumes of light waste on sites with hardstanding and a long, clear approach |
Not sure of the size? See our guide to skip sizes.
How skip exchanges work
- Agree a scheduleSet a regular exchange day, or call-offs when the container is nearly full.
- Swap on arrivalThe lorry takes the full container and leaves an empty one in the same visit, so work doesn't stop.
- Get the paperworkKeep the waste transfer note, or a season ticket covering repeat collections of the same waste.
- Review the mixIf containers keep going away half full or overweight, change the size or separate the heavy waste.
On a long job, compare a run of skips with a roll-on roll-off using the calculator above. Every skip on the road needs its own council permit, while a roll-on roll-off stands on your own ground.
Your duty of care for business waste
In England, Wales and Scotland, any business that produces, carries or manages waste has a duty of care under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Northern Ireland has equivalent rules. It covers four things.
- Store it safely, so it can't escape, blow away or contaminate the ground.
- Only pass it to an authorised person. Check the collector's waste carrier registration before they take anything.
- Describe it accurately on a waste transfer note, including the List of Waste code.
- Keep the records: waste transfer notes for at least 2 years, and hazardous waste consignment notes for 3 years.
If waste your business produced is dumped, enforcement can reach the producer, not only whoever dumped it. Using an unregistered collector because the price was good doesn't move that risk. Every supplier marked Verified on this site has had their registration checked against the official register.
What goes on a waste transfer note?
The waste
A description of the waste, its List of Waste (EWC) code, how much there is and how it's contained.
The people
The names, addresses and signatures of whoever hands the waste over and whoever takes it, with their permit or registration details.
The business
The SIC code of the business producing the waste.
The transfer
The date, time and place the waste changed hands.
Site waste management plans stopped being a legal requirement in England in December 2013, but they are still good practice on larger jobs.
Digital waste tracking: what changes and when
The UK is moving waste records from paper to a single government digital service, starting with the sites that receive waste.
Receiving sites
Permitted waste receiving sites in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must record the waste they receive on the digital waste tracking service.
Scotland
The same requirement starts for receiving sites in Scotland.
Collectors
Waste carriers, brokers and dealers are expected to come into scope. The rules for this phase haven't been made yet, so the date could move.
For now, paper and electronic waste transfer notes and consignment notes are still required alongside the digital service. It's worth asking suppliers how they will provide your records as the new system comes in.
Separate your waste: the rules and the savings
Separating waste is often a legal requirement, not just a way to cut costs. Mixed loads usually cost more to dispose of, and one banned item can bring a surcharge on the whole container.
| Where | What businesses must separate |
|---|---|
| England | Dry recyclables, food waste and residual waste, with paper and card kept apart from other recyclables unless the collector assesses otherwise. In force from 31 March 2025; businesses with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees have until 31 March 2027. |
| Wales | Paper and card; glass; metal, plastic and cartons; food (over 5 kg a week); unsold small electricals and textiles. In force from 6 April 2024, with wood banned from landfill. |
| Scotland | Glass, metal, plastic, and paper and card, since 1 January 2014, plus food waste for food businesses producing over 5 kg a week (outside rural areas). |
Plasterboard Separate
Gypsum can only go to landfill cells that take no biodegradable waste, so keep plasterboard out of general waste. Many suppliers provide a separate bag or skip.
Upholstered seating Keep out
Household-type sofas and chairs from offices, hotels and hospitality are covered by the rules on persistent organic pollutants and must be kept separate for incineration.
Hazardous waste Keep out
Asbestos, chemicals, oils and fluorescent tubes need a specialist collection and a consignment note.
See what can go in a skip for the full list.
Permits and site access
Containers on private sites and compounds need no permit. A skip on a public road needs a council permit, which the skip company normally arranges, so ask whether the fee is included in the price. Councils set their own size limits and conditions, and larger placements can need traffic management. A roll-on roll-off can't stand on the road and needs level hardstanding with a long, clear approach. Our skip permits guide covers the detail.
Questions to ask a commercial skip supplier
- What's your waste carrier registration number, and does it cover this type of waste?
- How quickly can you exchange a container, and what does each exchange cost?
- What are your weight limits, and how do you charge for heavy waste?
- Do you offer separate containers or bags for plasterboard, timber, metal or recyclables?
- Is the council permit included, and how long does it last?
- Will you provide waste transfer notes, or a season ticket for repeat collections?
- How will you provide records under digital waste tracking?
Commercial skip hire questions
What is a business's duty of care for waste?
Any business that produces waste must store it safely, pass it only to an authorised person, describe it accurately on a waste transfer note and keep those notes for at least 2 years. In England, Wales and Scotland this is set out in section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and Northern Ireland has equivalent rules.
Is a business liable if its waste is fly-tipped?
It can be. Enforcement can reach the business that produced the waste, not only whoever dumped it, so check your collector's registration and keep the paperwork.
When does digital waste tracking become mandatory?
For permitted waste receiving sites in England, Wales and Northern Ireland from October 2026, and in Scotland from January 2027. Waste carriers, brokers and dealers are expected to follow from October 2027, but the rules for that phase haven't been made yet.
Do businesses have to separate their waste?
Yes, in most cases. In England, businesses must separate dry recyclables, food waste and residual waste, with micro-firms given until 31 March 2027. Wales and Scotland have their own separation rules, and plasterboard must always be kept out of general waste.
Is a roll-on roll-off cheaper than skips?
Often, on a long job with steady volumes, because one container on your own ground replaces a run of skips that each need collecting and, on the road, a council permit. Use the exchange calculator on this page to compare with your own prices.
Several sites to cover?
Tell us where your sites are, the rough weekly volume and the type of waste, and we'll point you to the suppliers covering each one so you can set up standing arrangements directly.
Prices and council fees in this guide are examples taken from published price lists and council websites. They change and vary by area, so always confirm the cost with the supplier before you book.