Wait and load skip hire means the skip company delivers a skip, the driver waits while you fill it, and then lifts it straight back onto the lorry and takes it away. The skip is never left on site, so it works where there's nowhere to leave one, such as a busy street with no driveway.
How wait and load works
- Book a time slotTell the supplier the skip size, the type of waste and exactly where the lorry can stop.
- Get everything readyBag and pile the waste as close to where the skip will stand as you can, and have enough people to load it.
- The skip is set downThe lorry lowers the skip and the loading time starts.
- Load it levelFill it up to the top of the sides and no higher, the same as any skip.
- It leaves fullThe driver lifts the skip back on and takes it away, so there's nothing left behind.
When wait and load makes sense
Busy streets and town centres
Where you can't leave a skip on the road. Manchester, for example, only approves wait and load for skips in the city centre.
One-off clear-outs
When the waste is ready to go and you only need a skip for an hour, not a week.
No unattended skip
Nobody else can fill it, and there's no skip to light, guard or move.
If you'd rather someone else did the lifting, a rubbish removal crew loads the waste for you. For big piles of soil or rubble, grab hire loads it with a crane arm.
Loading time and costs
Every supplier sets its own included loading time and prices. Examples from published prices:
| Example supplier | Loading time included | Extra time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier A | 15 minutes | £60 an hour, in 15-minute blocks | Same as their standard skip hire |
| Supplier B (London) | 40 minutes | Ask | 8 yard from £280, 12 yard from £355, 14 yard from £430, plus VAT |
Loading time is short and extra time costs money. Have the waste bagged and next to where the skip will go before the lorry arrives.
Permits and parking
Suppliers don't agree on whether a skip that's never left needs a council permit. Some say no permit is needed; others say a permit is needed whenever the skip is on public land. Rules also vary between councils, so ask the supplier whether they'll arrange one for your street. The lorry also needs somewhere it can stop safely while you load, so tell the supplier about parking restrictions, narrow roads and access.
What can go in
The same rules apply as for any skip: no hazardous waste, and items such as sofas, plasterboard, mattresses and electricals may be refused or charged extra. See what can go in a skip before you start loading.
Questions to ask a wait and load supplier
- How much loading time is included, and what does extra time cost?
- What sizes do you offer for wait and load?
- Is a council permit needed on my street, and will you arrange it?
- Where will the lorry stop, and is parking allowed there?
- What happens if we're not ready when you arrive?
- What's your waste carrier registration number, and will I get a waste transfer note?
Prices in this guide are typical ranges from suppliers' published price lists and cost guides. They change and vary by area, so always confirm the price with the supplier before you book. Rules, fees and tax rates are checked against official sources.