Waste carrier registration in Wales
Waste firms based in Wales register with Natural Resources Wales rather than the Environment Agency. The registration covers the whole of Great Britain, so a firm based in England working here will hold an Environment Agency registration instead. Either carries the same legal weight: check the supplier's registration is current before you hand waste over.
Permits in Cardiff and the Vale
Cardiff Council issues the permit for a skip placed on a public road or pavement in the city. Penarth, Barry and the rest of the Vale of Glamorgan come under Vale of Glamorgan Council, which sets its own fees and conditions. Cardiff charges £44 per skip for 7 days or £88 for 28 days, while the Vale charges £80 for a month. In Cardiff the skip company normally applies on your behalf, and in the Vale only a registered skip company can apply, so ask whether the cost is included and how much notice they need.
Terraced streets and residents' parking
Roath, Cathays, Canton, Grangetown and Splott are largely terraced streets with no driveways, so a road permit is the normal case rather than the exception. Many inner streets also have marked parking bays, and if the skip sits in a pay and display bay the council may charge extra daily fees on top of the permit. Check the spot before booking.
Choosing a size
Cathays turns over a large number of student houses each summer, producing bulky but light waste. On the road that usually means an 8 yard, as many suppliers will only place larger skips on private land. For heavy waste like soil or rubble, most suppliers limit you to a smaller skip, often 6 yards or less, because weight rather than volume is the limit. The size guide accounts for weight as well as volume.