Simpson Skip Hire News

Make building work easier with efficient waste management

August 27th, 2010

It can all seem so easy beforehand. The idea of a loft conversion or an extension can be so appealing and the notion that you are adding value to your property can be very seductive. Thinking about the outcome, it is not hard to forget how annoying it can be to get from A to B. For example, the length of time the work will take may mean relatively little to someone at the delightful planning stage. However, the fact that there may well be complications along the way should not put you off.

Those of us who have had builders in a few times, whether or not it was for maintenance or additions to our properties, know that things do not always go as smoothly as we initially envisaged. There can be a lot more to it than might be indicated by the obvious need to give the workers tea, coffee and biscuits. Delays can cause frustration. Work can reveal the necessity for other work. Mistakes can cause actual damage to the property concerned. It can all get very stressful. If you are unfortunate, bad workmanship by the builders can lead to bitter acrimony and even disputed bills.

It is important, therefore, that no unnecessary problems are caused by the waste management side of the operation. Using an efficient London skip hire company can avoid any of the potential problems being compounded by issues with the skip. At Simpsons Skip Hire, we will make sure our part runs smoothly. trust us for the best skips.

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Skips at night

August 23rd, 2010

When you use a skip, it is essential that you do so in a safe manner. This means that the necessary precautions have to be taken to minimise the chances of any accident occurring. For those skips which are placed on the road, there are several regulations which must be obeyed. One area in which compliance is imperative relates to how skips should be made visible during the hours of darkness.

From the point of view of the skip user, it makes good sense to check that the danger lamps are situated on the corners of the container. These lamps must be operating effectively at all the specified times. If this is not the case, traffic will not be given sufficient warning of the skip’s presence and an unfortunate road accident may ensue.

The regulations are very clear that the lights must remain on throughout the night. This is specified by the Traffic Signs Regulation and General Directions Act. When it comes to looking at the health and safety aspects of skip deployment, it is important to remember that it is not just the level of darkness which can make a skip into a hazard. For example, there is a regulation which makes sure skips are not positioned too close to junctions and this is of relevance in the night time.

The best thing to do is to use the expertise of an experienced local skip provider. At Simpsons Skip Hire we always follow the relevant codes and good practices.

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You cannot put just anything in a skip

August 20th, 2010

Waste management is a serious business. One of the many reasons this is the case is because it can involve disposing of hazardous waste in a responsible and safe fashion. It is wrong to ignore our individual and collective responsibility to the environment and there are regulations which prevent us from doing so. It is important to remember that skips are not suitable receptacles for all types of rubbish. If you are having work done on your home, you must remember that neither you nor the builders should put stuff in the container in an indiscriminate fashion.

There is a diversity of common objects which should never find themselves in a skip. The prohibited objects include obvious hazards like asbestos and gas bottles. In addition, the banned list includes items like car batteries, light bulbs, refrigerators, paint and televisions. If there is any doubt about whether or not a specific item is suitable for disposal in a skip it makes a great deal of sense for you to find out. Sometimes you can trust your instincts, as long as you are doing so in the ‘better safe than sorry direction.’ For instance, as refrigerators are banned you can assume that fridge-freezers and freezers are categorised in the same way.

Sometimes people are not sure whether they can put a specific object in a skip with a clear conscience. It makes sense to contact a skip hire provider. At Simpsons Skip Hire we have the ability to answer skip-related queries of all kinds.

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Skip permit tips

August 17th, 2010

If you have never hired a skip before, you may be unaware that you may be required to obtain a skip permit from the relevant local authority. It could be thought that the process would be relatively straightforward. It might even be envisaged that there would be a uniform system which would apply to skip use nationwide. However, the reality is different from such assumptions and the situation is more complex. This is because local authorities have a degree of autonomy and have imposed diverse rules on the use of skips in their areas. This means that the administration of permits is conducted in various ways.

It is important to check out the specific regulations which apply in your area. For example, skip permits often have an expiry date, but this date can vary considerably. If a permit is not used in time this can be a costly error. In addition, there are different time limits stipulated by the various councils. The time limit is the period in which it will take the system to process the permit application. You cannot employ the skip prior to the permit being granted.

The way in which a permit should be applied for varies significantly from place to place. Some local authorities desire written communication, while others are content with an online application. Other individuals actually obtain their permits by dropping in to council offices. At Simpsons Skip Hire we are accustomed to dealing with skips in the various districts of London, so the process can be made as simple as possible.

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Why is skip hire in London a bit different from elsewhere?

August 14th, 2010

In several important ways London is not like the rest of Britain. It is the political, economic and cultural capital of the nation. There is a significant economic disparity between London and the provinces which is larger than the divides between capital cities and peripheral regions in many European states. If a recession affects the country, it sometimes impacts on London first, but London’s recovery usually comes well in advance of that benefiting the other British regions. However, London’s relative affluence comes at a price. London is a very congested city and it has a large environmental impact. While those involved in the governance of London have taken steps to address the issue of congestion, London’s roads are still full of traffic and much of that traffic moves sluggishly.

Another way in which London is different relates to how it is governed. While central government is obviously based in the capital, some powers have been devolved to the elected Mayor and the London Development Agency. However, when it comes to skip hire in London, many powers remain in the hands of the diverse local authorities. They have their own regulations in relation to skip permits and so on.

It is instructive to recognise that the different ways in which London is special directly influence what is allowed in terms of skips on the streets. At Simpsons Skip Hire we are familiar with all the different regulations that apply in the diverse boroughs of the capital and can help ensure that no difficulties arise.

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Fly-tipping: a burden on the state?

August 11th, 2010

In this current age of austerity, the coalition government is doing what it can to make the state smaller. This may mean that in the long term taxation could be lower than it would otherwise be. However, if you engage in the illegal activity of fly-tipping you are ensuring that everyone pays more tax. Fly-tipping is not just terrible for the environment; it costs a lot of money to respond to it in an appropriate manner.

Fly-tipping is not a victimless crime. Even if you have no social conscience and have no feeling of responsibility to the natural environment, the stiff penalties associated with the offence should deter you from doing it. A large fine may be imposed and this will certainly outweigh any saving that you might have made. If you are caught, it may be that your crime becomes public knowledge and you could become very unpopular with other taxpayers. The possibility of a jail sentence or an awkward community punishment should certainly stop you in your tracks.

If you have some refuse to dispose of, using a skip is a cost-effective and efficient way of getting the job done. If you select a good skip hire company, they can ensure that a large proportion of the waste is recycled. This is good for the environment. Using an appropriate skip properly ensures that you will not get into any trouble with your waste issue. At Simpsons Skip Hire of London, we can take care of everything on your behalf.

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Don’t squeeze too much in

August 8th, 2010

It is of great importance to select the correct size of skip for a job. If you pick a skip which is much too large for the rubbish you are simply wasting money. Other people in the neighbourhood may take advantage of the additional space at your expense. However, choosing a skip which is too small to hold the waste generated by the work is an even worse mistake.

If you do opt for a skip which has insufficient capacity for all the refuse produced by the workers the only reasonable thing to do is to hire another one. It may be that you require another skip permit, so this can be an annoying hassle. Some individuals are tempted into trying to crush their waste to make it fit in to the single receptacle, but this can be a significant error for at least three major reasons.

Firstly, overloading a skip can make it very difficult for the firm who try to remove it. It can be tricky for workers to handle things if an unreasonable weight is involved. Secondly, pieces of rubbish can fall off an overburdened skip, damaging the local environment aesthetically and unnecessarily adding to polluting litter. Thirdly, cramming too much into the container is against the law.

The regulations governing the use of skips are quite strict, but waste disposal is a very serious matter. If the regulations were not enforced, the consequences could be regrettable. At Simpson Skip Hire of London we can explain the ins and outs of the regulatory framework.

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Prudent waste management

August 5th, 2010

Disposing of massive volumes of waste in landfill sites has several suboptimal outcomes. Firstly, it can lead to noxious odours in the vicinity of the site. Secondly, the vegetation that would otherwise grow on the land surface may be adversely affected. Thirdly, the gases which are released by the rubbish, such as methane, can contribute to global warming. Fourthly, it can mean that valuable resources are wasted. With ideal landfill sites declining in availability as the mountains of rubbish generated in Britain swiftly accumulate, responsible waste management has to involve recycling on a massive scale.

At Simpsons Skip Hire of London, we make every effort to ensure that the rubbish we deal with is treated in a responsible fashion. In practice, this means that an upward pressure is being maintained in relation to our recycling rates. This upward pressure is central to our skip hire mission and is translated into action in a very practical way.

Most British citizens do believe that the way we live has to be environmentally sustainable. They accept that manmade climate change is a threat to habitats and societies around the world. This means that participation in recycling has increased and the majority of individuals have no problem with that. Nevertheless, as the population of London increases further, more action will be necessary in this area. Using high quality waste management services such as skip hire is a great way of contributing to the type of solutions which can address our collective problems. Unless the private sector follows good practice, more scarce resources will be wasted down the track.

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Midi skips under the spotlight

August 2nd, 2010

People who have never used a skip before can be made uncertain by some of the terminology being used in the area of waste management. Even some people who have hired a skip previously are not always familiar with all the relevant terms. For instance, many individuals are a bit unsure what a midi skip actually is. They may guess that this type of container is not a massive one, but they may not understand its features or appreciate its typical capacity. It is always a priority to get the right skip for the job in hand.

At Simpson Skip Hire of London we endeavour to ensure that all our potential consumers have access to accurate information. This means that we know our responsibilities and ensure our customers know what they can anticipate if they opt to use our services.

A midi skip is a skip which is commonly employed for waste disposal in the aftermath of limited building work at a domestic address. Such containers are not generally designed to enable builders or home owners to walk directly in to them. The implication of this is that it is important to think carefully about the kind of rubbish which will have to be disposed of prior to hiring the midi skip. When it comes to the key factor of capacity, it is generally the case that between 40 and 50 full black bags can be placed within a midi skip without overloading it. However, black bags should not be stuffed with excess material if this calculation is to be any practical guide.

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Visible skips

July 30th, 2010

Driving around the streets of London is not always much fun. There can be lots of traffic, especially at peak times. Even during periods when the traffic is not quite so intense, it can be a very stressful experience. It is important that nothing is done which makes driving around the capital more hazardous. It makes sense therefore that every effort is made to ensure that skips can be seen easily in all weathers and at all times.

It is also the case that the regulations, regarding the visibility of skips, are quite rigorous. Those parts of the skip which directly face the flow of traffic have to be painted yellow. In addition, glowing yellow and red material must be attached to alert motorists and cyclists to the presence of the skip. Specific markings can be used to serve this purpose. The markings which are employed have to adhere to British Standard BS AU152: 1970. There are also regulations which govern how high the markings should be in relation to the level of the tarmac. These regulations have been established and upheld to ensure road safety.

During the night, or while inclement weather endures, a skip requires additional attention to promote the safety of road users. For example, lights of an amber hue must be attached to the receptacle to flash out a warning in the difficult driving conditions. Even during the day, traffic cones have to be utilised in a specified fashion. At Simpsons Skip Hire of London we know how to do deal with all these issues efficiently so you don’t have to worry about them.

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