6 tips to stop other people dumping waste in your skip

Illegally dumped waste from someone else in your construction skip is a big problem. Not only because the skip fills up faster, so you end up paying for someone else's waste, but also because there's a good chance the dumped waste isn't even allowed in the skip. This can lead to considerable extra costs, as the waste has to be re-sorted, which pushes up the processing costs.

If the skip is on private property, where unauthorised people can't easily get to it, the risk of illegally dumped waste isn't very high. If the skip is in an open and/or busy area, or on a new-build site, the chances are much greater. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to reduce the risk of unwanted waste.

The easiest way to prevent this problem is to choose an closed skip, as these can be secured with a lock. However, these skips are only available from 10 m3.

If you don't have an enclosed skip but it is in a public place, it's a good idea to stretch a tarpaulin over the skip. When you've finished working for the day, fasten the tarpaulin so that nobody can get to it. An added bonus of this tip: a tarpaulin also stops waste from blowing away.

Don't leave the skip unattended for long periods. While you're working and walking back and forth to the skip, there's enough activity around it that neighbours won't easily dare to dump their waste. However, if you leave the skip unattended for a few days or even a few weeks, the chances of people noticing and coming to dump their waste are much higher. If you won't need the skip for a while, go back to tip two and cover it up.

If people are really set on causing trouble, there's not much you can do about it, but often people simply aren't aware of the problems a little extra waste can cause. So put a note on the skip stating that other people are not supposed to use your skip. Warn them that it is for strictly separated waste only and that illegal dumping of waste can result in a fine.

Keep track of what you put in the skip yourself and how full it is, so you'll notice straight away if someone else has thrown something in. You may then still be in time to take it out and take steps to prevent further illegal dumping.

You may already have been planning to let your neighbours know about your renovation plans because of the disruption. If so, let them know at the same time that you're hiring a waste skip that may only be used for strictly separated waste. This reduces the chance that they'll be the ones throwing unwanted waste into the skip. You can also ask them to let you know if they see anything suspicious near the skip. That way you make use of neighbourly vigilance, and there are people who can keep an eye on things when you're not around.