Skip To The Beat

As the trend for housing renovations continues to grow, the demand for such humble devices as the Skip are running at record levels. Skip Hire has been one of the major growth areas of the Waste Management industry as new and even tighter regulations are released on a regular basis. While the industry suffered from a rather down market image in the past, there have been some major changes, with Health and Safety at the forefront of many talking points.

The days when as skip was dropped off and left for a few days have gone, they now come with a vast array of add-ons, including Skip locks (to guard against fly dumping), Skip lights (to minimise possible accidents), Skip nets, Skip ramps and even specific Safety Clothing for the workmen involved! Even though many of these issues where covered to a lesser extent in times gone by, the real threat of legal action if accidents did occur has focused the mind of many.

As land fill sites become more and more expensive, and less space available, the industry has had to look at other forms of waste management. Many Skip Hire companies are now turning to Screen Trommel’s to sort the waste materials left in skips. The Trommel allows differing sizes of waste to be sorted in a large rotating drum, thereby giving the opportunity to recycle or possibly sell-on various “waste” materials.

The increased capital investment required to keep up with developments, and opportunities in the industry has seen many Hire firms take out Commercial Mortgages to fund their expansion plans. While the industry is so buoyant this seems a very sensible approach, with the investment return on equipment acquired, for in excess of the long term cost or purchase. Smaller firms are now being squeezed out of the market, with larger firms swallowing up many competitors.