The start of a New Year is full of changes. After the festive period, you’re probably looking at your home and thinking about jobs to do later in 2026. It’s a good idea to start as soon as possible. If you don’t, it might suddenly be December again and you’ve still got it all to do. L&C can help if you’re planning a clearance. We offer skip hire in Hartlepool and all other parts of the Tees Valley. You can book online or speak to us to arrange the perfect service.

One thing we recommend before you do arrange a skip though is to check what can and can’t go in. The rules here change quite regularly. It’s always wise to check instead of assuming you can throw everything.

Is it hazardous?

The most important thing to keep in mind is skips are not for hazardous waste in most cases. Generally they are solely for ordinary household, commercial, and garden waste. This includes certain types of furniture, timber, glass, plastics, fabrics, rubble, and green waste.

What you need to do is think carefully about the rubbish you need to get rid of and whether it could be hazardous. There are some obvious things that are, such as light tubes, asbestos, batteries, oil, paint, and tyres. On top of this, you can’t throw electrical items in a skip, especially things like old TVs or fridges. Talk to us if you have questions about skip hire in Hartlepool.

Upholstered products

One of the most difficult things to think about is upholstery. Many fabrics are suitable for skips. This even includes carpets. You can also generally throw old furniture in a skip. However, certain types of products are not suitable. The key thing here is the item may contain fabric or foam padding that is classified as persistent organic pollution (POP). There is legislation to prevent POPs from ending up in landfill because they can cause significant harm to people and the environment.

What you need to do is look carefully at each product you need to get rid of. Whether it is a sofa, dining chairs, a foot stool, an office chair, or even cushions, you generally can’t put them in a skip anymore if there is upholstery. What you should do instead is donate to charity or take items to a household waste facility.

Dealing with timber

Wood is one of trickiest materials to decide what to do with. Many types can go in a skip. However, there are a number of products that can’t because they are hazardous. Things like old railway sleepers, agricultural fencing, and treated timber (including creosote) cannot go in skips. Several other products also can’t go in unless testing proves they are safe. This includes various types of timber building materials such as joists, cladding, and fascias.

Confirm with us if you need advice about skip hire in Hartlepool

If you’re planning a clearance for 2026, whether it is clearing the loft, a shed, a garage, a garden, or any other property, we’d be happy to help. Crucially, you can ask us for advice about any kind of waste. We’ll give you information so you can dispose of everything effectively, avoiding issues like us being unable to take a skip away.

We’re proud to be one of the top names for skip hire in Hartlepool and other parts of the Tees Valley. We make sure our services are exceptional, sorting waste properly and processing it in the most environmentally conscious manner. Call today or book online if you’re ready to order a skip.