This is the comprehensive EFR Skips FAQ — every question we get asked over the phone, by email and on the doorstep, answered in one place. It's organised into seven categories so you can jump straight to what you need, or use Ctrl + F to search the page for a keyword. If your question isn't here, call us on 01924 637777 and we'll add it.
Booking & Pricing
How do I book a skip with EFR Skips?
You can book a skip with EFR Skips in two ways: call us on 01924 637777 to speak to the team, or use the online booking form on our website. We'll confirm the size you need, your delivery postcode, the drop-off date and whether the skip is going on private land or the public highway. Most bookings are confirmed within minutes during office hours, and we'll text you a delivery window the day before. Same-day delivery is available across Wakefield, Leeds, Dewsbury and Huddersfield when you call before late morning, subject to driver availability.
How much does skip hire cost in Yorkshire?
EFR Skips publishes flat, all-inclusive prices for 2, 4, 8 and 16 yard skips. Every quoted price includes VAT, delivery, a 7 day hire period, collection and disposal at our licensed transfer station. The only extras are a council permit if the skip is going on the public highway (typically £40 + VAT depending on the council) and surcharges for any controlled waste like mattresses, plasterboard or upholstered furniture. There are no hidden weight charges on standard mixed builder's waste. Enter your postcode on the booking page to see the live price for your street.
Can I get an instant quote?
Yes. Because EFR Skips publishes flat, all-inclusive prices, you don't have to wait for a quote. The 2 yard is from £125, the 4 yard from £165, the 8 yard from £270 and the 16 yard from £500 — all inc. VAT, delivery and collection across our standard service area. If your postcode is on the edge of our area or you need a permit, just call 01924 637777 and we'll confirm the exact total in under a minute. No forms, no waiting, no email tennis.
Do you charge VAT? Is the price inclusive?
Yes, every price quoted by EFR Skips is inclusive of VAT at 20%. The figure you see on the website (£125, £165, £270, £500) is the figure you pay — there is no VAT added at checkout. If you need a VAT invoice for business or trade reasons, ask the office and we'll email a fully itemised invoice the same day. Permits, where required, are billed at the council's exact pass-through cost plus a small admin fee, also itemised.
Can I pay by card or do I need cash?
You can pay by debit or credit card, bank transfer, or cash on delivery — whichever suits. Most domestic customers pay by card when they book online or over the phone, which secures the slot and triggers the delivery. Trade and account customers can be set up on 30 day payment terms after a short credit check. We do not store card details after the transaction. There is no card surcharge.
Sizes & Capacity
What size skip do I need?
As a rule of thumb: a 2 yard mini suits a small bathroom strip-out or roughly 25 bin bags of waste. A 4 yard midi handles a single-room renovation or garden clearance (around 50 bags). An 8 yard builder's skip is the most popular choice for kitchens, extensions and full house projects (around 100 bags). The 16 yard jumbo is for bulky but lightweight items — house clearances, shop fit-outs, soft furnishings — and holds roughly 200 bin bags. If in doubt, size up; a second skip costs more than going one size bigger first time.
How many bin bags fit in each skip size?
Approximate bin bag capacity: 2 yard mini holds around 25 bags, 4 yard midi around 50 bags, 8 yard builder's around 100 bags, and 16 yard jumbo around 200 bags. These are guideline figures based on standard household refuse sacks loaded level with the rim — never above. Overloaded skips are illegal to transport on the public highway and our drivers will refuse to lift them, so always keep waste below the top edge of the skip.
Can I put rubble in a 16 yard skip?
No. The 16 yard jumbo is designed for bulky but lightweight waste only — soft furnishings, packaging, light timber, plastics and house clearance items. Rubble, soil, concrete, tiles and bricks are heavy waste and must go in a 2, 4 or 8 yard skip, with a 4 yard usually being the sweet spot for a builder. Putting rubble in a 16 yard skip will exceed legal axle weight limits and we will not collect it. If you've got a mix of heavy and light waste, call us and we'll suggest the right combination.
What if I underestimate and need a bigger skip?
It happens. Call EFR Skips on 01924 637777 and we'll either swap your skip for a larger size or drop a second skip alongside the first. A swap is usually cheaper than two separate hires because we only make one extra trip. The swap fee is the price difference between the two skip sizes plus a small exchange charge. To avoid this, our advice is always to size up by one if you're unsure — the cost difference between a 4 yard and an 8 yard is far less than the cost of a second hire.
Delivery & Access
How quickly can you deliver?
EFR Skips can usually deliver next-day across Wakefield, Leeds, Dewsbury, Huddersfield and the surrounding WF, LS and HD postcodes. Same-day delivery is available when you book before late morning, subject to driver availability and whether your skip needs a permit (permits typically take 3 to 5 working days to issue from the council). Once your booking is confirmed, we'll send a 2 hour delivery window the evening before so you don't waste your day waiting in.
Do you offer same-day skip delivery?
Yes, EFR Skips offers same-day skip delivery across Wakefield, Leeds, Dewsbury, Huddersfield and surrounding areas when you call before late morning and the skip is going on private property (no permit needed). Call 01924 637777 to check availability — slots are first-come, first-served and depend on which trucks are already in your area. If we can't get one to you the same day, we'll offer the earliest next-day slot, usually the following morning.
What space do you need to deliver a skip?
For a 2 or 4 yard skip we need roughly the width of a standard car parking space and around 4 metres of vertical clearance for the lorry's hook arm. The 8 yard needs slightly more length, and the 16 yard jumbo needs a clear straight run because the skip is longer. The driver also needs solid ground (block paving, concrete or tarmac) — soft grass or muddy ground can leave wheel ruts and may not support the lorry's weight. If in doubt, send us a photo of the drop spot before booking.
Can you deliver to a tight or narrow street?
Yes, in most cases. EFR Skips runs a mix of vehicle sizes and our drivers know the Yorkshire backstreets inside out. If your street is narrow, has parked cars on both sides, or has a low arch or overhanging trees, please mention it when booking so we can send the right size lorry. For the very tightest accesses, we may recommend a 2 or 4 yard skip rather than the 8 yard. If the driver can't safely place the skip on arrival, we'll always discuss alternatives rather than just leaving.
What if I'm not home when you deliver?
That's fine, as long as the drop spot is clearly accessible and you've left instructions. Many of our customers are at work when the skip arrives. When you book, just tell us where to put it — "on the driveway, left of the gate" or "in front of the garage" — and the driver will photograph the placement and text the photo to you. If the skip is going on the public highway under permit, we'll cone it off and place it safely without you needing to be there.
Permits & Placement
Do I need a permit for my skip?
You need a council skip permit if the skip will sit on a public road, pavement, verge or any other land owned by the local authority. If the skip is on your own private driveway, garden, yard or car park, no permit is required. EFR Skips can apply for the permit on your behalf — we deal with Wakefield, Leeds, Kirklees and Calderdale councils every day and know exactly what each one needs. Permits typically take 3 to 5 working days to be issued, so plan ahead if your skip can't go on private land.
How much does a skip permit cost?
EFR Skips charges a flat £40 admin fee for arranging a council skip permit on your behalf, on top of the council's own pass-through fee which varies by authority. We handle the application, the lights, the cones and the reflective markings required by law. The permit duration is set by the council, typically 1 to 2 weeks, and can be extended if your project overruns. If you don't need a permit because the skip is going on private land, you save the £40 entirely.
Can I put a skip on the pavement?
Only with a council-issued skip permit and the correct safety lighting and cones, which EFR Skips supplies as standard with every permitted hire. You cannot place a skip on the pavement without a permit — councils issue fixed penalty notices and can recover costs for unsafe placements. If your only option is the pavement, let us know when you book and we'll arrange the permit for you. Skips on pavements must never block pedestrian access, particularly for wheelchair users and pushchairs.
Hire Period & Collection
How long can I keep the skip?
The standard EFR Skips hire period is 7 days from the date of delivery, which suits most domestic projects. If you finish early, just call and we'll collect sooner — there's no penalty for early collection and no refund for unused days. If you need longer, extensions are available at a small daily rate as long as the skip is on private land. Skips on the public highway are limited by the duration of the council permit, which can usually be extended by reapplying.
Can I extend my hire period?
Yes. If your project overruns, call EFR Skips on 01924 637777 before your 7 day hire period ends and we'll extend it at a small daily rate. There is no fixed maximum on private land — we have customers on month-long extensions for big renovations. Skips on the public highway under a council permit need a permit extension as well, which we can apply for on your behalf. The earlier you call, the easier it is to slot the extension into the schedule.
How do I request a collection?
Call EFR Skips on 01924 637777 or reply to your booking confirmation email to request a collection. We'll usually pick up within 1 to 2 working days, and often the same day if you call early. Before we arrive, please make sure the skip is loaded level with the top edge (no items poking above the rim — it's illegal to transport an overloaded skip), and that any covers, sheets or wood pallets used to extend the sides have been removed.
Will you collect a skip the same day?
Often yes, particularly in our core Wakefield, Leeds, Dewsbury and Huddersfield service area. Same-day collections depend on driver routes and how full the schedule already is, so call EFR Skips as early as possible on 01924 637777. If we can't get to you the same day we'll book the earliest slot available, usually the following morning. There's no extra charge for a fast collection — the price is fixed at the time of booking.
What Can / Can't Go In
What can I put in the skip?
You can put most general construction and household waste in an EFR Skips skip: bricks, rubble, concrete, tiles, soil, timber, plasterboard (separated — see below), metal, plastics, packaging, garden waste, furniture (non-upholstered), carpets, kitchen units and general DIY waste. Mixed loads are fine. The cleaner the load, the easier it is for us to recycle, and EFR Skips currently diverts more than 90% of all skip waste away from landfill at our licensed transfer station.
What can't I put in the skip?
Prohibited items include: asbestos, clinical or medical waste, tyres, fridges and freezers, gas bottles, paints and liquids, batteries, electrical items (WEEE), fluorescent tubes, fuel, oils and any hazardous chemicals. These items are either dangerous, illegal to mix with general waste, or require specialist disposal. If you're unsure about a specific item, call EFR Skips on 01924 637777 before loading — it's always cheaper to ask than to have the load rejected at the transfer station and surcharged.
Can I put plasterboard in the skip?
Yes, but it must be kept separate from your general waste. Plasterboard is classed as a controlled waste because it produces hydrogen sulphide gas when mixed with biodegradable waste in landfill, so by law it has to be processed separately. EFR Skips can supply a dedicated plasterboard skip, or you can bag the plasterboard and place it next to the main skip and the driver will load it separately. There is a small surcharge for plasterboard disposal — call for the current rate.
Can I put a mattress in the skip?
Yes, mattresses are accepted in EFR Skips skips but they incur a per-item surcharge because they are now classed as controlled waste under POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) regulations introduced in 2023. The same applies to upholstered sofas, armchairs and office chairs. Tell us how many mattresses or upholstered items you're putting in when you book and we'll add the surcharge to your invoice up front so there are no surprises on collection day.
Trade & Account Customers
Do you offer trade accounts?
Yes. EFR Skips offers 30 day trade accounts to builders, developers, landscapers, roofers and other regular trade customers across Yorkshire. Account holders get priority booking, fixed daily-rate pricing on volume orders, dedicated telephone support and consolidated monthly invoicing for easier bookkeeping. Setting up an account takes around 24 hours after a short credit check. Call 01924 637777 and ask for the trade desk, or email the office and we'll send the application form straight back.
Do you do bulk skip exchanges for sites?
Yes. EFR Skips runs a same-day bulk exchange service for active construction sites — we'll drop a fresh skip and collect the full one in a single visit, keeping your site clean and your trades productive. Exchanges can be booked on demand or scheduled on a rolling basis (e.g. every Tuesday and Friday). For larger sites we can also supply RoRo containers and waste audits to support your environmental reporting. Talk to the trade desk on 01924 637777 to set up a site agreement.
Can I get an invoice for VAT purposes?
Yes, every EFR Skips hire comes with a fully itemised VAT invoice on request. Domestic customers usually don't need one, but if you do, just ask at the time of booking and we'll email it the same day. Trade and account customers receive consolidated VAT invoices monthly. Our VAT number appears on every invoice and the figures match the all-inclusive prices quoted on the website, so reconciling against your books is straightforward.
Related guides & areas
- For full skip size details, see the Skip Sizes Guide.
- For permits in your area, see the Skip Permits Guide.
- For exact prohibited items, see What Can Go in a Skip.
Service areas
Still got a question?
The team is in the office Monday to Saturday and answers the phone in person — no call menus, no holding music.