The history of skip bins

Skip bins are great, aren’t they?  They make it so easy for us to remove large amounts of waste whether construction waste, green waste or general household waste. But have you ever wondered how they originated?  Did you know that the word actually originated from Norway?

The early 18th century beekeeping industry

Beekeeping industry started around the 18th century in Europe.  Beekeepers in those days, used straw, wicker or hollow logs to build their bee colonies. The term ‘skip’ actually originates comes from the Norse language ‘skeppa’, and the Old English language ‘sceppe’, which means ‘basket’.    Skep baskets were discontinued a century later as other uses

The19th century Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution saw the use of skip bins in coal mines in Europe.  Large baskets fitted with wheels known as ‘skeps’ were used to move material around the mines. A ‘skep’ became a measurement to miners on what they dug out of the ground.  A skep was approximately 17.4 litres in volume.  Overtime the word evolved to become ‘skip’ which is still in the mining industry today to refer to the large steel containers that transport coal from the mine.    The modern mining skip operates on steel tracks rather than wheels but they basically served the same function as the skips used by the beekeepers a century ago.

The 20th century modernisation

The first modern day skip bin made its appearance in the 1920s.  The bins which resembled the coal mine skips were used in Southport, England to transport waste.   At the time, waste was transported by horse-drawn carts but these were slow and not suitable for hauling waste over long distances. The modern day skip was a simple method for transporting large volumes of waste over long distances.  The idea was to attach a large metal container to the back of a truck to efficiently transport large volumes of waste to landfills around the city.  Pagefield Transport, a trucking business in Southport, England was the first to use this method for waste haulage.  The system became widely known as the ‘Pagefield System’. Before long other trucking companies were copying and improving on the Pagefield System – eventually leading to the invention of the modern skip bin business model.    Skip bins only took off in the property boom of the 1960s when they were incorporated into the waste management systems to cope with the growing population in towns and cities. Skip bin hire companies are now very much of modern day waste removal systems.  They play an important role in transporting the waste we generate to landfills, incinerators, and recycling plants.  Without skip bins we would have no efficient method to remove the ever increasing waste modern society produces.

What can you put inside a skip?

Today, skip bins are still the most efficient way to remove large amounts of waste.  A skip bin can be used for many kinds of waste including:

Construction and demolition waste

Rubbish generated from building, road and bridge construction including concrete, bricks, timber, steel, metal, gyprock, plasterboard and others.

Garden or green waste

Waste from landscaping including grass clippings, tea branches, hedges, tree stumps, soil and sand.

Electronic and electrical waste

Electronic and electrical waste including electrical appliances (like washing machines, fridges, televisions) computers, printers, fax machines, keyboards, mobile phones, and telephones.

Flooring materials

Floor coverings like carpets, underlays, rubber and vinyl flooring and timber boards.

General waste

General waste including small amounts of glass, plastic, cardboard, paper, foam, Styrofoam, furniture, and many more.

What you cannot put into a skip bin

There are some hazardous materials that you cannot skip.  Here is a sample list:
  • Asbestos*
  • Chemicals of any kind
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Fibro-Cement Sheeting
  • Fibreglass Roof Sheeting
  • Fibro (compressed or not)
  • Food and liquids, including food packaging
  • Gas cylinders
  • Oil or gas heaters
  • Old insulation
Always check with your skip bin hire company in Sydney before you throw.  If you put the wrong things in, the skip could be returned to your property. It becomes your responsibility to sort it out.

Why skip bins are so useful

They are convenient

Hiring a skip bin is the most convenient way to remove waste.  The skip bin is delivered kerbside and all you have to do is load it.  Once it is loaded, the truck will come and collect the skip.  You don’t have to worry about anything beyond that point.

They are affordable

Skip bins are extremely affordable to hire.  The price of a bin depends on the size you are hiring.

They come in different sizes

Skip bins come in different sizes from small household 2 cubic metre bins to large industrial 20 cubic metres. You don’t have to worry too much about what size to get because the skip bin hire company will be able to advise you based on your description of the waste or rubbish you want to skip.

They save time

Skip bins are delivered to your doorstep.  You don’t have to waste time trying to find a landfill or recycling centre to take your rubbish. You don’t have to waste time hiring a Ute to take the rubbish.  You load everything once.  You don’t have to make multiple trips.

There are no additional fees

You are not required to pay council fees, landfill entry fees and so forth. The price is all inclusive. Skip bin hire have been used for centuries and is still being used today as a viable waste management solution.  It makes sense to simplify your waste removal process because it saves you time and money. Whether you are spring cleaning, renovating your home or undertaking a landscaping project, a skip bin will come in handy to remove all the waste generated. To hire a skip bin today, call the people who knows all about skip bins.  Call Tangoskip Bin Hire today and we will skip it for you! Tangoskip is Sydney’s leading skip bin hire.  We have a wide range of skip bins for hire from small 2 cubic metre bins to large 10 cubic metre bins.  To book a bin, call us on 0422 222 468 or email us: Tangoskips@gmail.com