Skip bins are suitable for disposing of absolutely anything at home that requires disposal, right? In theory, yes. After all, what is a skip bin, other than a large open-topped container just waiting to be filled? And yet, what you put into a skip bin can affect what else can be put into the bin. This might not seem important, since it's all rubbish, but you need to be sure that what you need to get rid of is permitted by the disposal company. If you should inadvertently contaminate the contents of the skip bin in some way, it might not be collected, forcing you to remove the contents yourself, which is hardly going to be pleasant.
Clean Rubbish
The contents of a skip bin need to be as clean as possible. This sounds like a contradiction when you're talking about rubbish, but skip bins are often sorted after collection, and anything that can be salvaged will be. This means that any plastic, metal, or wood will be assessed and set aside for recycling. These salvageable items must be clean, and it's other items that might have been in the skip bin that can affect this.
Organic Waste
Any organic waste, whether it's from your kitchen or your garden can decompose while in the skip bin, rendering other items in the bin unrecyclable. While some mixed-use skip bins can permit the disposal of organic waste, this isn't always the case, so be sure to check the terms and conditions of your bin hire. Some providers will only permit secured organic waste, and these items must be placed inside an appropriately sturdy plastic bag, which is then sealed before being placed in the bin. Leave these bags until last so that nothing is put on top of them that can break the plastic. If you have a lot of organic waste, you might need to order a smaller secondary bin specifically intended for this purpose.
Noxious Substances
Many noxious substances cannot be placed inside a skip bin, even if they're in a sealed container. This includes paint, oil and many cleaning products. The containers themselves can only go into the bin once they're empty. These substances can leak and contaminate the contents of the bin, and this contamination is more problematic than decomposed organic waste. Noxious substances require special disposal, and your local council can point you in the right direction.
You must be sure that your skip bin doesn't receive any prohibited items; otherwise, you might face a surcharge, or in a worst-case scenario, you might need to remove the items yourself.