Skip hire v Grab lorry- Which is the best option for you?
If you have some waste to get rid of then skip or grab hire should definitely be on your radar, these are two of the most effective waste removal methods, but how do you decide which is right for you? In this guide we’ll show you what these two methods are, their pros and cons and other factors to consider. Ultimately though the choice you make will depend on your project and what you want to achieve.
Skip hire.
Skips are, to put it bluntly, oversized trash cans. They are large metal containers that come in a range of sizes that can be dropped off and collected from your house or site by a skip hire company. They have some additional options such as a dropped door to make it easier for you to load or lidded to keep your waste secure. You have to load them yourself (bummer), and they can be used for all sorts of waste from household junk to furniture.
A skip delivery to site
Grab lorry.
A grab lorry is a big tipper truck with a hydraulic arm that is used to load the lorry meaning you don’t have to (winner). The lorry is driven and operated by a trained driver from the hire company. If you have access issues these can be a great option as the arm can reach over fences and hedges and you don’t need to worry about any permits either. Grab lorries are best suited to large amounts of heavy construction waste such as rubble and soil, these big boys can move up to 16 tonne at a time, far more than most skips.
A grab lorry working hard on site
Pros and Cons
Skips
✔ Convenient: If you have an ongoing project, they are ideal for storing waste as it is removed, helping you keep your work area safe and tidy.
✔ Flexibility: There are loads of different sizes and options to choose from so you are bound to find one to suit you.
✔ Multiple waste types: You can put all sorts in a skip, so if you have a project that’s making a lot of different waste streams, they can all go into one container.
❌ Capacity: If you have a lot of soil or rubble the biggest skip you can fill with this is a 6 yard, this may mean you have to hire multiple skips if you have a lot of these.
❌ Permits: If you don’t have a driveway or garden to put the skip on then you would need to get a permit from the council so you can put the skip on the road.
❌ Mobility: Once a skip is delivered you won’t be able to move it.
Grabs
✔ Capacity: Grabs can hold much more soil and rubble than a skip.
✔ Speed: A grab can be in and out of your site in around 30 mins, if you’ve got a busy building site this can be a great option
✔ Efficiency: This is the biggest pro in my opinion, the grab loads itself meaning you don’t need to hump a load of soil or rubble about and can get on with the job
❌ Lack of flexibility: Grabs are only really suitable for large amounts of heavy waste. If you have some mixed waste or furniture, then they aren’t really the right tool for the job.
❌Mess: Unless you are disposing of the waste as soon as you create it there is nowhere to store it while you wait for the grab.
Other things to think about.
Access- while a grab lorry can reach over obstacles, it need room to move its arm. If you have overhead branches or cables, then a grab lorry may not be suitable.
Cost- While a mid-sized builder’s skip might cost less than a grab lorry, if you have to get another one or even a smaller sized one, this will work out more than a grab. In terms of cost per tonne of waste removed, a grab lorry is far more cost effective.
So, which is best?
Hopefully by now you can see that there are a number of key differences between skip hire and grab lorries that will affect your decision. If you have several tonnes of soil or rubble piled up, then a grab lorry is probably your best option. If you have different sorts of waste such as wood, DIY materials and general waste I’d recommend going for a skip.
Thank you for reading, I hope this short guide has helped you choose an option that’s right for you. If you’re still unsure then check out the links in the further reading section below, or shoot us an email, our team love talking rubbish!
Further reading
https://www.potteriesrecycling.co.uk/blog/grab-hire-the-lowdown
https://www.potteriesrecycling.co.uk/blog/skip-hire-101-the-complete-guide
https://www.potteriesrecycling.co.uk/blog/how-much-is-skip-hire
Sources
https://www.recyclingbristol.com/grab-lorry-or-skip-hire-deciding-which-is-best-for-you/
