Garden clearance: what it includes and choosing a skip

Separate green waste from the rest

List leaves, grass and cuttings separately from soil, rubble, timber, pots and furniture. A few bags of dense material involve different handling from a large heap of branches. Say what is already loose and what is still growing or fixed in place.

R4GM excludes soil from the food-and-garden bin. For suitable small amounts of cuttings, check your council service or home composting before paying for a larger container.

Decide who will load the waste

A skip is useful when waste builds up during a project and you can load it safely. A collection suits an existing pile when you want the carrying and loading included. Compare the whole job, including the route from the garden.

A small amount of suitable cuttings

When it may fitCheck composting or the local garden-waste service first.

Check firstAccepted material and any bin or subscription limit.

Waste produced over several days

When it may fitA skip can stay while the work progresses.

Check firstHire period, delivery space and a safe way to load it.

An existing pile you cannot carry

When it may fitAn agreed collection may be more practical.

Check firstMaterials, access and whether loading is included.

Estimate the pile in cubic metres

From a safe position, estimate the length, width and average height of the loose waste in metres. Multiply them for a rough volume. Split an irregular pile into a few simpler sections and add their estimates; do not climb on it or move sharp or unstable material to measure.

Worked example: a fairly even pile about 2 m long × 1.5 m wide × 0.8 m high is roughly 2.4 m³. This describes its loose volume, not its weight or a guaranteed packed load. List extra furniture or waste not included in those dimensions separately.

• Use the average pile height, not just its tallest branch.
• Mark hidden depth or contents as unknown.
• If more waste will be produced, include that in the estimate.

Compare volume, then check the loading limits

Skip capacity is often stated in cubic yards. For comparison, 4 yd³ is about 3.1 m³, 6 yd³ about 4.6 m³ and 8 yd³ about 6.1 m³. These are unit conversions, not recommendations for a particular material or garden.

For the 2.4 m³ example, compare capacities above that rough volume; a nominal 4 yd³ container is one size to discuss, not a confirmed fit. Awkward branches, extra waste and uncertainty may need more room. Use the supplier’s actual dimensions, loading line and material-specific weight limit; do not heap waste above the permitted fill level.

Soil and rubble need a weight check before choosing. A larger container does not automatically allow more heavy material. Check whether the supplier requires a separate load, a different size or a lower fill limit.

Collection does not automatically include garden work

Cutting back plants, digging out roots and dismantling a shed are separate tasks from removing the loose material. Agree them before relying on a clearance price.

Do not break up unknown panels or roofing to make them fit. Suspected asbestos needs specialist advice and should stay undisturbed.

Check the material and the way in

A 2.4 m³ pile of branches and a smaller pile of soil need different checks. For branches, explain awkward lengths and whether you can load them safely. For soil or rubble, state the material and rough amount without guessing a weight. Photographs cannot establish a safe payload.

For a skip, describe the delivery entrance, ground, overhead obstructions and proposed position. The supplier must confirm access. In England and Wales, a skip on a public road needs a permit; it cannot go on the pavement. Confirm who arranges permission before delivery.

Keep retained items and unusual materials clear

Identify planted tubs, tools and furniture that stay. Mention chemicals, gas bottles and unknown containers separately; do not empty or mix them. Neither a skip nor a garden collection automatically accepts every material.

Send one description that covers the full job

For example: ‘About 2.4 m³ of loose hedge cuttings, plus two broken chairs and separate bags of soil. The tubs stay. Access is through a side gate and down three steps.’ Add whether you want a container to load yourself or a team to collect it.

Confirm accepted contents, any separate handling, loading work and the complete charge. For a collection, include the carrying route rather than pricing all the materials as green waste.