Skips on the highway

It is an offence to place a skip on the highway without authority from your local authority.

Companies wishing to place a skip on Wirral’s roads must apply to Wirral Council and pay the relevant fee. This is to make sure that skips are not causing disruption to traffic, are sited in a safe position and are properly signed, lighted and guarded in accordance with the Council’s skip conditions and regulations and the Builder’s Skips (Markings) Regulations 1984.

Members of the public who hire skips are advised to confirm with their skip company that a permit has been obtained.

Section 139 of the Highways Act 1980 gives the Highway Authority the power to control the depositing of skips on the highway. In addition to this, the Council has its own rules and conditions which must be met before any skip can be placed on the highway.

How do I get permission for siting a skip?

Skip hire companies will need to apply for a permit for each individual skip – detailing the intended location, date of delivery and size of the skip being sited. A permit fee must be paid to the Council and the skip company will normally recharge the fee to the customer.

Permits can be obtained by applying online or by contacting us at Streetscene.

Apply Online

You can apply online for a skip permit through Business Link

You can apply to extend an existing skip permit through Business Link.

How much are the permit fees?

The following permit charges apply;

• Normal or full size skips (6 tonne or above) - £25.00 for up to 14 days
• Mini skips (below 6 tonne) - £15.00  for up to 14 days

An additional fee of £25.00 on top of the above will apply if the Council discovers a skip on the highway without a permit.  To extend or renew your existing permit you should reapply as before.  A new permit number will be issued to you. 

Can the Council recommend a skip hire company?

Whilst we cannot recommend any individual skip hire company, the following Wirral based companies are known to follow the rules and regulations regarding permits and payments to the Council;

• A2B Skip Hire (Wirral) Limited
• Alchem
• Butlers Waste Management
• Casey Limited
• Cheshire Waste Skip Hire
• City Centre Containers
• Peter Lea Waste Management
• Philip Major Waste Disposal

This list will be periodically revised and inclusion will be based upon continuing compliance with permit procedures. Wirral based companies wishing to be included on the list must correctly permit ALL skips and abide by the rules and regulations.

Although companies operating from outside Wirral have not been included, this does not imply that they are non compliant with Council procedures.

What are the rules and regulations that skip companies have to follow?

A skip company must obtain a permit from Wirral Council before placing a skip on the public highway. For companies pre-registered with the Council, permits must be requested no later than the end of the working day on which the skip is placed on the public highway. No reminders will be given and late applications will result in the additional retrospective fee being applied. 

Before a permit can be issued, the Council also requires proof of Public Liability Insurance with a minimum value of £5,000,000 and proof that a valid Waste Carriers Licence has been issued by the Environment Agency.

The name and telephone number of the skip hire company must be clearly marked on the skip. Reflective strips should be attached to the ends of the skip where it faces traffic. Lamps must be attached to the skip and lit during the hours of darkness.

The Council will aim to deal with skip applications within 5 working days. If you have not heard from the Council at the end of this period please contact Streetscene direct. You must not assume that the permit has been granted until you receive confirmation from the Council. If your permit application has been refused and you wish to discuss this matter please contact Streetscene.

A copy of the full rules and regulations can be downloaded, or obtained by contacting us using the details on the right.

What happens if I do not have a permit for placing a skip on a road?

Council Inspectors and Enforcement Officers patrol Wirral roads and any failure to follow the rules and regulations may result in enforcement action. Depending upon the breach this could be the application of a retrospective fee, court prosecution, or removal of the skip.  

Do I need permission to put a skip on the pavement or driveway instead of the road?

Skips must not be placed on grass verges or the pavement as it will cause damage. If a skip is placed on a driveway, the driver of the delivery/collection vehicle will be responsible if any damage is caused to the verge or pavement.

How do I report a skip problem?

If you have any concerns about a skip in your area you can report it online using the "report skip problem" button or call Streetscene on 0151 606 2004.

In emergency cases, please contact Merseyside Police on 0151 709 6010 and ask for the Wirral Police Control Room.