Skip Hire Services in Essex & Hertfordshire - Courtlands Skips

"How can I tell which skip companies are the good ones?"
Skip companies are not actually regulated The good ones like us at Courtlands Skip Hire operate their own licensed waste transfer stations (regulated by the Environment Agency) and like us are members of the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management (a professional body that promotes education and raising standards in waste management).
The bad ones often fly-tip your waste and therefore add to your council tax bill - as the councils are the ones who have to clean it up!

Did you know? "Every 35 seconds, somebody, somewhere is fly-tipping in the UK"
This figure is so high because so many people opt for the cheapest skip hire or "man with van" they can find. Because these unscrupulous companies cannot afford to dispose of the waste properly, it ends up costing all of us more money.

"Why do skips cost so much money?"
Think about the overheads involved:
- Skip Wagon: £55,000+
- Skips: £900/each for standard 8yd Builders Skip
- Vehicle Insurance: £2000/year per vehicle
- Public Liability: £1250/year per vehicle
- Employer's Liability: £1250/year per vehicle
- Skip driver: £20,000/year
- Fuel: £20,000/year
- Office staff: £18,000/year per member of staff
- Landfill taxes: £40/ton increasing by £8 every year until 2010 where it will stand at £48/ton + VAT
- Recycling costs: Cost of buying shredders, trommels, weighbridges, picking stations etc - £millions
Soon adds up doesn't it?
Add into this the cost of skips being stolen (it does happen), plus the costs of being a licensed carrier and having a licensed waste transfer station - £££s!!
Getting rid of waste is not a cheap business (unless you do it illegally), but it if we can't recycle it then it has to go somewhere!
Did you know? "Every 35 seconds, somebody, somewhere is fly-tipping in the UK"

"What actually happens to my rubbish?"
If you're not asking this question, then perhaps you should be.
Landfill space in the UK is running out fast. It is estimated that by 2012 there will be virtually no landfill space left in Britain and the government is increasing the landfill taxes that waste management companies have to pay every year Landfill taxes (£40/ton increasing by £8 every year until 2010 where it will stand at £48/ton). Courtlands, as a reputable skip hire company is investing heavily into new plant and technology to the point that we are recycling over 85%! This is something we should all be interested in. The bottom line is - the cheaper the skip, the less likely it is that the waste is being responsibly managed.
Did you know? "Every 35 seconds, somebody, somewhere is fly-tipping in the UK"

"Why won't some skip companies take credit cards or even tell me prices over the phone?"
A lot of companies still charge for waste disposal by the tonne and won't always quote an exact price because they don't know exactly how much it's going to cost them to get rid of until it comes in.
We at Courtlands Skip Hire are committed to telling you exactly how much your skip is going to cost and giving you the best service possible.
We do take credit cards over the phone and cheque or cash payments for our skips. The good thing about credit cards is you don't have to be in when the skip is dropped off or picked up.

"Why do I get quoted so many different prices for the same service from different skip hire companies?"
The answer's in the question - you don't get the same service from different companies!
You get different levels of service from different companies. Most of the time, you get what you pay for. After you've had a bad experience, you'll wonder whether it really was worth saving £20 by going with the cheapest you could find.
Plus there are other factors such as skip permit prices.
You need a permit if the skip is to be on a public highway. These permits are provided by the local council at a cost of £20.00 - we organise all this for you but is subject to council approval and usually requires 24 hours notice.
The variances in skip permit price across the UK are staggering - some councils charge nothing and issue them the same day, some charge over £70 and make you wait weeks before issuing.

If you want to take out all the guesswork and a guarantee of:
1. Excellent customer service levels
2. Family run business
3. 24 hour phone answering
4. Excellent reputation
5. Responsible waste management and a commitment to recycle at least 85% of waste collected
...then use Courtlands Waste Management (UK) Ltd (Skip Hire)