Thinking of booking a skip bin? Wondering whether or not you need a council permit?
This article is designed to help you, as a Perth resident or business owner, decide whether or not you need a skip bin permit and to offer hints and tips to help you get the most out of your skip bin hire.
Best Price Skip Bins provides skip hire across Perth and interstate. We’re experts in skip hire and are pleased to offer our support in every aspect of your waste management.
Council Permits
What is a council permit? Do I need one? Where do I get it? These questions and more may spring to mind as soon as you realise you need to hire a skip bin.
You may have heard vague stories of skips and permits and never really paid attention. So we’re here to de-mystify the process.
The simple facts are as follows –
Skip permits are only necessary when you want to park a skip bin on council-owned land. For example, on the nature strip outside of your house or on a public road in the city.
You will not need a permit to park a skip bin on your own property.
Perth City Council states that the applications for permits need to be made by the organisation or contractor who is doing the work ( that’s us) and that the contractor must have public liability insurance.
So, if you’re a business or homeowner in need of a skip bin in Perth, you do not need to personally make the application for a permit if you need one.
Council permits, depending on where you are in Perth
If you’re in a suburban home with plenty of space or in a more rural area, the chances are you will have enough space to park a skip bin on your own land and not need a permit for it.
If you run a business in a busy street or industrial area, you likely won’t have space and will need a permit.
How many councils/shires are there in Perth?
Currently, 38 local government areas are within and around the Perth metro area. They are:
- Armadale
- Bassendean
- Bayswater
- Belmont
- Bunbury
- Busselton
- Cambridge
- Canning
- Claremont
- Cockburn
- Cottesloe
- East Fremantle
- Fremantle
- Gosnells
- Joondalup
- Kalamunda
- Kwinana
- Mandurah
- Melvin
- Mossman Park
- Mundaring
- Murray
- Nedlands
- Northam
- Peppermint Grove
- City of Perth
- Plantagenet
- Rockingham
- Serpentine-Jarrahdale
- South Perth
- Stirling
- Subiaco
- Swan
- Victoria Park
- Vincent
- Waneroo
Council permits for residential use
Using a skip bin in a residential situation is easy. You do not need a permit as long as you can park it on your own land.
If you need a permit, let your neighbours know the skip bin will be outside of your property and for how long.
Council permits for small business use
Council permits for small businesses in Perth are no different to any other skip permit. They allow the use of a container such as a skip bin on council-owned land.
The regulations regarding the skip location are varied. Still, generally, they ensure that the skip bin won’t block the view of traffic or impede pedestrians wishing to cross the road safely.
Council permits for medium/large organisations
Again, it’s highly unlikely that a permit would be needed for medium to large organisations in Perth with their land. If you’re one of the businesses in Perth without somewhere of your own to park a skip bin, you can get a permit in most instances.
Don’t hesitate to discuss your needs with our team. We’re available to answer your questions about skip bin hire in general, permits and anything else you might have concerns about related to hiring a skip bin.
Considerations for when you may need a council permit
If it turns out that you do need a permit for your skip bin, you’ll want to be sure that your neighbours are informed of your plans.
This is just in case the skip bin affects them or their business in any way.
Otherwise, you only need to book your skip and wait for delivery – then you’ll be able to make the most of it in your clear-up, renovations, building works or whatever capacity you need.
Considerations for when you don’t need a council permit
So, it turns out you don’t need a permit. That’s good news because your skip bin hire will cost you less.
You need to think about where to park it on your land. Choose an area close to the building so you don’t have too far to go with your rubbish.
Ensure that everyone using the skip bin knows the rules – what can and cannot be put inside it.
What can and cannot go into the various skip bin types?
Here’s a breakdown of what can and cannot be placed in our various skip bins.
What can go into a GENERAL WASTE SKIP BIN?
- Household waste: Clothes, paper, cardboard, bedding, towels, kitchenware, bathroom accessories, duvets, cushions
- Light commercial waste: Office furniture such as desks, desk tidies, chairs, stationary,
- Furniture and Appliances: Cupboards, loungers, washing machines, cots, beds, fridges, chairs, sofas
- Light green waste: shrubs, grass, foliage, leaves, twigs
- Light building construction waste:wood, flooring, wallpaper
Computers or TV screens must not be disposed of in this bin in SA.
The following may NOT go into a GENERAL WASTE SKIP BIN
- Hard, heavy materials: bricks, sand, concrete, tiles, clay, stones
- Soil or soil with turf attached – a soil-dirt bin is required for this waste
- Palm tree trunks, tree trunks, roots or turf – a soil dirt bin is required for this waste
- Synthetic grass
- Hazardous materials that must not be placed in this bin includeasbestos, insulation, food, wet paint, empty chemical containers, and liquids
Computers or TV screens must not be disposed of in this bin in SA.
What can go into a GREEN WASTE SKIP BIN?
- Light green waste: shrubs, foliage, grass clippings, leaves, twigs
- Small branches, leaves and palm fronds
- Woodchip and bark – there must be no soil attached to either – if you need to dispose of soil, a soil and dirt bin is required
- Tree trunks: The diameter must be smaller than 150mm and under 50mm long to meet the requirements
- Untreated timber– please get in touch with us to inquire how to dispose of treated timber
The following may NOT go into a GREEN WASTE SKIP BIN
- Hard, heavy materials: bricks, sand, concrete, tiles, clay, stones
- Large tree trunks: Trunks that are larger than 150mm in diameter or over 300mm long are not permitted in this bin
- Palm tree trunks and/or large tree roots
- Hazardous materials that must not be placed in this bin include asbestos, insulation, food, wet paint, empty chemical containers, liquids or putrescible
What can go in a CONCRETE/BRICK SKIP BIN?
- Bricks and/or bricks and mortar
- Concrete – any concrete must be no bigger than 600×600
- Roof tiles
- Floor tiles
- Pebbles
- Rocks
- Stones
The following MAY NOT GO INTO A CONCRETE/BRICK SKIP BIN
- General, green or excavation waste
- Soil or turf – all soil must go in a soil/dirt bin
- Palm trees and fronds
- Sand, soil and dirt are strictly prohibited and must be exposed in the soil/dirt bin.
- Hazardous materials that must not be placed in this bin include asbestos, insulation, food, wet paint, empty chemical containers, liquids or putrescible
What can go into a SOIL/DIRT SKIP BIN?
- Soil/dirt rock, sandstone and clay that are naturally occurring
- Turf and vegetation that takes up less than 10% of the space of the bin
Do not place the following into the SOIL/DIRT SKIP BIN
- Vegetation that takes up more than 10% of the bin
- Any general waste – please get a general waste bin for this
- Contaminated soil
- Manmade materials
- Hazardous materials that must not be placed in this bin include: asbestos, insulation, food, wet paint, empty chemical containers, liquids or putresibles
This bin is strictly for soil or dirt; no other waste can be disposed of via this medium.
What can go into a MIXED WASTE SKIP BIN?
- Waste that comes from domestic, commercial demolition, construction or renovation
- Hardfill waste: Bricks, concrete, tiles – all pieces must be no larger than 600×600
- Treated timber: Retaining walls, decking, floorboards, fences, sheds
- Household waste: Clothes, paper, cardboard, bedding, towels, kitchenware, bathroom accessories, duvets, cushions
- Furniture and Appliances: Cupboards, loungers, washing machines, cots, beds, fridges, chairs, sofas
- Green waste: Shrubs, foliage, grass clippings, leaves, twigs, bushes, palm trees
- Tree trunks: Trunks must be smaller than 300mm in diameter and under 300mm long
Once you know what you need, it’s easy to decide which is the best skip bin to get
You should find the lists above a helpful guide to working out which type of skip bin you need.
You can book your skip bin once you know what you need. It’s easy! All you need to do is enter your postcode, choose your waste type and skip size, and then select your dates for delivery and pick-up.
Once you’ve done that, you’ll be shown the price, and you can then pay and wait for your skip bin to arrive.
Final thoughts
So you know something about permits and whether or not you’ll need one. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
As a homeowner or business owner, you’ll be able to hire the right skip bin for your needs, no matter how much or how little waste you have to dispose of.
When your skip bin arrives, fill it out as soon as possible. Lay flat items at the base of the skip before any other waste. Plan how things will fit inside so you do not waste space.