Where Local Skip Hire Companies Recycle? What Happens Next
Most people think the job ends once the skip’s collected. But what happens next is just as important. “Where do local skip hire companies recycle?” is a question we get more often than you’d expect. And we’re glad people are asking.
In Swansea, waste isn’t just dumped in a hole in the ground. There are strict rules on where it goes, how it’s handled, and what gets recycled. Therefore, skip hire companies like ours play a big part in making sure that happens properly.
The steps for recycling after collection
Let’s break down what really happens once we take your skip away.
Step 1: Skip Collected and Weighed
First things first. Whether it’s collected from a driveway in Sketty or a site in Llansamlet, your skip is picked up. Then it’s taken to a licensed waste transfer station where the real sorting process begins. Ours is based just outside the city centre, and it’s fully regulated by Natural Resources Wales.
Each skip is weighed on arrival. So this tells us how much material we’re handling and helps track how much is recycled versus sent to landfill.
Step 2: Tipping and Sorting
The skip contents are tipped out onto a concrete pad in designated bays. Then our trained waste operatives get to work sorting through the load.
This is done using a combination of:
- Manual picking (trained teams removing obvious recyclables)
- Mechanical screening (shakers and trommels to separate by size)
- Magnetic separation (to pull out metal objects)
Items are sorted into different categories:
- Wood
- Soil and hardcore
- Metal
- Green waste
- Plastic
- Cardboard and paper
Step 3: Materials Sent to Recycling Partners
Once sorted, materials are bulked up and sent to specialist recycling facilities across Wales and the UK.
- Wood is chipped and used for biomass fuel or particleboard
- Hardcore is crushed and reused in construction projects (often right here in Swansea)
- Metals are smelted and turned into new products
- Plastics and cardboard go to commercial recyclers
- Green waste is composted at licensed sites
Wherever possible, waste is kept within local or regional recycling loops to reduce transport impact.
Step 4: Reporting and Compliance
As a licensed waste carrier, we’re required to report what we collect and where it goes. Therefore, everything is documented, from skip hire logs to final disposal routes.
This isn’t just paperwork! It’s how the industry avoids fly-tipping, illegal dumping, and shady “man with a van” operations.
Our reports show that over 90% of the waste we collect is diverted from landfill. Furthermore, we’re constantly working to push that even higher.
Why It Matters (for You and Swansea)
Now, let’s see why hiring a skip is good for the environment. When you use a local skip hire company that recycles properly, you’re:
- Supporting Swansea’s zero-waste goals
- Keeping recyclable materials out of landfill
- Reducing your own environmental footprint
- Helping avoid unnecessary emissions from long-distance waste transport
Plus, you can have peace of mind knowing your waste is dealt with responsibly. So it’s not dumped in a field or burned in some back lane.
Real Example: A Kitchen Rip-Out in Uplands
One of our recent customers was doing a full kitchen renovation. So they filled a 6-yard skip with units, tiles, plasterboard, wood, and packaging.
Here’s where it went:
- Wood: chipped for biomass energy
- Metals: sent to a local scrap recycler
- Plasterboard: taken to a gypsum recovery centre
- Cardboard: baled and sent to a packaging reprocessor
Nothing went to landfill. So it was all properly documented. And, that’s how local recycling works when done right.
How to Help Us Recycle More
You can do your bit too. And here’s how:
- Keep waste types separate where possible (e.g. don’t mix food waste with wood)
- Avoid hazardous materials unless pre-approved (paint, chemicals, etc.)
- Break down items so they’re easier to sort and process
- Ask us – if you’re not sure what can go in the skip, we’ll tell you
Final Word
So, where do local skip hire companies recycle? If you’re using a responsible, licensed firm like us in Swansea, your waste is sorted, processed, and passed on to the right facilities. Therefore, it results in it not being just dumped in a landfill.
If knowing your skip waste ends up in the right place matters to you, choose a local team that takes recycling seriously. So do you want to know more? Just ask because we’re always happy to talk through where your rubbish goes and how we handle it.
