What Can (and Can’t) You Put in a Skip in Ireland? The Complete List
What You CAN Put in a Skip
Most general household and renovation waste is perfectly fine in a standard Greyhound skip:
✅ Accepted Waste Types
- General household waste — furniture, clothes, household items, toys
- Garden waste — cuttings, branches, lawn trimmings, plant pots (light waste, not soil)
- Renovation debris — timber, plasterboard, old fittings, tiles, ceiling boards
- Metals — pipes, railings, metal furniture, structural steel
- Cardboard and paper (uncontaminated)
- Wood — floorboards, skirting boards, doors, furniture frames
- Ceramics — old sinks, toilets, tiles, plant pots
- Plastic — UPVC windows and doors, plastic fittings, non-hazardous plastic
- Bricks, soil, rubble, and concrete — in skips rated for heavy waste (4yd or 6yd), filled to a level load only
What You CANNOT Put in a Skip
| Prohibited Item | Why It’s Banned | Alternative Disposal |
|---|---|---|
| Asbestos | Hazardous material, requires specialist disposal | Licensed asbestos removal contractor |
| Tyres | Require specialist recycling | Tyre retailer or waste facility |
| Fridges and freezers | Contain refrigerants requiring specialist handling | Council WEEE point or retailer take-back |
| Televisions and monitors | Electronic waste — WEEE directive | WEEE Ireland bring-back point |
| Batteries | Fire risk and toxic materials | Retailer collection points (Tesco, Woodies etc.) |
| Paint and paint tins (unless fully empty and dry) | Hazardous chemicals | Civic amenity site or specialist disposal |
| Gas cylinders | Explosion risk | Return to supplier or specialist |
| Fluorescent tubes | Contain mercury | Council civic amenity site |
| Medical and clinical waste | Biohazard | Specialist medical waste contractor |
| Liquids, oils, solvents | Contamination risk | Civic amenity site hazardous waste section |
| Pressurised containers | Explosion risk | Empty first, then general waste |
Can I Put a Mattress in a Skip?
This is one of the most-searched questions about skip hire in Dublin. The short answer: yes, you can, but there’s usually an additional charge.
Mattresses require separate processing and cannot simply be recycled with mixed waste. At Greyhound, we can accept mattresses in our skips — let us know at the time of booking. A surcharge of approximately €30–€40 per mattress typically applies.
If you have multiple mattresses, our Man and Van service may be more cost-effective.
Can I Put Soil in a Skip?
Yes — but only in skips rated for heavy waste, and only filled to a level load. Soil, clay, rubble, bricks, and concrete are classified as heavy inert waste. They can go in the 4-yard or 6-yard standard skip but must not be filled above the level load line due to weight restrictions.
You cannot put heavy materials into a 14-yard or 20-yard skip — these large skips are rated for light, bulky waste only.
Can I Put Electricals in a Skip?
No — not as a rule. Large electrical items (fridges, washing machines, TVs, computers) fall under WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) regulations and must be disposed of separately. Small electrical items like toasters and kettles may also be subject to WEEE rules.
The good news: there are many free WEEE collection points across Dublin, including at Tesco, Lidl, Aldi, and most council civic amenity sites. See weee.ie for your nearest drop-off point.
What About Black Bags of Domestic Waste?
Standard domestic black bag waste — the kind that goes in your general waste bin — cannot go into a Greyhound skip. Skips are for bulky clearance and renovation waste, not regular bin collections. If you need an additional domestic waste collection, our standard bin service is available separately.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I put plasterboard in a skip?
Can I put old carpet in a skip?
Can food waste go in a skip?
What happens to the waste after collection?
