Mini Skip Hire for Garden Waste: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction
If you’ve ever attempted a garden clear-out, you’ll know the moment when the pile of cuttings, branches, weeds and soil suddenly becomes… a lot. And once your green bin is full and the bags start stacking up, most people ask the same question:
“Can I hire a skip for garden waste?”
The answer is an easy yes — and for most people in Ashford and the surrounding areas, a mini skip is the perfect size. It’s small, driveway-friendly, easy to load, and ideal for garden jobs where you want everything gone in one go.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about skip hire for garden waste, including what can go in a skip, what can’t, how garden-waste skips differ from council green bins, and why mini skips are often the simplest, safest and most cost-effective option.
By the end, you’ll feel completely confident hiring a mini skip for your garden project, whether you’re tackling a seasonal tidy, a full landscaping refresh, or just reclaiming space from that out-of-control hedge.
Table of Contents
1. Why Mini Skips Are Ideal for Garden Waste
Mini skips are the smallest and most user-friendly skips available and for garden projects, they’re often the perfect match.
Here’s why:
✔ Easy to load
Mini skips sit low to the ground, so you don’t have to lift heavy branches or bags too high - much easier and safer for older users.
✔ Perfect capacity for small-to-medium garden jobs
A mini skip holds around 20–25 bin bags, which comfortably covers:
Annual garden tidy-ups
Hedge trimmings
Lawn reseeding waste
Small shrubs and plant removals
Patio clear-ups
DIY garden makeovers
Soil, turf and compost removal (with some limits)
✔ Fits easily on driveways
No permits. No awkward street placement. No stress.
✔ More flexible than council green bins
Kent councils often restrict:
Soil
Stones
Large branches
Treated wood
Mixed waste
Bag quantities
Mini skips give you far more freedom. They’re perfect when your garden produces more than the bin can handle.
✔ Great for older or tech-nervous customers
Butler Skips’ online booking system is simple, clear and step-by-step, making it easy to hire a skip without needing to call.
✔ No need to make multiple trips to the tip
Just fill one skip at home. Job done.
2. What Counts as Garden Waste?
“Garden waste” is a broad term, and understanding what qualifies helps you choose the right skip and avoid disposal issues.
Garden waste typically includes:
Leaves
Grass cuttings
Branches and prunings
Small logs
Flowers and plants
Weeds
Hedge trimmings
Soil and turf
Compost
Bark and mulch
The one thing many people forget…
Animal waste is not garden waste.
It must never go into a skip.
That includes:
Dog mess
Cat litter
Chicken waste
Stable waste
Bedding straw
Droppings from wildlife
Skip companies legally cannot accept animal waste, so it’s best to keep this entirely separate.
3. What You Can Put in a Mini Skip
Here’s the good news: mini skips take most garden waste with no issues.
✔ Green waste
Leaves
Shrubs
Grass
Plants
Weeds
✔ Wood & branches
Small logs
Branches (cut down to manageable lengths)
Treated timber (e.g. small fence panels)
Treated wood is often rejected by council bins — skips make life easier.
✔ Soil, turf & compost
In reasonable amounts — it’s heavy, so avoid overloading.
✔ Garden renovation waste
Broken pots
Old edging stones
Bricks from planters
Small patio slabs
Rotten decking cut into smaller pieces
This is where skips really shine over green bins - mixed waste is allowed.
4. What You Cannot Put in a Mini Skip
These rules protect the environment, the recycling process, and the drivers who handle your waste.
❌ Animal waste
As mentioned earlier: dog, cat, chicken, horse — none of it can go in a skip.
❌ Food waste
Including compostable food scraps.
❌ Chemicals & hazardous waste
Pesticides
Weed killer
Paint
Solvents
❌ Batteries / electricals
Old garden strimmers
Hedge trimmers
Lighting
❌ Gas bottles
Even empty ones.
❌ Tyres
Commonly found in sheds - but not allowed in skips.
❌ Large tree stumps
Too heavy and difficult to process.
If in doubt, you can always contact with Butler Skips before booking.
5. Before You Book: Garden Waste Checklist
A simple checklist helps older or less confident users feel prepared before hiring a mini skip.
📋 Garden Waste Skip Hire Checklist
1. Know what you're throwing away
Check your pile for any prohibited items.
2. Estimate your waste volume
Mini skips hold 20–25 bin bags: perfect for most garden tidy-ups.
3. Make sure the waste is accessible
Cut long branches down so they fit neatly.
4. Choose a placement spot
A driveway is perfect. Avoid uneven gravel or soft ground.
5. Clear space for the driver
We need room to safely lower the skip.
6. Pick your delivery date
Think about weather and your gardening schedule.
7. Have a payment card ready
Payment is made securely online when booking.
With this checklist, you’ll be ready to book without hesitation.
6. Step-by-Step: How to Hire a Mini Skip for Garden Waste
Step 1: Enter Your Postcode
Start by entering your postcode into the Butler Skips booking portal.
This confirms that you're within the local Ashford service area.
Step 2: choose your mini skip
Since Butler Skips only hires out mini skips, you don’t need to worry about sizes.
The mini skip is perfect for:
Garden clear-outs
Seasonal pruning
Shed cleaning
Patio restorations
Small landscaping projects
Step 3: Pick Your Delivery Date
You’ll see a live calendar showing available delivery slots.
Choose a day when you’ll be home or when the garden is already prepared.
Step 4: Add Your Details
Fill in your address and any placement notes.
Useful examples:
“Place on driveway near garage.”
“Avoid blocking side gate.”
“Please position skip close to front hedge.”
Clear notes help the driver place the skip exactly where you need it.
Step 5: Pay Securely Online
You’ll see a final summary of your details before payment.
After paying:
You’ll get a confirmation email
The team schedules your skip
A driver is assigned to your booking
That’s it - your mini skip for garden waste is ready to go.
7. Council Brown Bin vs Skip Hire - What’s the Difference?
Many people compare the two, so it’s helpful to explain it clearly.
✔ What the brown council bin is good for
Small, regular amounts of green waste
Fortnightly disposal
Light materials only
No soil, stones, wood, or heavy waste
✔ What a skip is good for
Larger, one-off garden clear-outs
Multiple types of waste in one place
Jobs involving soil, turf, wood, stones
When brown bin collections are full or delayed
✔ The big advantage of mini skips
Your garden waste is removed in one go.
No waiting for collection weeks.
No leaving bags around the garden.
For older users especially, a mini skip reduces physical strain and makes garden projects far less overwhelming.
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Overestimating what will fit
Cut large branches down to manageable lengths.
❌ Mixing in animal waste
It is not allowed in skips or brown bins.
❌ Overfilling the skip
Waste must be level with the top.
❌ Not preparing the space
Our drivers need room to safely lower the skip.
❌ Leaving heavy waste loose
If you’re adding soil or stones, bag some of it to make loading easier.
9. Conclusion
Hiring a mini skip for garden waste is one of the simplest ways to handle a garden clear-out. Whether you're pruning hedges, replacing turf, reshaping a flower bed or tidying forgotten corners of the garden, a mini skip gives you the space, flexibility and convenience you need.
No repeated trips to the tip.
No overflowing green bin.
No stress.
Just load it up, and Butler Skips will take care of the rest.
10. FAQs About Garden Waste Skip Hire
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Yes. You can put most garden waste into a mini skip, including grass, leaves, hedge cuttings, plants, small branches and soil in manageable amounts. Just avoid animal waste and hazardous materials.
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A 2-yard mini skip typically holds around 20–25 bin bags, making it ideal for garden tidy-ups and small landscaping projects.
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Yes. With Butler Skips, all payments are made securely online at the time of booking.
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You cannot put animal waste, chemicals, paint, batteries, gas bottles, electrical items, tyres or hazardous substances in a skip. If you're unsure, ask Butler Skips before booking.
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Yes, but in reasonable quantities. Soil is heavy, so avoid filling the skip entirely with soil alone.
