Terms and Conditions for Skip Hire

Definitions

In these terms and conditions, the following definitions apply:

`company` means Westminster Waste Ltd, who are the registered waste carrier and disposal point of the skip contents;

`hirer` means person or company hiring skips or other waste services;

`vehicle` means the Westminster Waste Ltd vehicle which is delivering, exchanging or collecting the skip which is the subject of the contract and any equipment mounted on or ancillary to the vehicle;

`driver` means the driver of the Westminster Waste Ltd vehicle;

`the site` means the address and place where the skip is deposited on the directions of the hirer.

The company enters into the agreements for hire of skips and disposal of contents upon the following conditions

1. No agent or employee of the company is permitted to alter or vary these conditions in any way to give any consent thereunder unless he is authorised to do so.

2. The hirer must be over 18 years old to use and pay for the company’s services

3. The company can only provide services in the United Kingdom, and we only deliver skips in our coverage area of London and Southeast England. The company does not export services.

4. The company will only accept UK pound sterling for payment of services.

5. The hirer shall ensure that all permissions required before the skip can lawfully be deposited onto private land have been or will be obtained before the hirer directs the driver to deposit the skip.

6. Where the skip is to be placed on the public highway the company will apply for the relevant permission from the local authority for a skip permit and bay suspension (if needed) before the skip can lawfully be deposited. Local authority charges will be passed onto hirer including a £20 administration charge. Local authority charges are non-refundable in the event of any cancellation. When placing a skip on the public highway ensure that these rules are adhered to:

  1. Keep the skip covered with a sheet or tarpaulin unless it’s being filled or removed.
  2. Fix lights to the skip during the hours of darkness*
  3. Do not overload the skip.  Waste must not fall onto the public highway or protrude from the skip.
  4. Request an exchange or collection once the skip is full.

There may be additional rules specific to the local council where the skip is sited, therefore, please read the permit terms and conditions issued by the local council when we send this to you.

Failure to follow these rules will result in a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) being issued by the local council, who actively patrol the highways, especially at night, looking for non-compliant skips. Westminster Waste Ltd are not liable for this FPN and will pass on the charge to the customer.

Westminster Waste Ltd do not provide covers or lights, Customers should contact a Builders Merchant to purchase these products.

*The hours of darkness are 30 minutes before sunset and 30 minutes after sunrise.  During days of poor visibility, such as fog, the skip must have lights constantly.

7. The company will use its best endeavours to comply with the hirers’ requirements but can accept no responsibility for failure to supply or for any delay in supplying skips which may be caused directly or indirectly by any circumstances beyond the company’s control or any unforeseen or abnormal conditions or by any act or neglect on the part of the hirer.

a. Except as specifically otherwise agreed in writing the company shall be under no obligation to deposit the skip elsewhere than on the highway.

b. The hirer shall save harmless and keep the company indemnified against any claim, demand or penalty arising out of the period of the skip on the site and which could not have been made had the skip not been placed on the site.

c. The hirer shall reimburse the company for any loss, damage, or harm to the company’s vehicle and or skips from whatever cause except fair wear and tear.

d. The hirer shall fully indemnify the company in respect of any claims for injury, damage or harm caused to persons or property arising from the use of the company’s vehicle however the injury, damage or harm may arise.

8. The hirer shall direct the driver where to deposit or pick up the skip, and where necessary the hirer will provide additional room to enable this to occur in a safe manner.

9. Where the driver is directed to deposit or pick up the skip on or from any site which is off a highway, the company shall be under no liability whatsoever to the hirer for any damage, including to the pavement or driving surface, however caused whilst the vehicle is off the highway either than such as might have been caused by negligent driving on part of the driver. Without prejudice to the generality of condition the hirer shall keep the company indemnified against any claim or demand which could not have been made had the driver not been so directed. The hirer will compensate the company for any damage to the vehicle and/or the skip which would not have occurred had the driver not been so directed and which is not due to any negligent driving on the part of the driver

10. The time allowed for depositing or picking up a skip is fifteen (15) minutes. If the vehicle is kept waiting longer than this after arrival, the hirer shall be liable for reasonable demurrage.

11. The hirer shall permit the company free access and sufficient working space to enable the company to conduct all necessary operations including all around the vehicle and the skip(s).

12. The hirer shall indemnify the company for any loss or damage suffered by the failure of the hirer to comply with any relevant legislative requirements.

13. The hirer shall not move the skip from the site that the skip is set down by the company without the written (including email and text messages) consent of the company.

14. The hirer accepts that they are the waste producer and as such they are responsible for ensuring that the waste is correctly described to the company (refer to the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations as amended).

15. When detailing to the company the description of the waste the hirer must give due regard to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations as amended and to the Animal By-Products (Enforcement)(England) Regulations as amended.

16. The hirer shall ensure that no waste as listed on Schedule 1. of the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations as amended, and detailed at regulation 9 of the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations as amended, and as indicated below will be placed in the skip without the written consent of the company, this includes but is not limited to: asbestos; liquids; powders; sludges; wet wastes; solvents; oils; greases; containers holding or that held pressurised contents (e.g. gas containers including fire extinguishers); paint containers that are not completely empty; fluorescent tubes; or any item with hazardous properties. Plasterboard waste can only be accepted as segregated waste stream in its own container, or in a clear sealed plastic bag to prevent contamination of other wastes. If any waste to which this section applies is placed in any skip the hirer shall immediately give the notices required by the named legislation and send copies of such notices to the company.

17. The hirer shall not permit to be placed in the skip any material that is deemed by the company to be awkward or difficult waste, should such waste be discovered by the company the hirer will be charged the appropriate and prevailing fee(s) for disposal, this includes but is not limited to: large concrete blocks in excess of ½ cubic metre; tree stumps; large pieced of heavy plastic; mattresses; fridges/freezers; tyres.

18. The hirer shall ensure from the time the skip is deposited until it is picked up again by the company, except as specifically otherwise agreed in writing the company shall be under no obligation to deposit the skip elsewhere than on the highway.

a. It is properly sited in accordance with any permission given

b. It is properly coned and lighted during the hours of darkness

c. No fires are lit in it

d. It is filled no higher than the top of the sides

e. It is safely loaded for transportation – there must be an even distribution of weight

f. It suffers no damage except fair wear and tear

g. The skip should be sheeted when not in use and when relevant borough by-laws dictate such sheeting must at no time obscure any lights, cones, or warning markers on or associated with the skip

19. Notwithstanding the terms and conditions above, it shall be the company`s responsibility to ensure the compliance of any condition imposed by the Highways Authority relating to the marking of the skip with reflective paint or markers.

20. Except as specifically otherwise agreed in writing the hirer shall fill the skip within the period of hire and shall inform the company in good time of its readiness for collection or replacement. For periods in excess of 7-days casual hire a charge may be made for each week or part thereof.

21. The company shall ensure that the skip is clearly and indelibly marked with his name and telephone number or address.

22. The company will remove or reposition the skip if required at any time to do so by a Highway Authority or constable in uniform under section 140 of the Highways Act 1980. Such movements are a chargeable item to the hirer.

23. Except as specifically otherwise agreed in writing the company agrees to dispose of the contents of the skip.

24. The company reserves the right not to collect waste if the hirers account is in arrears or a due payment has not been received.

25. Where possible, services will be arranged to suit the hirer. If a scheduled delivery, exchange, or collection is not made, the hirer should advise the company and a revised schedule will be arranged.

26. Where the hirer orders a “Wait and Load” service 30 mins loading time is provided as part of the cost however, the hirer may wish to take longer to load the skip, in which case they will automatically be invoiced an additional waiting time per minute charge, based on the driver recorded time, which will be on the ticket signed by the hirer.

27. The driver will endeavour to obtain a signature for the service being provided if readily available, however, non-signature for any service carried out will not be recognized by the company as a valid reason for non-payment of subsequent invoice.

28. The company cannot accept any responsibility for any parking fines received whilst carrying out the service requested. Any fines received will be recharged back in full plus an administration charge