What is the Difference Between Skip Bins, Mini Skips, Mobile Trailer Skips, & A Hook Lift Bin?
- Nov 7, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 4
Before we start our comparison, it is important to make people aware that Eastern Skip Hire and the staff at Eastern Skip Hire operate a skip bin hire, mini skips hire & rubbish disposal services, where we offer skip bin rental, mini skips rental, and waste disposal services to people and commercial businesses!
For those who are new to the waste disposal industry, it can be quite overwhelming and perplexing at times. Although these concepts may appear similar at first glance, they do overlap in some ways, yet they possess unique characteristics.
Indeed, all of them serve to accommodate unwanted items and debris.
They are designed to be portable and easily moved between settings such as homes, businesses, and industrial spaces.
Moreover, they share the common feature of being compatible with most driveways for convenient placement. However, it is worth noting that certain hooklift bins have the potential to cause damage to the surface of your driveway or front lawn if the rollers underneath at the rear of the bin are seized and don't turn properly, or in some cases not at all, or the bin lands too hard on the surface.
A basic and brief comparison or description of each waste disposal vessel is outlined below:
Mini Skips: What Are They?
In a nutshell, mini skips are a small skip bin. They have the advantage of taking up less space because of their small footprint. They are ideal for people and businesses that dispose of only small volumes of waste.
Mini Skips Hire Sizes
There aren't many sizes of mini skips to select from, as the name "mini" implies small, and these mini skip sizes are typically:
2 & 3 cubic meters in volume.
What are Mini Skips Used For?
Mini Skips have a smaller holding capacity compared to larger skip bins. Due to their smaller volume, they are cheaper to hire for all types of waste. Just because they are small, they are still capable of transporting full loads of soil, concrete, bricks, etc.
Other uses for mini skips are:
Decluttering small areas like kids' bedrooms, garden sheds, garages, etc.
Demolition of kitchens, laundries, bathrooms, small offices, pergolas, etc.
Small renovation and building site final clean-ups.
Factory and office decluttering
Garden maintenance, disposal of green waste, which is recycled into compost.
Tradies disposing of full loads of concrete, soil, bricks, pavers, roof tiles, etc.
Skip Bins: What Are They?
A skip bin is a large, open-topped container used to collect and transport waste and rubbish, typically hired for a short period during clean-ups, renovations, demolitions, or construction projects.
Skip Bins are widely used for domestic and commercial waste disposal needs. They are typically 1500mm wide, which enables them to fit into domestic driveways and car parking spaces.
Skip Bins Hire Sizes
A rough guide or rule of thumb for skip bin sizes, which are most commonly used for domestic needs, is 2-8 cubic meters. These sizes are used by 90% of people who order skip bins for domestic uses.
While commercial and industrial skip bin hire sizes are much larger, these larger skip bins are commonly used for building sites and construction sites where space is tight, and larger hooklift bins cannot fit due to the lack of room.
Commercial-size skip bins range in sizes from 8m3 to 12m3.
However, the largest skip bins are around 16 cubic meters (which Sims bins are roughly). These Sims Metals skip bins are the largest and strongest of the general style of skip bins in Melbourne. Skip bin trucks have rear-mounted arms for lifting bins onto and off the truck bed, so they need more overhead clearance for the arms' radius to pivot.
What are Skip Bins Used For?
Skip bins are ideal for larger jobs, including new houses, blocks of units, factories, and other building sites, as well as small construction sites.
Domestic uses are for vast amounts of household general waste, green waste from overgrown gardens, excavations of soil, concrete, pavers, etc.
Trailer Skips, What Are They?
Trailer Skips are essentially mini skips fitted to a registered tandem trailer. This means that if you want it positioned on the road, no council permit is required, saving customers some money. They also have a hinged lid, which is usually lockable, keeping out unwanted neighbours' waste!
The main disadvantage of mobile skips is the access height of the skip bins. As you can see in the photo, the top edge of the skip is very high, and it is also not very long. This restricts what you can load into the skip, including couches, long cabinets, extension ladders, and more. It also makes loading heavy items very awkward and dangerous. The item you're loading could easily fall back onto you and injure you.
If you are short in stature or your age has taken its toll, you would more than likely find it difficult to load one of these mobile skips.
You are also restricted by what you can load into them. They have a maximum general light waste limit, which is reasonable and fair. However, you are not allowed any concrete, bricks, etc within the load. This is because they are emptied by a front loader compactor truck. If the load in the skip is too heavy, the front loader won't be able to lift it. In fairness, many waste disposal services use weight limits, as does Eastern Skip Hire, and most other companies. It's just that with light general waste, we allow some bricks, concrete, etc., within the load.
Sizes of Mobile Trailer Skips
As far as I am aware, they are only available in 3 or 4 cubic meter sizes, and people are limited in their use of these skips due to their limited holding capacity. The length and width of these skips are acceptable. The problem I can see is the shape. With the door opening being high, it would be a challenge for many people to load. The actual skip is not very long, and the width is fine. However, people are limited by the length of items that can be placed inside the skip.
What are Trailer Skips Used For?
Trailer skips are suitable only for very light items or light general waste. No building waste is allowed, as it is too heavy for the disposal requirements.
Predominantly, they are used for domestic customers' bits and pieces. Maybe some shops or light industries may use them from time to time.
Hook Lift Bins: What Are They?
Hook Lift Bins are precisely what they say they are. They need a truck fitted with a special hook that lifts the front of the bin while the truck slowly reverses under it, finally pulling the bin onto the back of the truck. To place the bin down, it is in reverse order, but the bin rolls on fitted rear rollers.
The rear of the bins is fitted with a roller on each back corner. These rollers stop or limit damage to the surface they slide over. However, older bins occasionally have rear rollers that cease to turn, potentially damaging the surface the bin slides over as the rollers skid.
Sizes of Hook Lift Bins?
There is a wide range of hook-lift bins of different sizes. The standard sizes range from 4 to 42 cubic meters. They may even go bigger!
They are not suitable for confined spaces, as they are approximately 2.4m wide. However, the sides of these smaller bins are lower.
What are Hook Lift Bins Used For?
Most commonly used for commercial purposes, these hooklift bins are often too large for domestic driveways, although they do fit into some. When being used for domestic properties, they are either placed wherever they will fit, or you need to pay for an on-road council permit.
They are widely used within the building and construction industry for commercial loads. They are also used for domestic purposes when people have a massive amount of waste to dispose of. Builders also use them for new house builds and blocks of units.
They are also the only bins used by demolition companies. Hooklift bins are made of heavy-gauge steel and feature heavy, reinforced bases and lifting arms. Their purpose is for heavy loads. They often haul full loads of concrete, rubble, dirt, bricks, and roof tiles.
What's The Verdict
For the best results, you need to consider several factors first:
Type of Waste?
The Weight of the Waste?
Quantity of the Waste?
Placement of the Skip Bin?
Width of the Access Point? (driveway, lane, etc.)
Is there Enough Height for Trucks? (overhead wires, tree branches)
Is the Ground Solid Enough for a Truck?
Do You Need Help Loading Your Waste?
Do You Need an Access Door for Loading?
By considering these pointers, you will be able to eliminate certain aspects of the different styles of waste disposal vessels available.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to waste disposal. Each skip or bin has its drawbacks and advantages.
Eastern Skip Hire
0417 514 763
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