When a renovation project spirals out of control and they always do — the last thing you want to be worrying about is what to do with the rubbish. Bags pile up. The wheelie bin fills on day one. Your neighbour starts giving you looks. Waste disposal, unglamorous as it is, can make or break the momentum of any home improvement or commercial build.
That’s where the right skip hire company comes in. Not a faceless national operator you’ve never heard of, but a local, experienced business that knows the area, understands the regulations, and actually shows up when they say they will.
For homeowners, builders, and businesses across Essex, Hertfordshire, and Outer London, the answer has been the same since 1972. Lunnon Waste a family-run business founded by David Lunnon and now managed by his son Michael, has quietly become one of the most trusted names in waste management across the region, not through flashy marketing, but through decades of consistent, reliable service.
More Than Just a Skip Company
It’s easy to assume that skip hire is skip hire. You ring someone, a metal box arrives on your drive, you fill it up, they take it away. Job done.
But the reality is a bit more nuanced than that, particularly if you care about where your waste actually ends up.
Lunnon Waste operates its own licensed Waste Transfer Station in Ongar, Essex — a key distinction that separates it from many competitors who simply act as middlemen. Rather than handing your waste off to a third party with no oversight, Lunnon processes everything in-house. All non-hazardous waste is sorted, pre-treated, and wherever possible, recycled or reused. Their current recycling rate sits at 100%, and they maintain a zero-to-landfill policy — a genuine commitment, not just a marketing line.
The station is licensed by the Environment Agency for most types of solid domestic, commercial, industrial, biodegradable, and inert waste, and it’s approved for up to 230,000 tonnes per year. That’s a serious operation, and it means clients from individual homeowners to multinational developers can rely on proper disposal with a paper trail to prove it.
A Skip for Every Job
One of the most common mistakes people make when hiring a skip is getting the size wrong. Too small, and you’re paying for a second collection. Too large, and you’ve wasted money on space you didn’t need — and you may struggle to position it sensibly on your property.
Lunnon Waste carries a fleet of over 600 skips, ranging from compact 2-yard mini skips right up to large roll-on roll-off containers for major commercial or construction projects. Here’s a rough guide to what each size can handle:
- 2-yard mini skip — roughly equivalent to 4 wheelie bins or 15–20 bin bags. Ideal for small garden clearances or bathroom refits.
- 4-yard midi skip — around 8 wheelie bins or 30–40 bin bags. A solid choice for kitchen clearances or small renovation jobs.
- 6-yard builders skip — the classic. About 12 wheelie bins or 50–60 bin bags, and the go-to for most trade projects.
- 8-yard large builders skip — 16 wheelie bins or 70–80 bin bags. For larger construction and demolition work.
- 12 and 16-yard maxi skips — heavy-duty containers for commercial clearances, large site work, or bulky light waste.
- Roll-on roll-off skips — for the really big jobs. Used frequently by developers and commercial clients requiring ongoing waste management.
If you’re unsure which size suits your project, the Lunnon team is happy to advise before you commit to anything.
Placing a Skip on a Public Road? You’ll Need a Permit
This is where a lot of people get caught out. If you don’t have a driveway or private land to place your skip on, it’ll need to go on the public highway — and that requires a permit from your local council.
The permit application process varies slightly by area and typically takes around seven days to process in Essex. It’s not complicated, but it’s easy to forget about until the skip is booked and the council deadline is looming.
Lunnon Waste handles permit applications on behalf of their customers. They’re registered with all District and Borough Councils across Essex and carry £10,000,000 in Public Liability Insurance, so the whole process is managed professionally without you having to chase paperwork yourself.
Same-Day Service and ULEZ-Compliant Vehicles
For those working to tight project timelines, same-day skip delivery is available on most sizes. With over 600 skips in rotation and a fleet of modern collection vehicles — ranging from 3.5-tonne to 32-tonne GVW — Lunnon Waste has the capacity to respond quickly without compromising on reliability.
All vehicles are under three years old and fully compliant with ULEZ emission regulations. Drivers are trained to the FORS Silver Standard, which is the benchmark for fleet safety and professionalism in the transport industry. If you’re a contractor working in and out of London or across multiple sites, that compliance matters.
Commercial and Trade Clients
Lunnon Waste’s client base covers a wide spectrum. On one end, you’ve got domestic customers clearing out a loft or tackling a garden project. On the other, you’ve got nationwide developers and large commercial businesses managing ongoing waste across multiple sites.
For commercial clients, the Waste Transfer Station itself is available for direct tipping, meaning businesses and builders can bring waste directly to the Ongar facility rather than waiting for scheduled collections. There’s no need for appointments — their team and clear site signage make the process straightforward.
Lunnon can also provide waste transfer notes and monthly client reports showing tonnage, waste types, and recycling figures. For businesses with a duty-of-care obligation under UK waste regulations, that documentation is invaluable.
What Can (and Can’t) Go in Your Skip
Worth knowing before you start loading: not everything can go into a general waste skip. Lunnon Waste accepts a broad range of materials including:
General household and commercial waste, wood (treated and untreated), soil, rubble, plastics, metals, glass (sheets and window frames), fabric, paper, cardboard, tiles, and dry broken concrete.
However, there are restrictions. Hazardous materials including asbestos, chemicals, solvents, liquid waste, and human or animal waste cannot be accepted. Food waste should go through your regular collection service. Mattresses and certain POPS (Persistent Organic Pollutants) waste items may incur additional charges, so it’s worth flagging these at the point of booking.
When in doubt, ring the team before you order — they’d rather help you plan correctly than deal with complications on collection day.
Nationwide Coverage Through a Trusted Network
While Lunnon Waste’s heartland is Essex, Hertfordshire, and Outer London, they also offer nationwide skip hire and waste management services through a vetted network of regional suppliers. All partner suppliers are approved and managed by Lunnon directly, so standards remain consistent regardless of location.
This makes them a practical choice for contractors and developers working across multiple regions who want a single point of contact for waste management rather than juggling relationships with half a dozen different local companies.
A Company Built on Reputation
Over fifty years in business doesn’t happen by accident. Lunnon Waste has retained long-standing commercial clients, some of whom have been using their services for over a decade simply by doing what they say they’ll do. Skips delivered on time. Drivers who behave professionally on site. Office staff who pick up the phone and give sensible answers.
In an industry where cowboys and unreliable operators are unfortunately common, that consistency counts for a great deal.
Whether you’re a homeowner tackling a one-off clearance or a contractor with ongoing waste management needs, it’s worth speaking to a company that’s been doing this properly since before many of its competitors existed.