Permits, Skips & Pickups – What You Need to Know Before the Council Comes Knocking

Along with the TV licence inspector sticking his face in your window, getting a letter from the council to say you owe money is a very real fear for any Irish household. 

Just the thought of seeing that little symbol on an envelope is enough to send shivers through your bank account.

A clearout can be overwhelming, and this might not cross your mind. But getting a surprise fine for illegal waste disposal can happen – more often than you think! 

Here’s why you should give it a thought…

When you need a permit

First things first – you need a permit to place a skip on any public land such as, 

• Roads
• Footpaths
• Paid-parking zones
• Yellow lines
• Clearways etc..

If you place a skip on one without a permit, you risk a fine of €1,270 and more for removal. 

You do NOT need a permit for placing a skip on private property. This includes;

• Your driveway
• Private parking space 
• Garden
• Any other area you own

Just make sure your skip will be 100% on private property. Even part of the skip touching a restricted public area requires a permit. 

🖊️ Note: Some councils, like Dublin City Council, may allow a skip on a public road without a permit in a small number of cases. This is only if there are no restrictions, such as Pay and Display. Your skip hire company can clarify this. 

Who pays for the permit?

That would be you! So make sure to budget for this in your planning. How much will it cost you say? More on that below.

Timelines

Permits can take anywhere from 3 to 14 working days to get and have to be ready before the skip is delivered. It depends on where you are in Ireland and your local council (Read on for info).

How to get around the permit issue

The good news is you can get the benefit of a skip without the permit costs and hassle. All by using a junk removal service. 

For the same price as a skip, a team will show up and load all your waste into a truck and take it away right then and there. They even do the heavy lifting for you 💪. 

They’ll accept the same waste that goes in a skip. They also take some items that skips can’t accept, like electrical items (WEEE waste).

There’s no additional permit or cost to use professional junk removal teams. They hold waste collection permits (NWCPO). 

Tip: unsure what can and can’t go in a skip – check here at the bottom of the page. 

Cost of skip permit and how to apply

If you still want a skip, applications are made via your local council. Remember – you don’t need one for private property, only for public land. 

🖊️ Note: Many councils will only deal directly with skip hire companies, so contact the skip provider first and they’ll confirm. In these cases you just need to be aware of the extra cost for the permit on top of the cost of the skip hire. 

Below are permit costs and application timelines for some of the larger councils in Ireland. 

🖊️ Note for commercial customers: If you’re a business hiring a very large skip, traffic management may also be required. You can also check this through your local council. 

You’re responsible for where your waste ends up

Under Irish law, especially under the Waste Management Act 1996, you as the original holder of the waste have a “duty of care”. What does that mean? It means you need to be sure that your waste is going to end up in the right place. Even if you’re paying someone else to get rid of it for you. 

It doesn’t matter if you’ve paid someone you thought was legitimate, If they dispose of it illegally (like in a field or a ditch), then you can be held responsible – i.e fined. 

You may think saving €50 when clearing out the shed is a win. But it could end up costing you thousands later. There goes those savings for a new car!

You can’t hide prohibited items – really! 🔎

We know what you might be thinking – a sneaky paint can wrapped in a blanket won’t be seen. That old radio is fine as long as it’s underneath a few branches. 

We’ve seen all the tricks. They don’t work! Just because you got away with it once doesn’t mean you will again. 

Hiding prohibited items in a skip or a waste pile can lead to serious consequences. 

1. Financial Penalties 💸

If illegal or hazardous waste is found in your skip or collection:

• The skip company WILL charge additional disposal fees.
• You could also get admin fines from the local council or EPA (€150- €3000+)

2. Skip Rejection or Refusal to Collect ⛔

If drivers suspect prohibited items:

• They might refuse to collect the skip until it’s cleared.
• You may have to pay for a second skip or a re-sorting service. Delays and extra rental charges are common.

3. Traceability & Legal Exposure ⚖️

If prohibited waste (e.g asbestos, oil cans, electronics etc) ends up at a waste facility:

• Waste companies are required to trace it back to the hirer (that’s you my friend)
• If you’re the listed customer, you are legally liable, not just the operator.

4. Criminal Offences (in serious cases) ⛓️

Under the Waste Management Act 1996, knowingly disposing of hazardous or restricted waste improperly:

• Is a criminal offence. Penalties include fines up to €5,000 on conviction and €15 million on indictment, plus up to 10 years in prison in extreme environmental breach cases.

5. Blacklist from Skip Hire Firms ⚫

• Repeat offenders or customers who hide waste may be refused service in future.

Why does it matter?

Prohibited items are prohibited for a reason. While you might think ‘waste is waste’, there are two very different kinds in Ireland. Waste businesses are typically licensed only for one of the following: 

• General Waste Collectors

These are licensed companies that collect everyday household and commercial waste like bins, skips, and non-hazardous materials.

• Hazardous Waste Collectors

These are authorised operators licensed to handle dangerous or regulated waste. Things like asbestos, chemicals, clinical materials and much more. 

So if a general waste collector accidentally collects and processes hazardous waste, there are serious consequences. Not just fines in the thousands of Euros – they can also potentially lose their licence. So yea, when they say they can’t take it, they really mean they legally cannot take it!

The snapshot below shows why some of these waste types are an issue:

How to find a legitimate provider

You need to ensure the waste business meets the following criteria: 

General Waste Collectors

• Check their credentials

All legitimate waste collectors must be registered with the National Waste Collection Permit Office (NWCPO). Ask for their waste collection permit number and check it online at www.nwcpo.ie.

• Get a receipt or documentation:
  Ask for a waste transfer note, invoice or receipt stating what was taken and when. Legit companies will be happy to provide it.
  
• Don’t trust cheap fly-by-nights:
  If it sounds too cheap, it probably means they’re cutting corners – like dumping your waste in a ditch.

Don’t forget that they should be able to show proof of insurance too. 

Hazardous waste collectors

1. Check their permit
   Again this is their NWCPO permit that includes hazardous EWC codes. Codes include things like ‘20 01 21’ for fluorescent tubes, ‘17 06 05’ for asbestos etc. Look them up at www.nwcpo.ie.
2. Ask for documentation
   Request their waste permit, EPA registration (if needed), insurance and a sample waste transfer form –  legit operators will have no issue showing these.

You need to be even more careful when working with a hazardous waste provider, so if you have any doubts about a provider – look elsewhere.

So, which type of waste collection is best for you?

Don’t get caught out

Ultimately, getting rid of junk or rubbish shouldn’t be a headache. Use a reputable provider to get the issue solved so you can get on with your day. Remember – “buy cheap, buy twice”, or in the case of council fines, pay 5-10 times as much.  

About us

Junk&Waste is a professional waste booking agent – we partner with local, vetted crews to ensure all waste collections booked via our website are fully licenced, insured and responsible. Learn more about skip hire here or rubbish removal here. 

Image credits:

• Guido Hoffman
• Phil hearing