When selecting the waste disposal system for your upcoming project you may be weighing up the costs and benefits of skip bins vs rubbish cages. It’s imperative to have an effective disposal system that allows your team to operate efficiently and safely. At the same time It’s no secret that the cost of living and doing business seems to be rising daily.
Naturally, most of us are carefully assessing when we can be making more cost effective decisions within our business operations. Today we want to help alleviate some of the heavy lifting for you and outline how the investment in a skip bin vs rubbish cage on your next job.
On Site Rubbish Cages – What Are They?
Construction waste disposal cages involve a builder / contractor forming a rough fence in a square / circle on the building site. All the contractors then throw their rubbish into the cage. Rubbish cages are easy to assemble and look similar to temporary fencing, as they are made of galvanise steel. At the end of the project (and often a few times throughout) you will need to bring in a Bobcat and tipper truck to load the rubbish onto a tipper truck. The tipper truck then transports the waste and unloads it at a waste disposal facility.
Through experience, we have found that tradies who use cages are doing so because they believe them to be the lower cost option. However, this is not always the case. Historically, cages were the cheaper option but these days you need to be aware of the rising hidden costs which your business shoulders when using a cage.
Related: What Can I Put in a Skip Bin?
The Hidden Costs of Using a Cage and Tipper for Construction Waste
Double / Triple Handling
If you use a cage, when it comes time for the tip run you will be paying your team to double handle the waste as they load up the tipper. Oftentimes it will require a Bobcat or Skid Steer to transfer the load so consider the price of the additional machines required for the job. The process generally takes a few hours and might happen several times throughout the project.
You will also want to consider the cost (wages, vehicle running costs etc) of the time spent on the roads between job sites, to the tip and unloading at the disposal centre. All of these time consuming tasks become redundant if you use a skip bin instead.
Additional Weight that you weren’t expecting
The same load of waste might just cost you more to dispose of. The reason being that when rubbish is stored in a cage it is exposed to the elements. When it rains, if you look at skip bins compared to cages, the water simply pools at the bottom of the pile and the materials collect runoff like mud and dirt. Also consider that when you use the bobcat to load the waste into the tipper, it’s collecting dirt from the ground below that pile.
The cost to dispose of waste is calculated per tonne. Thus, if you are using a cage, your disposal cost will be higher than if it were just the waste as you are also paying for the excess mud, dirt and residue as outlined above.
Safety Concerns
Cages are also quite hazardous and environmentally inferior because a lot of the lighter rubbish blows through the cage or over the top of the fence. And you’ll lose even more rubbish when loading it into the tipper. For this reason, many local councils and land release operators have banned cages as a waste disposal method. Choosing a skip bin definitely keeps your staff and pedestrians safer.
More Space & Less Flexibility
Finally, it’s worth considering the large space that cages take up on the construction site and the chosen position because once established it cannot be relocated with ease the way a skip can.
Related: 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Skip Bin
Why Choose a Skip Bin as Waste Removal Service?
Skip bins are cleaner and tidier thus safer on site:
- You can stack and secure down waste in the skip preventing rubbish flying away
- Drainage at the bottom of the bin prevents water pooling
- You can move the skip around the site through different phases of your construction or renovation project
- Select the best size bin for your project variety of sizes to suit your project
- Waste is sorted more accurately and thus recycled at a higher percentage
Above it, hiring a skip bin offers a huge convenience for the already busy team – simply make a call and your waste is gone within 24 hours.
Related: 6 Hidden Costs of Cheap Skip Bin Hire
Conclusion: Hire a Skip for Better Waste Management
If you’ve been trying to weigh up the costs and benefits of skip bins vs rubbish cages for your site. If you’re trying to purchase a rubbish cage as a cheaper alternative to skip bins, think twice! We hope this article has been helpful and taken away the heavy lifting for you!
Visit our Jumbo FAQs section for questions and answers about our rubbish waste removal service and sustainable waste management or email us if you have any question.