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Original poster

I really want something from a skip. Would you? Should you?

62 replies

Progress2019 · 23/04/2019 06:51

We are in a fairly new development. It was bad enough seeing the workmen destroying the neighbours kitchen when we could do with some more cupboards, but only yesterday dh and I were talking about buying a new garden gate, when that afternoon, I saw that theirs was in their skip. Its in far better condition than ours, as theirs was sheltered by their garage, and they didn’t use their back gate, whereas ours was in constant use, and is shabby and rickety.

I don’t know how much a new garden gate costs. Probably under £100, but its not just the money. I’m really into freegle and donate things constantly - its amazing what people can make use of. I hate the thought of stuff ending up in landfill unnecessarily. Not that the gate would, as its wooden.

Anyway. Would you take it? Could you? Sadly these aren’t friendly neighbours, so I’m not going to ask.

Just to add, I probably won’t, as I’m pathetic, but I’m just wondering ehat other people would do.

OP posts:
tectonicplates · 23/04/2019 08:02

Take the gate and paint it.

Taking things from skips is environmentally friendly. It's awful how much stuff ends up in landfill when it could be reused or recycled.

Whenever I have something in useable condition that I don't want, I just leave it outside and someone will take it within a day or two.

Comefromaway · 23/04/2019 08:08

Is it a metal or wooden gate? We get people asking all the time at work if they can have stuff out of skips on site but all metal gets weighed in at the scrap merchant.

I would definetly ask though.

sackrifice · 23/04/2019 08:09

Just go get it. Nobody minds stuff being taken from skips.

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 23/04/2019 08:10

@comefromaway couldn't you charge them what the scrap merchant would pay?

Comefromaway · 23/04/2019 08:13

No, because we’d have to raise a VAT invoice which would necessitate being done back at the office and we also have to ensure that all scrap is disposed of ethically. And people never want to pay the going rate, they want it for free.

SpamChaudFroid · 23/04/2019 08:14

Take it OP, Like someone said it's chucking stuff into a skip that's a no-no.

A while back I posted on here about 4 bricks I took from a skip, I was told I was a terrible person!

frippit · 23/04/2019 08:15

We're staying in a hotel that's getting some refurbishment. My husband spotted a skip with loads of brand new carpet tiles in.
We asked at reception and they said we could help ourselves. So we're now the proud owners of 150 carpet tiles.
Just ask they can only say no.

CKWattisthemanager · 23/04/2019 08:17

Legally the contents of the skip belongs to the hirer or owner of the land the skip is on. I would ask.

My Bro runs his woodburner on skip contents but he always asks for permission. He has had one knockback in ten years plus.

Villanellesproudmum · 23/04/2019 08:19

I thought you was my neighbour until you mentioned garden gate. I’ve had a few things go including to a local rehoming charity but they did all ask first, I’d have found it a bit rude had they not asked first.

Villanellesproudmum · 23/04/2019 08:19

*from my skip

Bluelonerose · 23/04/2019 08:21

Take it op. They've thrown it out.
I'm imagining mission impossible music while you complete your mission Grin

ReginaGeorgeous · 23/04/2019 09:47

Having renovated a house before, it didn't bother me if things were taken from our skip but what did piss me off was people rummaging and leaving it in a mess. DH and I would fill our skip carefully in order to maximise the amount of stuff we could get in it to keep the skip hire costs down and it was really frustrating when someone had had a rummage overnight and chucked things back in any old how.

smurfy2015 · 23/04/2019 10:02

When I was moving 2 houses ago, I had a skip for a day. I filled it, as was tidying up other stuff a couple of people came and knocked on the door, to ask if they could have items out of it.

Yes of course, as long as they organised taking them away that afternoon.

Within the hour, 10 friends of my door knocker came and got 2 sofas, 3 beds with mattresses, kitchen table and chairs, tv cabinet - which they were delighted with and brought me a large box of chocolates. They had just moved to the area and had nothing, this gave them the basics. They had no transport so were carrying the stuff up the street.

There were no groups in the area doing recycling, or charities wouldn't accept mattresses so skip was the only way to clear stuff quickly.

So go for it, OP

Knittedfairies · 23/04/2019 10:21

I was eyeing up some table legs propped up against a hedge in a nearby garden. The householders were a bit bemused that someone could make use of them, but the legs are now part of a bench on the allotment, made from a pallet and said legs. You could ask the builders; if you take it they might be able to cram something else into the skip. I would mention it to the neighbours too though.

Iruka · 23/04/2019 10:25

Unless it’s metal I would take it. The builders will often knock some money off if there is metal they can sell.

Original poster
Progress2019 · 23/04/2019 10:33

It’s my gate now!! I asked the skip man if I could, when he came with his lorry and he helped me carry it home! It’s only wooden, so probably would have been burnt.

I’m so pleased with it. Going to stain it the same colour as the fence before I hang it, so no one will know. My daughter is disgusted and called me a rag and bone man. I don’t care.

Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
Ihaventgottimeforthis · 23/04/2019 10:34

I'd deffo ask if I could take something from a skip if I could put it to use.

I once even took a toilet seat from a skip - in my defence it was outside a Porcelanosa shop and still in its wrapping - it was a display version that had got scratched. Best toilet seat I've ever had.

coolestmum · 23/04/2019 10:45

Great news! and what a kind skip man.Enjoy your new gate.

Bittern11 · 23/04/2019 10:47

You are recycling! Much better than having things that could be used going into landill.

Enjoy your gate!!

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 23/04/2019 11:02

Good for you, and hopefully your DD will learn from your example that getting something for free, and reducing waste is infinitely preferable to paying for it and using up the world's resources.

PH03b3 · 23/04/2019 11:19

If worried take the cupboard doors only

StormTreader · 23/04/2019 11:32

Very eco-friendly to re-use an existing gate! Enjoy your new gate :)

thinkingcapon · 23/04/2019 11:33

If you don't care then why have you posted?!

Bananalanacake · 23/04/2019 11:38

why are they having their kitchen destroyed if it's in a new development? it can't be that old.

keepingbees · 23/04/2019 11:43

Glad you've got it! I agree, keep it aside until painted and then hang it they'll never know, especially as the skip has now been collected.
I'm sure they wouldn't have minded anyway even if they aren't nice. What reason would they have had to refuse.
Recycling and reusing is being savvy in my opinion and nothing wrong with it.

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