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WE ARE OPEN

FOR BUSINESS

Coronavirus Safety Aware
NO physical contact with our drivers during visits
ALL communications and paperwork sent via telephone or email
NO paperwork to be signed
ALL staff are strictly following our Coronavirus Safety Policy

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Time to have a good clearout

Create some space to breathe

We've all been there. Our house has become a little cluttered and we feel the need to have a good tidy up. Many refer to it as a spring clean, but any time of year is a good time to de-clutter our living space.

Often people try to fool themselves about the amount of stuff they have accumulated over time, but like so many things that are left too long, it has a nasty way of creeping up on you.

You live with the mess and it becomes the norm. The clutter is familiar and you think to yourself, 'but that still has a fair bit of life left in it yet!' In reality, if you haven't made use of something for quite some time, the chances are, you never will.

Having a good tidy up not only clears your house, it will help to clear your mind too. Research has shown that living in a cluttered environment can even have adverse effects on a person's sleep. How can this be though when the person is asleep? Quite simply, a cluttered house equals a cluttered mind and to achieve fulfilling, relaxing and meaningful sleep, our minds must be at peace first.

Keep the good, bin the bad!

Now we wouldn't advocate binning everything in the house that hasn't been used for some time. That sideboard that has been buried under a pile of newspapers because the top is covered in scratches and it is a vile, old fashioned dark mahogany colour. Now, surely this has to be a candidate for a one way trip to the skip....or is it? Maybe a good rub down with abrasive paper and a makeover with a more up to date colour is all that's required to turn this Victorian eyesore into a neat, chic receptacle for all the stuff that currently clutters the top and windowsill next to it.

In fact, there are so many things around the house that can benefit from a spot of thoughtful up cycling, but some things are simply beyond redemption and this means that the time has come to be pretty ruthless with the bin bags.

Don't be a hoarder in Letchworth

Just recycling certain things that are past their best does not make you a hoarder of rubbish. In fact, retaining and repurposing things can not only save you money, it can help the environment too, but there needs to be a sensible balance kept. For example, if you are a keen DIY enthusiast, you will know that having a healthy assortment of fixings is a good thing and these cost money to buy from the local DIY outlet. A standard upright vacuum cleaner that has given up the ghost can supply you with a considerable number of screws, fixings and other useful items, if dismantled prior to disposal. Even the fuse can get you out of trouble when one blows in the toaster, microwave or hair dryer. Having a good supply of spares can be a good thing, assuming you have the room and the right place to store them ready to be reused should the need arise. Just don't hoard for the sake of hoarding!

Recycling is good, but there are limits

Making our products last longer by looking after them makes good economic sense. Maybe reusing certain things for another purpose is good for the same reasons, but once you take this philosophy to the extreme, it becomes self defeating and our living space begins to get cluttered up with a plethora of needless rubbish that simply gets in the way.

A good rule of thumb is to see if you can apply the six R's to your items, and when you have done that and the item still is of no real use, the time has come to let it go. But what are the six R's?

Promote sustainability when clearing out the waste

When it comes to having a good old fashioned clear up and streamlining our life a little more, it's very easy to become the victim of self blame and the feeling that you're guilty of the single handed destruction of the planets ecology for future generations, all because you want to throw something you no longer need or use away. However, by taking a balanced view and adhering as much as you can to the six R's of sustainability, you can be confident that you will have done all you could to be as green and ecologically sound as you could possibly have been.

Sustainability is a word we hear all the time, in fact, pretty much on a daily basis now. Our food, clothing, lifestyle, in fact everything we consume or do must be sustainable. Both private individuals, right up to the huge corporations all talk about living and doing things more sustainably or at least striving to achieve sustainability by a pre-defined date in the near future. But what does the word sustainable actually mean?

In a nutshell, sustainability simply means that we meet our needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Sounds pretty simple, but how do we achieve it?

The six R's of sustainability

So, before you reach for those bin bags, order the skip or load up the car for a trip to the dump, have a quick check through the following list to see if what is earmarked for the tip could actually be put to better use.

Rethink

Now this first one really has more to do with acquiring something new, but as it's part of the main six, it's still included. Do you really need to have this item in the first place? This question allows you to more fully understand your own consumption habits and impact on the environment around you. If you are constantly aware that natural resources are limited, then you are more likely to rethink getting it in the first place. This in turn has the natural knock on effect, if you don't acquire it, you won't need to bin it further down the line when it's of no further use.

Refuse

This one really leads on from the first. Try to refrain from buying stuff you don't need in the first place. Think about the quality, the way it is packed, what it's packed with and the company's ethics. In essence, refuse to pay your hard earned cash for something that would end up generating more waste. A classic example that springs to mind was a tiny plastic bag containing six ultra thin guitar picks came from a well known online selling platform in a cardboard box that could have contained the guitar itself, not to mention all the stuffing that the box contained. A tiny paper envelope would have been a more sensible and sustainable option.

Reduce

Reducing simply means reducing the amount of stuff you no longer need and consciously making decisions that reduce waste. In short, consume less, waste less.

Reuse

Now we move onto what was briefly discussed above. If you don't need something, before throwing it away, try and see if you can reuse or repurpose it in another way. So, instead of buying a replacement, find an alternative use for it. The glass coffee jar could be refilled with coffee from a sachet refill, or even used to store the screws you harvested from that old vacuum cleaner you dismantled prior to it going into the recycling bin outside. Maybe reuse something as a planter in the garden or the house. With a little imagination, you can reuse so many things rather than throwing them out.

Repair

Before you do recycle or bin something, ask yourself if it could be repaired? Repairing stuff could potentially save you an absolute fortune over the years. Make the most out of whatever you buy and have, and only bin it when it really is of no use whatsoever.

Recycle

If you really can't reuse something, try to recycle it. There is very little that cannot be recycled today. Even local authorities supply us with recycling bins at our properties. Up until a few years ago, only the local dump would recycle waste or you had to take your bottles or clothes to a bottle or clothes bank, possibly miles away. By separating and rinsing your waste if it contained food, you help it reach the right treatment centres. The raw materials in such products can be reclaimed and reused to make another product, which means you're not using any new reserves of the natural resources and contributing to sustainable development.

As stated above, if you do your utmost to live by these six simple rules, you will be helping to keep the world a cleaner and greener place. However, don't get too down hearted if you don't have the ability to do all of the above. Maybe someone you know will be able to make good use of your old caste goods. Also, don't forget that a reputable skip hire company will recycle a very high percentage of the goods you throw away, so although you may have thrown it away, it may still be repurposed at a future date thanks to the skip hire companies recycling policy.

De-cluttering for your health

Having a good tidy up and getting rid of the clutter can not only improve the look of your home, it can improve your mental and physical wellbeing too. But how?

Increase productivity by losing the clutter

Getting rid of the clutter and organising your home or office can save you a lot of time looking for or replacing lost items in the future. We've all bought another item that we thought we'd lost long ago, only for it to turn up when we had a good tidy. In the field say that a clutter free environment makes you more productive, while the cleaning process itself can increase energy levels.

Cleaning is the healthy option

A good clean and tidy can help you avoid allergies. More and more people are being diagnosed with asthma later in life these days and fitted carpets and central heating are the enemy if you are struggling to breathe. The more clutter you have, the more dust will accumulate, bringing more breathing misery with it.

Improve your mood with a clear out

Spending a bit of time to thoroughly clean and maintain a tidy home or work space makes people happier. Cleaning and tidying away the clutter gives us a sense of deep satisfaction, which in turn will put you in a much better mood. Remember that a clean and clear environment equals a clearer cleaner mind.

Dump the stress along with the clutter

Cleaning and tidying your home or office space lets you enjoy a tidier and more organised environment and this can relieve an enormous amount of stress. Levels of stress can even be reduced whilst you're clearing away the debris too, as cleaning is considered to be very therapeutic for us.

Stay focused on keeping a clear and tidy environment in your Letchworth home

If we make the effort to get rid of the everyday clutter every now and then, we are able to free up our brain for the more important decision-making. A systematic and thorough tidy helps to clear the mind of things that need to be done around the house and makes it easier to focus on other more important things. This in turn reduces stress and anxiety, giving us a more centred and balanced outlook on life.

So after negotiating with yourself and maybe beating yourself up over being a wastrel, think about all the benefits a good de-clutter can bring. Think about the six R's, as we all want a more sustainable future for us and our families, but don't get sucked into the mindset of never throwing anything away in case you may need it at some time in the future. The chances are that if you haven't used something for about five years, you are unlikely to ever use it again. So be realistic, be sensible and when needed, be brutal and get that rubbish cleared away.

Hoarding costs you money

Many hoarding behaviours can be put down to past experiences the individual has gone through. This may be periods of abject poverty, that makes them feel the need to hoard items just in case they could be used to good effect at a later stage. It is now thought that hoarding can adversely affect your finances. This may sound like a strange statement to make, but a bad financial situation is something we all want to avoid.

Fly tipping: what's the problem in Letchworth?

Illegal dumping is the proper name for fly tipping and it is typically distinguished from littering because of the type and amount of material left and the way in which it is disposed of. Fly tipping has always been a problem in Letchworth and indeed all over Hertfordshire.

The waste consequences of Covid

In an age where we are constantly looking for ways to cut down on our waste, it seems strange that so much extra waste has been created by the covid pandemic. The vast majority of this is made from plastic, so surely it could be recycled, but when one considers what it has been used for, it renders it potentially hazardous waste.

New Bill designed to ban export of plastic waste

When we throw away our waste materials, few of us know or possibly even wonder where this waste will end up. Many often believe that if it goes into the recycling bin, it will be recycled and therefore they will be doing their bit for the good of the environment. Unfortunately, a good deal of plastic waste often ends up in developing countries.

The problems with waste disposal in Letchworth

How many times have we looked at all the waste materials we have accumulated and despaired at the arduous prospect of sorting it into various types of waste to dispose of at the local tip? This once simple task has now become a major headache for many as the restrictions on what we can dispose of in landfill has increased so much in recent times.

Plastic pollution around the globe

Plastic pollution is now one of the biggest environmental concerns we have to face. You may feel that large amounts of plastic waste are unavoidable in the world we live in, but you and your family can help with the plastic pollution issue by being aware of its dangers and taking the necessary steps to reduce your plastic waste.

Carbon emissions and the environment

An awful lot has been said over the years about the damage we are doing to our environment with the carbon emissions and waste we produce. Some dispute the possibility that we are damaging our planet beyond repair, while others state quite clearly that we have very little time to change our ways and that time is running out.

How the five R's can dramatically improve our environment in Letchworth?

We have all heard of recycling our waste materials and for many years, some councils have provided special recycling bins to help residents avoid putting too much waste into landfill. But recycling is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to helping keep our environment healthy in Letchworth.

Recycle or incinerate! What is the best solution for our waste materials in Letchworth?

We are constantly being encouraged to recycle our waste materials and not putting them into landfill. However, there appears to be an emerging trend for incineration of waste in many areas, but is this a good or bad step?

Single use plastic products in Letchworth

Here at Letchworth Skip Hire we always recycle as much of your waste as possible, however, there is always more that can be done to improve the environment that we all need to survive.

A guide to what can and cannot go into a hired skip

At Letchworth Skip Hire we are frequently asked what waste materials can be placed into the hired skips we supply. So we thought it would be a good idea to offer a quick guide as to what is and is not acceptable.

Recycling your waste materials in Letchworth

Recycling is something most of us do now to some degree. Some do it more than others, but we mostly appreciate that it is an important part of our daily lives. It is more important to recycle waste in order to conserve resources and maintain a healthy environment than ever before. The question is, are we really doing everything possible when it comes to recycling our waste materials? The achances are that many of us are probably not doing all we can. So here are a few tips to help you recycle properly.

The problem with plastic pollution in Hertfordshire

Waste reduction in Hertfordshire

The country is now committed to reducing the amount of waste and the government have set targets for waste reduction. A new plan for cutting waste was published back in 2007 that aimed for at least 40 per cent of household waste to be recycled or composted by 2010, this rose to 50 per cent by 2020.

Plastic waste from the United Kingdom may be sent overseas instead of recycled

Massive amounts of packaging waste is being sent overseas to be recycled and turned into new products. However, concerns have been raised that in reality a good deal of it is being dumped in landfill sites in countries that we have no agreement with.

Just how recyclable is the plastic we use in Letchworth Skip Hire

We all know that plastic is recyclable, so as long as we put it in the correct bin it will be made into something else useful. Sadly this is a myth that all too many people believe, the painful truth is quite the opposite. We have all seen the triangular set of chasing arrows logo on plastic products and seem to automatically assume that it denotes that the product is recyclable.

What happens to all the plastic we throw out

Just where would we be without plastic? The production of plastic has exploded over the last fifty or so years, growing from 16.5 million tons in 1964 to 343 million tons in 2014; it is expected to double by 2036. The question is, where does all of this plastic go when people in Hertfordshire throw it away?

Fly tipping: A modern day curse

Fly tipping is simply another term used to describe illegal dumping of all manner of waste material, it is also called fly dumping. Whatever term is used, it is the dumping of waste illegally instead of using an authorised method such as kerbside collection or using an authorised rubbish dump. It is the illegal deposit of any waste onto land, including waste dumped or tipped on a site with no licence to accept waste.

Recycled plastic for roads and pavements

Plastic use in road and pavement construction is not exactly a new concept, but it does appear to be increasing. Using plastic waste to make plastic roads is definitely on the upward trend. Plastic roads mainly use plastic carrier bags, disposable cups and PET bottles that are collected from landfill sites prior to burial and are a vital part of this construction material.

Seaweed sachets offer an alternative to plastic

Indonesia has a wealth of naturally growing seaweed that can make an edible, water permeable film that can be used in sachets that hold tea, coffee, and hot cocoa as well as a whole host of other useful daily consumable products.

The increasing problem of plastics in our oceans

The amount of plastic in the oceans of the world is predicted to treble in the next ten years unless affirmative action is taken to deal with the problem, according to a new report just published.

Plastic pollution in the ocean starts from the rivers

A scary statistic is that more than eight million tons of waste plastic ends up in the ocean every single year. If we continue to pollute our oceans at this rate, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050 and it can take many years to break down if at all, not to mention the toxins it leaches in the process.

Ways to reduce your plastic waste

Plastic is a great product in so many ways, but the environmental impact it can have is enormous, particularly when it comes to the single use plastic products we seem to uses on a daily basis in our throw away society. Can we as private individuals do to cut down our personal plastic usage?

Plastic microbeads are a load of rubbish

Would you like to fill your mouth with plastic, or cover other parts of your anatomy with it on a regular basis? The answer would most likely be a resounding no, but we are already doing just that.

Waste plastic from the UK is polluting the globe

Literally thousands of tons of plastic scrap collected for recycling from British households have been transported and dumped on sites across the world. This shocking revelation was revealed from a recent freedom of information request.

Hiring a skip from Letchworth Skip Hire rather than using the local dump

Have you got a load of rubbish to dump? Is it better to hire a skip or use the local dump? Do you need a permit for having a skip? Can anyone apply for a permit? Here are a few answers which could help you when hiring a skip from Letchworth Skip Hire

Hire a skip from Letchworth Skip Hire for your garden waste

No matter what the season, a medium sized Hertfordshire garden can generate a massive amount of waste materials. The winter will leave a lot of dead leaves and twiggs from nearby trees to clear up, and when the warmer months hit, the waste is generated on a weekly basis as things grow rapidly.

Get a skip and avoid fly tipping in Hertfordshire

Not only does fly tipping blight the Hertfordshire countryside around us, it can have a devastating effect on the wildlife that we co-exist with. Then of course there is the eye watering cost of clearing up the mess that inconsiderate people have created. We all pay the price for this ecologically unsound practice through increased council tax bills from our councils. This could all be avoided if everyone disposed of their waste in the correct manner and hiring a skip is probably the best way to go about this, particularly if you have a large amount of waste to dispose of.

Some facts about waste and recycling from Letchworth Skip Hire

The United Kingdom produces over 100 million tonnes of waste every single year. If you consider that one tonne is about the weight of a small car, it is easy to see how it mounts up. In less than two hours, the waste we produce would fill the Albert Hall.

Hire a skip instead of going to your local Hertfordshire tip

Using a local Hertfordshire tip is not the same as it was a few years ago. These days everything has to go in the correct hopper, it cannot all go in the same one any longer. This means you have to know what goes where in order to segregate all the rubbish at home.

Hire a skip from Letchworth Skip Hire for your soil and mud

A Hertfordshire client recently hired one of our skips as they just could not believe how much earth they had to get rid of when they dug out a pond in their back garden. Our client had intended to build up their flower beds and other low spots of their garden with the excavated earth. They never thought they would need to get rid of any earth at all.

Useful information about skip hire in Hertfordshire

The one question we get asked the most at Letchworth Skip Hire is what size skip the customer will need. We always suggest that you think about what you need to dispose of and remember that two skips can be far more expensive than one larger skip. Skips are measured by the yard and range from 3 yard mini skips to roll-on roll-off containers more suitable for higher volume waste requirements.

Hire a skip from Letchworth Skip Hire to save you time effort and money

Hiring a skip from Letchworth Skip Hire is without a doubt the best way to get rid of all your waste materials! It is convenient, quick, easy and saves you a huge amount of work. Generally speaking, we only get a couple of days a week away from work, and when you end up ferrying your household waste back and forth from the local tip, your weekend soon gets swallowed up.

The benefits of skip hire from Letchworth Skip Hire in Hertfordshire

Having a good clear out of the garden shed or garage produces way more rubbish than you ever imagined possible. Decorating preparation can also produce a good deal of waste, such as old skirting boards and stripped wood chip paper that his been up since the war, so a skip is a great way to dispose of the waste.

Further Information

If you would like to know more or are interested in a quote we would be happy to help. Phone us on 0800 169 8588, email us at info@stevenageskiphire.co.uk or fill in our enquiry form and we will be in touch as soon as possible.