Inert Waste Skips

An inert waste skip is for heavy building and groundworks waste that won’t rot, burn or react, such as bricks, concrete, rubble and soil. Mick George inert skips come in 6 yard and 8 yard sizes. They suit landscaping, extensions and ground works, where rubble and soil come out together.

Inert waste is material that does not break down, burn or react chemically once disposed of, so it poses a little risk to soil or water. On a building or garden project, that means clean bricks, concrete, stone, tiles, ceramics, soil, clay and sand. Wood, plasterboard and green waste are not inert because they rot or release gases as they breakdown.

You can put bricks, blocks, concrete, paving slabs, stone, ceramic tiles, topsoil, subsoil and clay in a Mick George inert skip, mixed together. Hardcore containing some tarmac is accepted, as long as tarmac makes up less than 10% of the load. Fill the skip level with the top, because heavy waste piled higher cannot be lifted safely.

All three take heavy waste, but each suits a different load. A hardcore skip takes hard rubble only, such as bricks, concrete and slabs, and is the cheapest of the three. A muck skip is for soil and clay only. An inert skip takes both together, which makes it the right choice when a job produces rubble and soil at the same time, such as digging footings or levelling a garden.

Inert waste costs less to dispose of because it qualifies for the lower rate of landfill tax. From April 2026, that rate is £8.65 per tonne, against £130.75 per tonne at the standard rate that applies to general waste. Much inert waste is also recycled or reused.

Anything that isn’t inert contaminates the load. Common examples are:

• Wood, plastic, metal, plasterboard and general rubbish
• Roots and green waste
• Hardcore with more than 10% tarmac
• Soil affected by oil, fuel or chemicals
• Soil containing Japanese knotweed

A contaminated skip has to be processed as mixed waste, which usually means an extra charge. Asbestos must never go in a standard skip, it needs a dedicated asbestos skip.

Yes. clean natural soil, including topsoil, subsoil and clay, is classed as inert. It stops being inert if it contains oil, fuel, chemicals or building waste such as plasterboard, and soil from land with a history of industrial use may not qualify. If you’re unsure, Mick George offers rapid hazardous testing to check the soil before disposal.

Yes, wherever possible. Inert waste is taken to a Mick George facility and separated. It stops being inert if it contains oil, fuel, chemicals or building waste such as plasterboard, and soil from land with a history of industrial use may not qualify. If you’re unsure, Mick George offers rapid hazardous testing to check the soil before disposal.