Skip enforcement

Our Street Scene Enforcement Team and Highways Team carry out daily checks on skips within the Richmond Borough.

All skips which are deposited on the public highway must:

• Be licensed - the skip company must have been granted a valid skip licence which they must be in receipt of before any skip is deposited on the highway. Licensing all skips in the Borough ensures that the proposed location for the skip is safe and there is also the need to regulate the number of skips in the road at any one time. Any skip deposited on the highway without a valid skip licence may lead to our Street Scene Enforcement Team issuing warnings or legal proceedings against the skip Company involved as well as the skip being removed by the Council.
• Have reflectors - this is a condition of issue of the skip licence. Any skip deposited on the highway without adequate reflectors may lead to our Street Scene Enforcement Team issuing warnings or legal proceedings as well as the skip being removed by the Council
• Be properly and correctly marked - all skips must be clearly marked with the skip company’s current name and contact telephone number. Any skip deposited on the highway which is not clearly marked and identifiable may lead to our Street Scene Enforcement Team issuing warnings or legal proceedings against the owner of the skip as well as the skip being removed by the Council.
• Not be overfull - skips must not be overloaded and should only contain a level load. Any skip company which does not empty a full skip on request from our Street Scene Enforcement Team may face legal proceedings as well as the skip being removed by the Council.
• Be lit after dark - this is a condition of issue of the skip licence. Skips must be adequately lit to make them clearly visible to pedestrians and drivers and to prevent accidents. Any skip deposited on the highway which is not properly lit after dark may lead to our Street Scene Enforcement Team issuing warnings or legal proceedings against the person responsible for lighting the skip as well as the skip being removed by the Council.

What we will do for you

• If you wish to check whether a skip is licensed, please contact our skip licensing desk by telephone on 020 8487 5115. Our skip desk can also provide details of skip companies which have an account which the Council (Please note that this list does not constitute a recommendation).
• If you have concerns regarding an unlicensed, unlit, or overfull skip please contact our Street Scene Enforcement Team by telephone on 08456 122 660, by email at streetsceneenforcement@richmond.gov.uk or by completing our online reporting form

What we would ask of you

• If you are a skip company, please wait until you are in receipt of a valid skip licence before depositing a skip on the highway. We do not verbally authorise skip licences. Please also ensure your skips are properly marked, lit, and emptied promptly.
• If you are hiring a skip, please use a reputable company and ask the skip company for a receipt and confirmation that they have licensed the skip through the Council. Also check your responsibilities with regard to lighting the skip as this responsibility is often passed to the hirer of the skip by the skip company.  Please do not overfill the skip, contact the person you hired the skip from as the skip becomes near to being full (i.e.a level load) to arrange removal or an exchange.