A yellow skip filled with waste on a residential street in Bristol

Skip hire / Bristol

The 5 best skip hire companies in Bristol

Bristol has fewer well-reviewed skip operators than most cities we cover. Many of the best rated local listings are clearance or bin hire services rather than skip firms, so our top 5 includes two operators that serve Bristol from just outside the city.

  • Checked 3 November 2026
  • 10 firms shortlisted
  • No paid placements

Bristol skip hire / at a glance

PosCompanyOur scoreGoogle
1Bateman SkipsKeynsham
7.4
3.7 (357)
2Earthworks UKBristol and South Gloucestershire
7.3
4.7 (110)
3GD EnvironmentalNewport, South Wales (serves Bristol)
7.0
4.7 (82)
4ETM RecyclingBedminster, South Bristol
6.6
3.3 (106)
5McCarthy MarlandBristol
6.4
3.9 (72)

Our score is out of 10. Google ratings and review counts as at 3 November 2026.

Bateman Skips

Keynsham

Our score 7.4 / 103.7 from 357 Google reviews

Why it ranks number 1

Bristol's best-equipped skip firm, with its own 2.5 acre waste transfer station in Keynsham, sizes from 2 to 20 yard plus roll on roll off, and a 95% recycling claim. It has been owned by the RSK Group since 2023.

Skip sizes
2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 20 yard, plus roll on roll off
Recycling
Claims more than 95% of waste is recycled
Extras
Instant online quote, price match, grab hire
Covers
Bristol, Bath, Keynsham, Yate, Clevedon and Avonmouth
Worth knowingReviews are mixed: 3.7 on Google and 3.2 from more than 900 on Trustpilot, with complaints about late collections.
Visit website

Earthworks UK

Bristol and South Gloucestershire

Our score 7.3 / 104.7 from 110 Google reviews

Why it ranks number 2

A family-owned Bristol firm best known for grab hire, which also supplies skips from 2 to 40 yard. It publishes its waste carrier number, Environment Agency permit and operator licence, and scores 4.7 on Google.

Skip sizes
2 to 40 yard
Licences
Waste carrier CBDU372789, permit EPR/JB3007LF, operator licence OH1109684, all published
Covers
Bristol, Bath, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Worth knowingIts Google listing is in Wotton-under-Edge, so check delivery charges to your area.
Visit website

GD Environmental

Newport, South Wales (serves Bristol)

Our score 7.0 / 104.7 from 82 Google reviews

Why it ranks number 3

A long-established South Wales operator with its own transfer and recycling stations in Newport and Pontypool. It serves Bristol with skips from 3 yard to 40 yard roll on roll off and claims 98% of waste is recycled.

Skip sizes
3 yard to 40 yard roll on roll off
Recycling
Claims 98% of collected waste is recycled
Extras
Next day delivery, hazardous waste services
Covers
Bristol, the South West and South Wales
Worth knowingIt is based across the Severn, so it is not a Bristol firm. Ask about delivery charges.
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ETM Recycling

Bedminster, South Bristol

Our score 6.6 / 103.3 from 106 Google reviews

Why it ranks number 4

Owns a materials recovery facility and waste transfer centre in south Bristol and publishes its permit and carrier numbers, with an aim of sending zero waste to landfill.

Licences
Permit EPR/EP3794SH and waste carrier CBDU69359, both published
Extras
Skips, roll on roll off, grab hire, recycled aggregates
Covers
Bristol, Bath and surrounding areas
Worth knowingA weak Google rating (3.3), and a commercial focus.
Visit website

McCarthy Marland

Bristol

Our score 6.4 / 103.9 from 72 Google reviews

Why it ranks number 5

A family-owned Bristol waste firm trading for more than 20 years, with its own sorting and recovery sites and skip, roll on roll off and grab hire services.

Service
Skips, roll on roll off, grab hire and wheelie bins
Covers
Bristol and the South West
Worth knowingA 3.9 Google rating, and we could not read its website.

Website not listed. Search the company name to find contact details.

Skip permits in Bristol

Bristol City Council. £90 per calendar month. A retrospective permit costs £144 per month.

Only the skip owner can apply, online, at least 5 working days before the skip arrives. A parking dispensation is also needed in the city centre and in residents' parking zones. A skip on the road without a permit risks a fine of up to £1,000.

A skip on your own drive or private land does not need a permit. Read the council's skip permit guidance.

Before you book a skip in Bristol

None of our Bristol top 5 publish a full price list online. Bateman offers an instant online quote.

  • Ask for the firm's waste carrier number and check it on the Environment Agency public register.
  • Confirm the price includes VAT, delivery, collection, tipping and the permit.
  • Ask what cannot go in the skip and what extra items such as mattresses or tyres cost.
  • Check the hire period and the charge for keeping the skip longer.
  • Ask for a waste transfer note, which shows where your waste is going.
  • Do not overfill the skip. Waste above the sides can lead to a refused collection or extra charges.

How we ranked / Bristol

We started with every business appearing in Google's local results for skip hire in Bristol, then checked each one's website, Companies House record, published licence and permit numbers, council approved operator lists and review platforms. We removed booking sites and brokers that pass your order to another firm, companies that are dissolved or facing strike off, and firms we could not confirm actually supply skips. We may also leave out any company at our editorial discretion.

Each remaining firm was scored out of 10 using the same weighting in every city:

35%Customer reviewsRating and volume on Google, plus Trustpilot, Checkatrade and others where available
25%Operator and licensingOwn skips, lorries and yard; published waste carrier and site permit numbers
15%RecyclingOwn sorting facility and stated recycling or landfill diversion
15%Service and transparencySize range, wait and load, published prices, clear terms
10%Track recordYears trading, company records and accreditations

Other Bristol firms we assessed

Recycling rates are the companies' own claims. Licence and permit numbers are as published by each company; we have not checked every one against the regulator's register. Think we have missed a firm or got something wrong? Tell us through our contact form.

Skip hire in Bristol / FAQs

Do I need a permit for a skip in Bristol?

Only if the skip goes on a public road or pavement. £90 per calendar month. A retrospective permit costs £144 per month. Only the skip owner can apply, online, at least 5 working days before the skip arrives. A parking dispensation is also needed in the city centre and in residents' parking zones. A skip on the road without a permit risks a fine of up to £1,000.

How much does skip hire cost in Bristol?

None of our Bristol top 5 publish a full price list online. Bateman offers an instant online quote. Prices depend on skip size, the type of waste, how long you keep it and where you are, so always get a written quote.

What cannot go in a skip?

Most firms will not take asbestos, fridges and freezers, TVs and other electricals, gas bottles, batteries, paint and solvents, or tyres. Plasterboard and mattresses are often accepted for an extra charge. Check with the company before you fill the skip.

Who is the best skip hire company in Bristol?

On our research, Bateman Skips ranks first in Bristol, followed by Earthworks UK and GD Environmental. The best choice for you also depends on your location, the skip size you need and whether you want wait and load.

Skip hire in other cities

LondonBirminghamManchesterGlasgowLeedsLiverpoolEdinburghBristolSheffieldCardiffNewcastle

Clearing a whole property? See the best house clearance companies in Bristol, or for a few bulky items, the best junk clearance companies in Bristol.

Every waste service in Bristol

See our number 1 for every type of job, local prices, permits and free council options on one page: the best waste companies in Bristol.

House clearance Junk clearance Office clearance Garage clearance

Useful guides: What Size Skip Do I Need for My Project?, Do I Need a Permit to Put a Skip on the Road?, What Can and Cannot Go in a Skip?.