Frequently Asked Questions

Made from 100% recyclable, ultra-strong and durable woven polypropylene. HIPPOBAGs are a convenient and cost-effective alternative to a skip for disposal of heavy and bulky waste - sturdier than your average skip bag!

You can order HIPPOBAGs direct from HIPPO online at any time and we deliver to homes the next working day. Our bags are also available through thousands of DIY stores across England, Wales and Scotland. Please investigate your local DIY store online to fully understand HIPPOBAG availability through their own online facilities and services such as ‘Click and Collect’.

Choose a super strong HIPPOBAG from our range, put it in a convenient spot (if in doubt where – just ask!), fill it with rubbish, even the heavy stuff, give us a call and we’ll take it away in minutes. That’s, kind of it, really.

• BUY IT: Order online now and we can deliver to your home on the next working day or you can pop to one of thousands of DIY stores around Britain: the choice is yours. Buy online and get your pre-paid collection code at the same time.
• FILL IT: Take your time, our HIPPOBAGs are flat-packed for easy storage, ready to fill, whenever you want. Don’t forget that, unlike some other waste companies, we’re happy to take your heavy waste: soil, rubble and bricks are no problem!
• BOOK IT: When you’re ready for us to take it away, book a collection either using your pre-paid collection code or if you don’t have one, you can buy your collection online. Or, just give our friendly team a call.
• WE COLLECT: We’ll be as quick as we can! Over 90% of bags are collected in the first 3 days after booking, thanks to our brilliant team of HIPPO drivers.

HIPPOBAGs are intended for the disposal of ordinary household, garden and builder’s waste.

We can also recycle your uncontaminated plasterboard if it's kept clean and segregated from other waste.

Please don’t use it to dispose of hazardous or specialist wastes like contaminated plasterboard (or gypsum material), asbestos, batteries, electrical goods, liquids, chemicals, or food waste.

For a list of the most common items we accept please refer to our Accepted Waste Guide.

Yes, you can put soil in a HIPPOBAG. Our MIDIBAG (small - 1 yard skip bag) and MEGABAG (medium – 1.5 yard skip bag) can actually be level filled with heavy waste weighing up to 1 or 1.5 tonnes respectively. The HIPPOSKIP (Large - 4.5 yards skip bag) can take 25% heavy waste, up to the heavy fill line, such as soil and be topped up with bulky light waste.

You can learn more about how to get rid of soil on our blog or check out our heavy waste page to find out exactly why a HIPPOBAG could be the perfect solution for you.

For a list of the most common items we accept please refer to our Accepted Waste Guide.

You can put plasterboard in a HIPPOBAG for recycling as long as it is kept clean and segregated (bagged or wrapped) from other waste - this is important because when plasterboard/gypsum is mixed with other waste it degrades into powder that is difficult to separate back out in the waste recovery process. Bags containing plasterboard mixed with other waste cannot be collected.

Learn more about plasterboard disposal and the law surrounding it on our plasterboard blog.

For a list of the most common items we accept please refer to our Accepted Waste Guide.

No, liquid waste (such as paint & oil) is classified as hazardous and cannot be placed in a HIPPOBAG for collection. Visit our blog for more information on how to dispose of paint responsibly.

For a list of the most common items we accept please refer to our Accepted Waste Guide.

Yes, you can put glass in a HIPPOBAG but shards need to be wrapped in order to avoid piercing the HIPPOBAG or endangering those who collect and sort the waste.

For a list of the most common items we accept please refer to our Accepted Waste Guide.

Additional charges apply for mattress collection from HIPPO. If you want to use a HIPPOBAG to get rid of your mattress, make sure your mattress fully fits within the bag – we’ve a range of sizes that will help with any sized mattress.

For a list of the most common items we accept please refer to our Accepted Waste Guide.

No, we are unable to take food waste in our HIPPOBAGs as it’s not accepted by the waste transfer stations we tip at. It would also be likely to contaminate other materials we recycle (such as cardboard).

Check for the best way to dispose of your food waste with your local authority online.

For a list of the most common items we accept please refer to our Accepted Waste Guide.

Yes, if your old clothes are no longer useable or suitable to be passed onto someone else you can put them in a HIPPOBAG.

It’s worth remembering that clothes and textiles in good condition can be donated or sold for re-use. For more information on ways to recycle your old clothes visit Recycle Now’s ‘Clothing & Textiles’ recycling page.

For a list of the most common items we accept please refer to our Accepted Waste Guide.

Yes, if your old carpet is no longer usable and needs to be disposed of, you can put it in a HIPPOBAG. Please do remember that there is demand for carpets that are in good condition and could be sold, or donated to a charity.

Read our blog to learn more about how to dispose of your carpet and underlay.

For a list of the most common items we accept please refer to our Accepted Waste Guide.

Yes, you can dispose of a washing machine or tumble dryer in a HIPPOBAG. If your old washing machine or tumble dryer is in working order however, many charity shops or furniture re-use organisations accept donations of white goods and even provide collection services.

For a list of the most common items we accept please refer to our Accepted Waste Guide.

• MIDIBAG
  • Bag only: £15.99
  • Collection only: £184.99
  • Bag & Collection: £199.99
• MEGABAG
  • Bag only: £19.99
  • Collection only: £210.99
  • Bag & Collection: £229.99
• HIPPOSKIP
  • Bag only: £39.99
  • Collection only: £275.99
  • Bag & Collection: £314.99

When you start filling your HIPPOBAG, you might find it draws some attention. However, if someone does offer to collect your bag then do beware of any price that seems too good to be true - it probably is!

There’s a chance your waste could be removed by a rogue trader who pockets your hard earned cash before simply fly-tipping your waste. Not only is this illegal and not very kind to our environment, if the waste is traced back to you, you could face a hefty fine.

You can help avoid this situation by asking for details of their waste carrier’s registration. HIPPO is registered as a waste carrier, we offer collections across the country and pride ourselves on delivering an excellent service – our prices reflect this. However we still remain one of the most cost-effective methods of waste disposal.

All the waste removed in a HIPPOBAG is taken to a Waste Transfer Station that has been licensed by the Environment Agency and audited by us personally. Here it is sorted and separated with as much material as possible (on average over 95%) going on to have a second life.

If the waste really can’t be reused or recycled then unfortunately, it ends up being taken to landfill. HIPPO actively support all initiatives that aim to divert waste from landfill and endeavours to pass on any tips or advice to customers about boosting recycling whenever they can.

Learn more about the journey of your waste here.

Saving space and flexibility of delivery & collection are some key features of the HIPPOBAG. To help you decide we have created a guide outlining the differences between a HIPPOBAG and a skip.

HIPPOBAGs are available in 3 sizes.

• MIDIBAGs can hold up to 1 tonne of waste and can be filled to the brim with heavy waste such as rubble, soil and bricks. Although it’s our smallest skip bag, the MIDIBAG is deceptively large.
  
  Weight allowance: 1000kg
  Size:  (L)90cm x (W)90cm x (H)90cm

• MEGABAGs can hold up to 1.5 tonnes of waste and are ideal for heavy waste such as tiles, bricks and rubble and can contain an entire bathroom rip-out, yes, even including the bath.
  
  Weight allowance: 1,500kg
  Size: (L)180cm x (W)90cm x (H)70cm

• HIPPOSKIPs can hold up to 1.5 tonnes of waste and is ideal for larger, lighter waste items such as wood, bathroom suites, units, carpets or segregated plasterboard.
  
  If you are filling the HIPPOSKIP with heavy items such as hard core, rubble or soil it should only be filled one quarter full, lighter waste items can then be put on top. Failure to adhere to the filling instructions may mean we are unable to collect the bag.
  
  Weight allowance: 1,500kg
  Size: (L)210cm x (W)165cm x (H)100cm

Filling a HIPPOBAG is easy – simply cuff it for stability then fill evenly, being careful not to overfill which could affect your collection.

1. Unfold and open out the HIPPOBAG and position within 4m of the road
2. Fold the sides of the bag out and down, like a cuff, to create rigid sides
3. Fill the bag, placing heavy materials at the bottom of the bag, with lighter waste on top
4. Bring the sides of the bag up as you fill, ensuring that the lifting straps remain clear

• In order to ensure a successful HIPPOBAG collection, the bag must be positioned within 4m of the road for our cranes to be able to reach it and the road needs to be at least 4m wide for our collection lorry to gain access
• Remember we have to lift the bag; so don’t place it near trees, cars or beneath overhead wires that might obstruct the crane. We can lift HIPPOBAGs over walls/fences up to 6ft tall
• We can't drive onto block paving as our vehicles could cause damage
• Our driver will need to reach the bag handles to hook the crane on, so positioning the bag behind locked gates can pose a problem
• If you need to place your HIPPOBAG on a public highway, pavement or verge you may need to obtain permission from your local authority

If you have any questions regarding access to your site or property then please contact us on 0333 999 0 999 before the bag is filled and we’ll do our best to help.

If you plan to place your HIPPOBAG on a public highway (including pavements) or road, you will more than likely need to apply for a skip permit from your local council.

You will not need a skip permit if you plan to keep your HIPPOBAG entirely on private property.

Click here to check if you’d need to apply for a skip permit.

We'll collect from anywhere on the UK mainland, apart from some very remote postcode areas which our vehicles have difficulty reaching. If you want to check your area, just give us a call on 0333 999 0 999. Other than that, as long as we can access your HIPPOBAG, we’ll collect it. Just make sure you let us know about any parking or loading restrictions that might affect collection such as red routes, pedestrain crossing, etc.

We ship our HIPPOBAGs next working day as standard (UK Mainland) via our carefully selected third party couriers. If you place your order with HIPPO before midday on Monday to Thursday you should receive your HIPPOBAG the very next day. Orders placed before midday on Friday will be delivered Monday; orders placed after midday on Friday will be delivered Tuesday. There is no courier service available for weekend or Bank Holiday deliveries.

We use a variety of different couriers depending on the delivery destination and although they strive to meet exacting delivery schedules, incidents do sometimes occur causing a delay so it can occasionally take longer.

When your HIPPOBAG is filled and you’re ready for us to take it away, book a collection either using your pre-paid collection code or if you don’t have one, you can buy your collection online. Or, just give our friendly team a call on 0333 999 0 999.

• Please be ready to tell us your address, the location of the bag on your site or property and the type of waste in the HIPPOBAG
• Please inform our Contact Centre if there are likely to be any restrictions that could affect the collection, such as congestion charging, red routes or parking limitations, as these may incur a surcharge

Our prepaid bag and collection service is valid for 6 months from the date of purchase. The price paid at the time of purchase is valid throughout this timeframe. If you wish to arrange a collection after this time you may incur a surcharge. We may send you a reminder from time to time if you haven’t booked your HIPPOBAG collection.

For full terms and conditions of bag purchase and use, please click here.

HIPPOBAGs are porous and not waterproof or watertight as they are made from a woven material (100% recyclable polypropylene).

No, due to the stress a bag is subjected to, we cannot guarantee its credibility for more than one use. HIPPOBAGs are a single trip skip bag so we’ll take it away and recycle it along with the rest of your waste.

We hope you won’t change your mind but if you do and you bought the bag directly from us, you have up to 28 days to request a refund.

All you need to do is to call our Customer Services Team on 0333 999 0 999 and return your unused HIPPOBAG in its original packaging to the following address:

HIPPO, 1000 Lakeside, North Harbour, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO6 3EN

Once received, we will cancel your order and issue a refund (excluding the postage and packaging charge).

In accordance with the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000, you cannot cancel your order once the collection service part of the package has started. Therefore, it may not be possible to cancel a collection request after the end of the working day on which you booked the collection. However, it may be possible to reschedule the collection in certain circumstances; this is at the discretion of the company.

If you bought the bag from one of our stockists then you may be able to return it to them, but it will be under their terms and conditions and your statutory rights.

HIPPO’s Man and Van service, also known as ‘Here to Clear’, is committed to helping you with bulky waste collection. Designed to take the heavy lifting off your hands by providing labour as well as an alternative to waste removal, our friendly and experienced team will come to you at a convenient time, clear your waste and dispose of it responsibly.

With HIPPO’s Man and Van (Here To Clear) service we will help to book a time slot that best suits you. Just use the website to get a quote or call the team on 0333 999 0 999.

Yes, the nominated contact needs to be present during a Man and Van collection to confirm you are happy with HIPPO’s estimate.

If you’re unsure about whether our team can get your rubbish from where it is, send us some pictures or a short video from your smartphone at htc@hippowaste.co.uk so we can get a better idea and confirm.

Heavy waste can be defined as materials such as soil, bricks, paving slabs, and tiles while light waste refers to general household junk.

There are no hidden surprises at HIPPO, there are additional charges for supplementary items such as tyres and refrigerators but these are clearly marked in the pricing structure and will be fully communicated when our drivers arrive on site. If we have to move rubbish down the street or a distance from where the rubbish is located it’s possible a reasonable labour charge will be applied.

If you’re keeping your skip on a public road or pavement a skip permit is required. When you hire a skip from HIPPO, you’re able to purchase the skip permit at the point of purchase and HIPPO will liaise with your local council to obtain it. If you’re keeping your skip on your drive or private property, you will not need a permit.

Unfortunately, there is not a standard length for a permit. Each local authority or council will offer different durations of how long the permit lasts. On hiring your skip from HIPPO you will be able to determine how long this is for your postcode region. If you would like to extend the length of your permit please call HIPPO on 0333 999 0 999 and we can discuss your requirements.

Subject to availability, the delivery of the skip will take at least 2 working days from when you order. You can request morning or afternoon slot for your skip to be delivered.

You can use your skip for ordinary household, garden, DIY and builders’ waste. For mattresses and plasterboard, please check with HIPPO.

Please note that we cannot accept aerosols, asbestos, batteries, chemicals, clinical waste, compressed cannisters, food waste, fridge/freezers, gas bottles, general house waste (black bin bags), hazardous materials, liquids, toxic waste, WEEE electrical items and wet paint tins.

For a list of the most common items we accept please refer to our Accepted Waste Guide.

Fill your skip in a way that your rubbish does not rise above the walls. This is especially important if you have lots of heavy waste to get rid of like bricks and rubble.

Small Skip (approx. 6 yards)

Ideal for…

• Heavy builder’s waste such as hardcore and soil
• Dispose of rubbish from house clearances
• Large kitchen or bathroom rip-outs

Medium Skip (approx. 8 yards)

Ideal for…

• Clearing up larger domestic projects
• Bulky, awkward and heavy DIY or garden waste

Large Skip (approx. 12 yards)

Ideal for…

• Large scale renovation or construction projects
• Large quantities of bulky domestic waste

The skip vehicle requires 10ft access on the road to deliver and collect your skip.

Your collection date is a ‘ready from’ date and although your skip is likely to be collected on this date, there is a possibility it could be picked up within a few days of this date. If the skip is not ready or accessible on the date you have requested an additional fee will be applied for a failed attempt.

Please note that during peak periods the collection times may take longer than usual.

For skips with a local authority permit, the skip will be collected on the day your permit runs out unless you have arranged for an earlier collection. If you would like to extend your permit, call our customer services team on 0333 999 0 999 or email skip@hippowaste.co.uk

It all depends on your own circumstances whether a HIPPOBAG or a metal skip hired from HIPPO is right for you. Often they’re doing the very same job. As a general rule of thumb, if you have over 6-yards of waste a metal skip is probably better – but not always. Remember you can always buy multiple HIPPOBAGs and just use them when you need them – for up to 6 months.

View our handy video to help choose which is the right solution for you.

A cubic yard of waste is roughly the size of a standard builder's bag.

A tonne of waste is roughly the equivalent of 500 standard bricks, 20 wheelbarrowfuls of rubble or 40 suitcases that you would put into the hold on an aeroplane. It's also the weight of a Fiat 500!

Yes, all of our prices are inclusive of VAT.

1. Review HIPPO’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
2. On hippowaste.co.uk, click Login / Register at the top right.
3. Click Create an Account.
4. Fill out the form and click Create account.

To sign in to your HIPPO account:

1. On hippowaste.co.uk, click Login / Register at the top right.
2. Enter the email address and password you use for your HIPPO account.
3. Click the Login butoon

To sign out of your HIPPO account:

On hippowaste.co.uk, click Logout at the top right.

If you are having trouble signing in to your account, you can reset your password here:

Reset your password

1. Login to your account.
2. Click Account Details from the menu on the left.
3. This section allows you to update your name, email, phone number, delivery address or password.
4. Once you are happy with the new changes, click Update Account Details.

Before using any promo code, please make sure that you have read the relevant Terms and Conditions.

How to apply a promo code to HIPPOBAG & Collection packages

1. Select the HIPPOBAG & Collection package you want to purchase and Add to basket.
2. Under Order summary section in the Basket, click Got a promo code?
3. A drop down field will appear which will enable you to type the promo code.
4. Once you click Apply the discount will be added automatically to your order summary and you can continue to checkout. 

How to apply a promo code to HIPPOBAG collections?

1. Select the Bag collection you want to purchase and Add to basket.
2. Under Order summary section on hippowaste.co.uk/basket/, click Got a promo code?
3. A drop down field will appear which will enable you to type the promo code.
4. Once you click Apply the discount will be added automatically to your order summary and you can continue to checkout.

How to redeem a discount via phone?

Simply let our friendly Contact Centre Team know the specific code you’d like to use and they will apply the discount to your purchase then and there.