Haydn Morgans

How to get a Skip Permit in Kent

Haydn Morgans · Oct 30, 2019 ·

Do I need a permit to book a skip?

Yes, if you need to place your skip on a highway or road. But, don’t worry it is down to the ‘owner’ of the skip to apply for the permit from the local council. If you’re hiring a skip you will need to liaise with your skip company to get them to apply for a skip permit. It is recommended you also discuss with your skip supplier 5 days prior to needing the skip.

Getting a Skip Permit in Kent

If you’re looking to book a skip for a residential job and you think you’ll have to place the skip on a highway in Kent, then it’s necessary that a skip permit is obtained from your local authority. If you do not have a skip permit then expect to receive a fine of up to £80 for inspection and permit fees.

If you own the skip you wish to place and you are not hiring from a company, then follow the link to Kent County Council’s E-Skip Online Application.

But, don’t worry as stated this is a job for the skip provider to carry out. If you’re looking to book a skip from us at RML then don’t fret we will carry out all the necessary paperwork to get your skip placed where you need it. Simply call us on 01795 227 576 , email us at rmlkent@outlook.com or submit a form here.

Please be aware though the approval can sometimes take up a period of 3 days to receive the permit, so it is essential that you contact us before you wish your skip to be delivered so we can begin the necessary arrangements.

Please note that it is necessary for KCC Highways, Transportation and Waste to receive an application for a skip permit, 5 working days prior to the intended placing of a skip on the highway. It is expected that a 3 day notice for any renewal is given.

-Taken from the Skip Licence Pack

If however you are unsure whether you can fit the right skip on your drive, private property or need to place it on a driveway then please don’t hesitate to get in touch, where our experienced office team can advise and help you with figuring out the best course of action for your waste removal needs. Simply call us on 01795 227 576, email us at rmlkent@outlook.com or submit a form here.

Regardless, before you think about ordering a skip to be placed on a highway, Kent County Council outlines a few conditions in their Skip Licence Pack. Below are a few conditions that are pertinent to the receiver of the skip.

Each skip shall be positioned so that it does not impede the surface water drainage of the highway or obstruct access to any manhole or the apparatus of any Statutory Undertaker or the Council.
Where more than one skip is on the highway at any one time, the skips shall be positioned as closely as possible to each other. No skip should obstruct the access to any premises unless the consent of the occupier of these premises has been obtained.
No skip, when placed on the highway, shall contain any explosive, noxious or any other dangerous material which is likely to putrefy or which otherwise is, or is likely to become a nuisance to users of the highway. All material placed in a skip shall be correctly disposed of.
During use, the contents of the skip shall be kept ‘damped-down’ to prevent nuisance from dust, and spillage on the highway shall be immediately removed.
No skip shall partly or wholly obstruct a footway without the express permission of KCC Highways, Transportation and Waste, and is conditional upon the provision of a 1.5 metre wide pedestrian walkway. This walkway is to be cordoned off in accordance with the Department of Transport ‘Traffic Sign Manual’ Chapter 8.
A skip shall be removed as soon as practicably possible once it has finished being used by the customer, and should not remain on the highway after its permit has expired.
Any location given on the permit application shall be unambiguous and will include property numbers where possible, rather than proper names of private properties or businesses.
Should a skip be in a position on the public highway where payment is necessary for parking (for example in a Pay and Display Zone), it is the responsibility of the owner of the skip to place any necessary monies with the relevant authorities, prior to placement of the skip on the highway.
No Skip shall be placed in, on or along any part of a bus stop, bus route and or bus clearway. KCC Highways, Transportation and Waste should be contacted if this is unavoidable prior to your application being submitted.

As stated before, if you wish to discuss any of the information above plus any other queries you may have about booking a skip or waste disposal. All queries can be handled by our experienced office staff who will be able to answer all your queries. Simply call us on 01795 227 576, email us at rmlkent@outlook.com or submit a form here.

What is a Waste Metal bin & why do I need one?

Haydn Morgans · Sep 17, 2019 ·

Every industry produces waste. In 2012, commercial, construction & industrial waste accounted for almost 75% of the 200 million tonnes of waste generated in the UK & scrap metal is a large part of that. It is now widely known that waste, if not disposed of or recycled efficiently, has a negative effect on the environment and costs organisations money….and this is where your Waste Metal Bin comes in.

The methods of managing & controlling waste in order of preference, as set out in a European Union Directive in 2008 are:

Prevention

Ideally, prevention is, of course the best method of managing waste. Prevention involves using less material, keeping products for longer, reusing materials and using materials that are less hazardous to the environment.

Preparation for Reuse

Preparation for reuse involves checking, cleaning and repairing objects so that they avoid becoming waste.

Recycling

Recycling is what can be done with your waste once it has been produced. Recycling will turn it in a new product which is, by far, the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of your waste materials.

If your organisation produces any amounts of waste metal, then Waste Metal Bins are the ideal solution. Place one in the corner of your workspace and throw in your scrap metal chips, electrical components etc. until it’s full. Then call your supplier who, not only collects it, but weighs and pays you for your scrap metal! Environmentally friendly and cost efficient.

Disposal

Disposal is the least preferred option because the waste will end up at landfill or be incinerated without any energy being recovered.

As part of your organisation’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/what-corporate-social-responsibility

and under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, organisations have a duty to ensure that their waste is safely disposed of in a way that adheres to the law.

Reducing your environmental impact through different CSR initiatives, such as waste and resource management, can also greatly benefit your business.

Reclaim Car Tax – how to cancel road tax and claim your refund

Haydn Morgans · Aug 22, 2019 ·

Don’t forget you can reclaim your car tax after your vehicle is scrapped! After all, you pay tax and insurance to keep your vehicle on the road so it would be silly to keep paying it when your vehicle no longer exists. If you have sent your vehicle to be scrapped and you’ve pre-paid your tax, then you can reclaim your tax! You will be entitled to a refund of any funds still held by the DVLA….and let’s face it, everybody loves a refund!

The good news is, it’s actually pretty easy to do. Easy, I hear you say?….to get money back? Well, yes, it is. As long as you have followed procedure and scrapped your vehicle with a reputable company, it’s a piece of cake.

When you scrap your vehicle with a reputable dealer, you will get a Certificate of Destruction. This is a legal document to demonstrate that all legal procedures have been followed by both you and the scrap metal dealer. When you find a company to scrap your vehicle, make sure you ask about the CoD up-front.

When you are given your CoD, the DVLA are automatically notified and you will be refunded any tax that you are entitled to. Simple. If you are paying your tax by Direct Debit, they will cancel them. As a side note, it’s probably best not to stop Direct Debit payments before DVLA have officially recognised your vehicle as being scrapped, it could be more hassle than it’s worth.

Refunds are only applied to FULL months of tax remaining. You will not receive a refund for any outstanding days or weeks. That’s why it is important that DVLA are notified straight away to avoid missing out on any cash.

NEVER scrap your vehicle without receiving a CoD. If you have scrapped your vehicle and not yet received a CoD….make sure you are chasing it! It is legal proof that your vehicle has been destroyed and not sold. Without a CoD, your vehicle could still be registered to you and you could still be liable for any accidents or traffic fines etc.

How to save money running your car

Haydn Morgans · Jul 19, 2019 ·

Maintaining a car can be a costly exercise – but there are way that you can cut your driving bill for the year. Find out how in this blog.

We have sourced 5 of the best money-saving tips from MoneySaving Expert to help you reduce your bills:

1. Don’t assume third party cover is cheapest

The minimum level of cover to legally drive on the road is known as ‘third party’ insurance – a specific type of insurance that covers you for any damage to another vehicle (or property). It also protects passengers in your car and the public, but doesn’t give fire or theft cover.

It used to be the cheapest type of cover, but bizarrely, fully comprehensive policies can be cheaper for some. This is because selecting fully comp may mean you’re considered a lower risk profile.

Always make sure you get quotes for third party and fully comprehensive. Remember with third party, you and your car aren’t covered for loss or damage.

To get max quotes at speed, check comparison sites and that the policy’s right and see if cashback’s available. Always check your policy, so you know exactly what you are and aren’t covered for in the event of a claim.

2. Use hidden MOT centres for fewer fails

Regular MOTs are a must for any vehicle. Yet as their maximum cost is fixed at £54.85 for cars, it’s not the test fee but repairing the fails which often makes the biggest dent.

If you’ve had problems with dealerships in the past, council-run MOT centres generally don’t do repairs, so they’ve no vested interest to fail you.

3. Don’t buy premium fuels for standard cars

Many petrol stations sell ‘high performance’ fuels, yet there’s little or no performance difference for most standard cars. So for an easy saving, don’t fill up with the super fuels unless you’ve a sports car that you’ve been advised will actually use the petrol correctly.

The AA says that for most, high performance fuels are too pricey for regular use. But if you’re keen, it suggests using three tankfuls in a row to keep the engine clean and efficient, then reverting to normal fuel, as the engine may benefit from the fancy fuel’s extra detergents.

It also says using good quality engine oil helps to make your car’s engine last longer and can give better fuel consumption, so it’s worth using the recommended type of engine oil for your car if you can.

4. Time your MOT right

Your car needs an MOT when it’s three years old (four years in NI), then once a year after. Yet timing is crucial.

Get a test in the month before the current certificate ends and the new one will expire exactly a year from the original’s end date (the earliest date you can do this is printed on your test certificate).

But get it tested more than a month before the MOT’s due and it’ll expire exactly a year later, meaning you lose out.

5. Learn DIY car maintenance

Why pay for basic repairs and car maintenance when you could do them yourself? The time and effort spent learning how to fix and look after your car could also prevent more serious problems happening down the line, saving you even more dosh.

Of course, if you’re ever in doubt then seek professional advice, but if you’re keen to learn for yourself then check with your local council, as well as nearby colleges, to see if they are running any cheap car maintenance courses.

Your car health calendar

Haydn Morgans · Jul 19, 2019 ·

Making sure that your car health is as robust as it can be should be a priority for every driver. And at Recycle Motors, we want to make sure you have the best driving experience possible.

Use our checklist below, and make sure you get the most from your vehicle:

CAR HEALTH – WEEKLY

Check the condition of your tyres

Study the tyre’s sidewalls. This is the area visible on the side of the tyres. If there is any damage to the tyre beyond light scratching (such as cracking), ask a garage to inspect it.

Check the tread depth along the area of the tyre that comes into contact with the road.

Check your tyre pressures

Do this when the tyres are cold and the car is on a level surface.

The correct pressures will be in the manufacturer’s handbook or, sometimes, printed on a sticker
inside the fuel filler flap.

If the pressures are low, pump the tyre to the correct level using a foot pump or compressor. If they
are too high, gently let the air out by depressing the little brass nib inside the valve.

CAR HEALTH – FORTNIGHTLY

Check your oil

Switch off the engine and leave the car to cool for at least 10 minutes.

Locate the dipstick, remove it and wipe it clean to get rid of any unwanted oil deposits. Put it back in
the engine, wait for a moment or two, then remove it again and check the level.

The correct level will be shown by two marks on the dipstick. A satisfactory level of oil will be
somewhere between the two marks, but ideally closer to the maximum mark.

If you need to top up the oil, you must locate the oil filler cap, which is separate from the dipstick.

CAR HEALTH – MONTHLY

Check your brake fluid

First, find the brake fluid reservoir – your handbook will tell you where it is (usually on the engine
bulkhead, to one side of the engine).

Identify how the brake fluid level is measured – either by a mark on the reservoir indicating the level it
should be filled to, or by a dipstick under the lid.

If the fluid is slightly below the minimum level, top it up by pouring brake fluid in up to the indicated
level.

If you discover that the fluid level is significantly below the indicated level, do not attempt to drive the
car under any circumstances. Call for breakdown recovery.

Check coolant levels

Find the plastic radiator expansion tank – this is where you’ll top up your coolant. When the car is
cold, locate the mark on the plastic tank that shows the minimum coolant level.

If it needs topping up, slowly remove the cap (remember, only ever do this when the car is cold) and
fill the tank to the required level with water and the correct concentration of anti-freeze for the time
of year.

Don’t forget to add anti-freeze, as this stops the water expanding in very cold conditions and
potentially cracking your engine block.

If your car requires regular top-ups, it almost certainly means there is a leak somewhere. You’ll need
to take your car to a garage to get this fixed.

Check your washer fluid levels and windscreen wipers

Locate the water container for the washer jets.

There is no need to be precise with fluid levels here – just fill the tank with the correct concentration
of water and screen wash (the label on the bottle will tell you what concentration to use).

If your wipers smear the screen, try wiping them with a cloth doused in a mixture of vinegar and
water.

If the wipers still smear the screen, buy new wiper blades.

Check your lights

There are a few things you need to do to ensure your lights are operating correctly. The obvious one
is to make sure they are clean, but there’s more.

For example, check that none of the bulbs have blown – switch the ignition on and look at all the lamps.
With your headlights turned on, check the sidelights, dipped beam and full beam. Get someone to help
you check your brake lights.

Also, ensure there are no cracks in the lenses, or that there’s no water inside.

Source:What Car