Skips are used across the world each day in thousands of projects. They are easy ways of dealing with large amounts of waste, which is then taken by a lorry to be recycled or disposed of. The modern skip typically has a very distinct shape, consisting of two trapezoids stacked on top of each other, with the top one usually smaller. The sides of the skip are sloped, and the outside has lugs to allow it to easily be lifted onto a lorry or crane.
But what are the origins of the classic design skip we now see? Read on to find out.
Skeps
The exact origins of the word skip are unknown, but most believe its origins can be traced back to beekeeping. Before modern advancements to the beehives you see today, beekeepers originally used inverted straw or wicker baskets, known as a skep.
Skep came from the Old Norse word ‘skeppa’ which meant basket. The skep style eventually faded and the modern box structure became the norm in beekeeping, but the word skep was not forgotten.
Industrial Revolution
Skep found itself being used by Lancashire workers during the Industrial revolutions, being used to refer to huge wheeled baskets they placed their cotton in. It then became more commonplace in the mining industry, being used as the name of a basket used for measuring coal.
As technology developed, the straw skeps were replaced by larger versions made of steel or wood that could run on rail tracks. Over time skep morphed into skip.
The Modern Skip
By the 1920s, the growing distance between local dumps and households was becoming a problem, so skip-like containers began to be used by lorries to carry waste. The original skips were horse-drawn but eventually evolved to motorised vehicles. This meant more waste could be loaded without the concern of animal welfare.
In 1935, the Dempster brothers invented and patented a piece of equipment that could transport portable containers to construction sites. This invention resembles the way modern skips work, allowing for the container to easily be placed and moved. The word dumpster became popular in America by mixing the Dempster brothers name with the word dump, to create a name for the containers they used.
Cherry Hill Waste
So if you need a reliable modern skip hire company in Stoke on Trent and Newcastle Under Lyme, get in touch with the team at Cherry Hill Waste. We work to provide eco-friendly waste removal to recycle as much of the waste in your skip as possible. We offer a range of skip sizes depending on your project and can help you obtain permits for its placement.
So call now on 01782 624209 to talk to one of our friendly and expert team for advice and to book your skip hire today. If you want to find out more about our services, visit our website now.
