This is a collaborative post in partnership with HIPPOBAG
With spring on the horizon, many of us are starting to think about tidying up our outdoor spaces, ready for warmer days and more time spent outside. After months of being indoors, you might also be keen to have a good old clearout inside your home too!
Number one on our list for a pre-spring purge was the shed and garden. We don’t have a garage, and the shed can quickly become a messy dumping ground. Add to that the need for a spring tidy up in the garden, and we were looking at quite a lot of waste that we needed to dispose of.
To tackle the results of our tidying, we tried out the HIPPOBAG waste collection service.
How does a HIPPOBAG work?
A HIPPOBAG works in the same way as a conventional skip. You fill it up, book a collection, and HIPPO take it away.
You can order your HIPPOBAG online direct from HIPPO (we did this), or buy it from a DIY store. There are three sizes to choose from, and the bags are supplied flat-packed.
We used the Megabag, which is the middle option. It measures 180cm x 90cm x 70cm, and holds up to 1.5 tonnes or 1.5 cubic metres of waste. The Megabag costs £174.99 for the bag and collection.
When you’re ready to use your bag, you simply open it out, and place it where it’s going to be collected from.
It’s important to check the restrictions on where to place your bag, and what can and can’t be put in it (the list of items you can’t put in is pretty small). This is detailed on the packaging, and you can also find it in the HIPPO website FAQ’s.
HIPPO are happy to collect heavy waste such as soil, bricks and rubble, which isn’t always a given with waste disposal companies.
Tips for filling a HIPPOBAG
It was tempting to put things into the bag in random order, but this doesn’t make the best use of the space available. We put the heaviest items at the bottom, and tried to fill it evenly. It also helps if you fold the sides of the bag down before you start, and unfold them gradually as it fills up.
We filled our bag with general household and garden waste. You can fill your HIPPOBAG to the brim, and we pretty much got there!
Arranging a collection
You have up to six months to book your HIPPOBAG collection, so there’s no time pressure – unlike a skip, which is usually booked for around a week and costs more if you need it for longer.
Once we’d finished filling our bag, all we had to do was make a quick phone call to book our collection. You can also book your collection online if that’s more convenient.
HIPPO aim to collect within five working days. We booked our collection on a Friday, and the bag was picked up early on Monday morning. The collection process was completely contactless, a feature which is particularly welcome right now.
What happens to the waste in your bag?
I was keen to understand whether our waste would be recycled once it had been collected. All waste is taken to a Waste Transfer Station licensed by the Environment Agency and audited by HIPPO, where it is sorted and separated. It’s good to know that on average over 95% of the waste is recycled – and the bag itself is recycled too.
Benefits of using the HIPPOBAG waste collection service
Here’s a quick list of the key advantages to using a HIPPOBAG, in my opinion.
- The three different size options give you plenty of flexibility
- You control when the bag is opened out and put into place – no need to wait for a skip delivery
- You can position a HIPPOBAG in a spot where a normal skip couldn’t be placed
- A wide range of materials can be disposed of, including heavy waste
- The cost is comparable to skip hire – and much cheaper if you need to take your time
- Up to six months to book your collection
- Quick and easy to arrange collection
- Contactless service: the bag arrives in the post, and you don’t have to interact with the collection
- Over 95% of waste is recycled on average
Our verdict on the HIPPOBAG waste collection service
We had a really positive experience with the HIPPOBAG waste collection service. It was straightforward and efficient, and I love the fact that the whole process was contactless.
Using a HIPPOBAG was much more convenient than the alternative options of hiring a traditional skip, or making numerous trips to our local waste disposal site. Whether you’re tackling a renovation project or just having a clearout, I think a HIPPOBAG is a great waste disposal solution.
You can find out more about HIPPOBAGS and order a bag or collection here.
HIPPO provided the MegaBag and collection service for review purposes. All comments and opinions are honest and based on my experience of using the product.
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