Responsible ways to dispose of your old fence
Whether you’re looking for a stylish upgrade for your garden revamp or your current timber fencing has simply seen better days, you first need to take the panels out of their post before you can decide how to dispose of them. When it comes to actually getting rid of them, there are a few different options you could go with.
Take them to your local recycling centre
The first and probably most popular way to get rid of old timber fencing is to take it to your local skip or recycling centre. Many of these places have a designated area specifically for timber products and will happily take your old fence panels off your hands. Just be sure you remove any additional materials like plastic caps, nails, or hooks that may be left over in your fence before you do so. This may require you to chop the panels up so you can safely transport them without obstructing the view out of your rear window. If your fence panels cannot be disposed of here, the staff will point you in the right direction.
Hire a private skip
If you’ve got a collection of old panels, it may be worth investing in private skip hire, plus this gives you a good opportunity to get rid of any other larger items you may have around the house or garden that you no longer need – two birds one stone. The skip hire company will be able to dispose of these properly for you when they come to collect the skip from your home.
Contact your local council
Most local councils offer a bulky items collection service that you can also take advantage of if you don’t live near a recycling centre or fancy hiring a private skip. It’ll usually involve a small fee, but you can book a slot and they’ll come to your door and take them away and take them to the correct facility to be disposed of on your behalf.
How to not dispose of fence panels
When you’ve got old fencing taking up space in your garden, and you’re ready to get started with your fresh new fence, it can be tempting to dispose of the panels in the way that’s the easiest, but more often than not, these ways can be harmful to the environment or cause more bother than its worth.
Burning old fence panels
Many fence panels are treated with chemicals to help enhance their longevity in the garden. When burned, the smoke that comes from the fire can release very potent and dangerous chemicals that are awful for the environment and toxic to breathe in. Not to mention the thick cloud of black smoke that it will create. In fact, it’s illegal. The government website states that ‘You cannot get rid of household waste if it will cause pollution or harm people’s health. This includes burning it.’
Sticking them in your wheelie bin
If your fence panels have seen better days and are already falling apart, it can be tempting to break them up and stick them in the wheelie bin for your local bin workers to collect along with your other waste, but this isn’t advised either. Timer is a widely recyclable resource that can be repurposed and reused in many ways before it gets sent to the landfill. There’s also a good chance that the bin collection team will refuse to take your bin if it is too heavy for the van to lift or it’s overfilled.
Now you know your options when it comes to getting rid of your old fence panels, you can choose the method that best suits you and you’ll have your brand new fence up in no time!
And that’s exactly where we can help. At Welch Fencing, we offer a great range of concrete fence posts and garden fence panels, all of which are manufactured right here on UK soil. Take a look at our selection of the garden fence panels on our site, and if you see something you like, we have our own fleet of delivery vehicles to ensure hassle-free delivery right to your doorstep!
If you have any questions or need more detailed information about our products, please do not hesitate to reach out to our friendly experts on 01772 336 476 or drop us an email at sales@garden-fence-panels.co.uk, and a member of our team will get back to you.
