Efficient site management depends on the swift and safe removal of waste. Whether you’re overseeing a construction project, a large-scale excavation, or a landscaping job, managing spoil and other waste materials is vital to keeping operations on schedule and within budget.
Grab hire is a practical and highly effective solution for removing large volumes of waste from site without the need for manual handling or skip permits. In this article, we explain how grab hire works, what it’s used for, and when it’s the right choice for your project.
What is grab hire?
Grab hire is a waste removal service that uses a grab lorry—a large, rigid vehicle equipped with a hydraulic arm and grab bucket—to collect and transport waste material. Unlike skip hire, which requires on-site loading and potentially a permit if placed on public roads, grab hire offers a quicker and more flexible method of waste clearance.
The grab arm can reach over fences, walls, or other obstacles to access waste, making it particularly well-suited to sites where access is limited or where waste is stored in hard-to-reach locations. Most grab lorries can carry up to 16 tonnes of material, making them ideal for bulk removal in a single visit.
How does the grab hire process work?
The process is straightforward and efficient:
- Booking: A grab hire service is scheduled with your provider, based on the size and type of material to be removed.
- Collection: The grab lorry arrives at the agreed time. The trained operator uses the hydraulic arm to lift the waste directly into the lorry bed.
- Disposal: The material is then transported to a licensed waste processing facility, where it is sorted, recycled where possible, and disposed of responsibly.
Because the loading is handled by the lorry’s operator, there is no requirement for additional labour or machinery on site. The service is typically completed in under an hour, helping to minimise disruption and keep your project moving.
What are the benefits of grab hire?
Grab hire offers a range of benefits, particularly in construction and civil engineering settings:
- Speed: Grab lorries can remove large volumes of waste in a single trip, significantly faster than using multiple skips.
- Access: The hydraulic arm can reach up to 8 metres, allowing waste to be collected from behind hoardings, over walls, or in confined spaces.
- Cost-effectiveness: For projects producing substantial volumes of waste, grab hire can be more economical than hiring multiple skips, especially when factoring in labour and permit costs.
- Versatility: Grab lorries can collect a wide variety of waste types, including inert spoil, hardcore, green waste and mixed construction waste.
In addition, many providers—including B&A Group—offer combined delivery and collection services, bringing in aggregates or topsoil on arrival and removing waste material on departure. This improves logistical efficiency and helps reduce the number of vehicle movements to and from site.
What materials can be removed?
Grab hire is suitable for removing a broad range of non-hazardous materials, including:
- Soil and subsoil
- Crushed concrete
- Hardcore and rubble
- Bricks and masonry
- Mixed construction waste
- Green waste and vegetation (e.g. tree cuttings, hedge trimmings)
It is also possible to collect waste that has been bagged or stored in heaps, provided it is safely accessible to the grab arm.
What materials are not suitable for grab hire?
While grab hire is highly versatile, there are certain waste types that cannot be removed using this method due to legal or environmental restrictions. These include:
- Asbestos
- Plasterboard (unless pre-agreed and segregated)
- Paints, solvents and chemicals
- Oil, fuel, or contaminated materials
- Tyres and electrical items
- Domestic waste or furniture
Hazardous materials must be managed separately using specialist disposal services. If your site includes mixed or potentially contaminated waste, it’s best to speak with your grab hire provider in advance to determine the best course of action.
When should you choose grab hire over skip hire?
Both grab hire and skip hire have their place, but grab hire is often the preferred option when:
- The volume of waste is substantial – Grab lorries can remove up to 16 tonnes in one load, ideal for large-scale operations.
- Time is critical – With same-day or next-day collections, grab hire allows for quick site clearance.
- Manual loading is impractical – The grab arm removes the need for additional equipment or labour to load waste.
- Access is restricted – If you cannot easily place or fill a skip on-site, grab hire provides a more flexible solution.
- A permit would be required for a skip – Grab hire removes the need for local authority permissions if waste needs to be collected from public land.
Grab hire vs muck away: What’s the difference?
Grab hire and muck away services are often used for similar purposes, but there are key differences.
Muck away generally refers to the removal of inert spoil (soil, clay, hardcore) using tipper lorries. The waste must be pre-loaded on-site using plant machinery such as an excavator.
Grab hire, by contrast, includes the collection mechanism. The hydraulic grab arm allows materials to be collected without the need for additional loading equipment. This makes grab hire the preferred option for smaller sites or locations where plant access is limited.
Professional grab hire services across Bristol and the South West
B&A Group,provide professional and reliable grab hire services to clients across Bristol, Bath, Somerset, Gloucestershire and the wider South West region. The modern fleet of 8-wheel grab lorries is operated by experienced drivers and supported by a logistics team focused on delivering a fast, compliant, and cost-effective service.
Each vehicle is equipped to:
- Carry up to 16.5 tonnes of waste
- Reach over fences and walls with an 8m hydraulic arm
- Load from hard-to-reach or enclosed areas
- Transport both loose and bagged material
They are also fully licensed waste carriers, operating from Environment Agency-permitted waste recycling facilities, which ensures that as much material as possible is diverted from landfill and recycled responsibly.
Get in touch
If you’re managing a project that requires large-scale waste removal and you’re looking for a dependable, professional solution, grab hire could be the right choice. To request a quote or find out more about how your project can be supported, contact B&A Group today.
