Household Hazardous Waste

Household hazardous waste include products that are corrosive, explosive, flammable or contain toxic chemicals or any other potentially harmful materials. If improperly used, stored or disposed, chemicals within them can leak into groundwater and surface water supplies causing potential harm to your health and the natural environment.

Examples of common household hazardous waste

  • Solvent-based paints
  • Pesticides and other garden chemicals
  • Batteries (for example car, mobile phone or regular household batteries)
  • Motor oils (for example from cars or mowers)
  • Petrol and kerosene
  • Cleaning and polishing chemicals
  • Swimming pool or spa bath chemicals
  • Pharmaceuticals (all medicines)
  • Obsolete computer equipment
  • Thermometers, barometers, thermostats, fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent globes (CFLs).

You can be forgiven for assuming these items go into your general waste bin but toxic chemicals in these common items can lead to explosion and fire which is dangerous for garbage truck drivers and workers at landfill sites.

How do I dispose of hazardous waste?

Do not dispose in dry waste bin (green lid). Please see below table for how to safely dispose of your hazardous waste.

  • Wet Bin (Blue/Red lid) No
    Dry Bin (Green lid) No
    Waste Transfer Stations Recycling available
    Sewer No
    Alternate option Use it all up, share it or dry it out

  • Wet Bin (Blue/Red lid) No
    Dry Bin (Green lid) No
    Waste Transfer Stations Recycling available
    Sewer No
    Alternate option Take it to a scrap metal dealer

  • Wet Bin (Blue/Red lid) No
    Dry Bin (Green lid) No
    Waste Transfer Stations No
    Sewer No
    Alternate option Customer service centers or mobile phone stores

  • Wet Bin (Blue/Red lid) Small quantities and emptied containers
    Dry Bin (Green lid) No
    Waste Transfer Stations No
    Sewer No
    Alternate option ChemCollect Program for large quantities

  • Wet Bin (Blue/Red lid) No
    Dry Bin (Green lid) No
    Waste Transfer Stations Recycling available
    Sewer No
    Alternate option Engage a service provider that collects and recycles oil

  • Wet Bin (Blue/Red lid) Small quantities and emptied containers
    Dry Bin (Green lid) No
    Waste Transfer Stations No
    Sewer No
    Alternate option Use environmentally friendly products

  • Wet Bin (Blue/Red lid) Small quantities and emptied containers
    Dry Bin (Green lid) No
    Waste Transfer Stations No
    Sewer No
    Alternate option Use it all up or share it

  • Wet Bin (Blue/Red lid) No
    Dry Bin (Green lid) No
    Waste Transfer Stations No
    Sewer No
    Alternate option Use it all up or contact hazardous liquid waste service provider

  • Wet Bin (Blue/Red lid) Small quantities only
    Dry Bin (Green lid) No
    Waste Transfer Stations No
    Sewer No
    Alternate option Return to unwanted medicines program RUM

  • Wet Bin (Blue/Red lid) No
    Dry Bin (Green lid) No
    Waste Transfer Stations Recycling available
    Sewer No
    Alternate option Return to businesses that recycle E-waste

  • Wet Bin (Blue/Red lid) No
    Dry Bin (Green lid) No
    Waste Transfer Stations No
    Sewer No
    Alternate option Council customer service office, Australia Post and Officeworks

  • Wet Bin (Blue/Red lid) Yes
    Dry Bin (Green lid) No
    Waste Transfer Stations No
    Sewer No
    Alternate option  

Click on the links below to find out more about Waste Managment:

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