Household hazardous waste
You might have chemical or other waste products in your home that are classified as hazardous waste. These wastes cannot be disposed in the usual way and, for many hazardous wastes, it can be illegal to put them in the bin.
If you have waste in your home that is dangerous, it is always best to talk to your council about how and where to dispose of it.
What is household hazardous waste?
Hazardous waste includes common items such as car batteries, motor oil, brake fluid, kerosene and mineral turpentine. You may also have less common items such as asbestos or pesticides.
Reducing household hazardous waste
When buying products that could be hazardous, such as cleaning products and chemicals, check the label for information on their hazard and disposal. Compare products and see if there is a safer alternative.
There are now many environmentally friendly cleaning products to replace chemical cleaning products. Using fewer chemicals around your home will help reduce health and safety risks. You will also reduce the risk that chemicals will leak into the environment.
If you do need to keep chemicals or hazardous waste at your home, read all the labels and make sure you know what to do if someone is poisoned.
If you have any hazardous waste in your home, make sure that there is a safe and secure place to store it until you can dispose of it correctly.
Storing household hazardous waste
If you have any hazardous waste in your home, make sure that there is a safe and secure place to store it until you can dispose of it correctly.
Make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions for storing and handling hazardous products. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all hazardous products are available from the manufacturer.
Your hazardous waste storage area should have the following safety features:
- Make sure it is lockable and weatherproof.
- Keep the area clean. If not kept in a shed, keep the grass short and don't allow rubbish to build up nearby to reduce the risk of fire.
- Make sure flames, sparks and other sources of heat are well away from the hazardous waste. Don't let anyone smoke near where the waste is kept.
- Keep a fire extinguisher close by.
- Check there is enough ventilation in the storage area so fumes don't build up.
How to dispose of household hazardous waste
Contact your local council to find out how to dispose of hazardous waste correctly. Your council may have chemical clean-up days when you can drop off chemical and other hazardous waste to be disposed of correctly.
Your local council is the first point of contact for information on how to dispose of hazardous wastes. Recycling Near You is also useful for finding out about what is recyclable in your area.
More information
See Recycling Near You to find out where you can dispose of hazardous waste.
Why do it?
- Keep you and your family safe
- Help protect our environment from hazardous waste
- Cut back on the use of hazardous products
Did you know?
Demolishing or repairing buildings with asbestos needs to be done by qualified professionals.
Page last modified: 19 May 2010