Hazardous waste is any waste that poses a serious risk to the public or the environment, due to its reactivity, flammability, corrosiveness or toxicity. Here are some common types of hazardous waste and how you can manage them.

Household waste

A number of household items, including batteries and compact fluorescent lamp light bulbs, are classified as hazardous waste because they contain heavy metals or other dangerous chemicals.

Please do not dispose of these items in your household rubbish bin, recycling bin or bulk verge collection.

How to dispose of hazardous household waste

Batteries, compact fluorescent lamp light bulbs and any similar household waste must be taken to a disposal site. You will find eight facilities in the metropolitan area which will accept hazardous waste free of charge.

Find disposal site locations in the Household Hazardous Waste Program flyer

Asbestos

Asbestos is a form of magnesium silicate which can be found in older fibre cement products, such as fence or roofing panels. The asbestos contained in these products is non-friable (it doesn’t break up easily), which can prevent the release of individual fibres, unless the sheets are damaged or degraded.

Asbestos was once used as an insulation material, mainly lagging for pipe work. In this form, it was more likely to be friable (crumbly and able to release fibres).  

Materials containing asbestos are common in buildings built before 1990 and could include:
 

• Asbestos cement fencing
• Asbestos cement roofs and eaves
• Internal and external asbestos cement wall sheeting
• Backing panels in meter boxes
• External feature cladding materials
• Paper backing material on sheet linoleum
• Textured paints – especially in wet areas
• Vinyl floor tiles
• Thermal insulation boards around fire places
• Gaskets and rope door seals in wood stoves

Please note, if your house has any of these types of materials which could contain asbestos, do not clean these areas with a high-pressure water jet or compressed air. Do not break or damage any asbestos-containing materials.

How to dispose of asbestos

Friable asbestos should only be removed by a licensed contractor. Laboratory examination of a sample is required to positively identify the presence of asbestos fibres. In the absence of laboratory identification suspect asbestos cement material should be treated as if it contains asbestos.
 
If you are replacing an asbestos cement fence, please speak with your fencing contractor and your neighbours to work out the best solution for safe disposal.

When disposing of other types of asbestos, please follow these steps:
 

• Separate materials containing asbestos from other materials;
• Wrap the asbestos in heavy duty plastic, tape it securely and clearly label it 'CAUTION ASBESTOS';
• Dispose of the asbestos at an appropriate licensed waste facility, such as the Ranford Road Resource Recovery and Waste Transfer Station.

Please note that tip passes can’t be used to dispose of asbestos at this facility. The City also holds drop-off days in March and September each year for the disposal of asbestos.

Download the Fact Sheet - Asbestos Disposal Day

Be safe around asbestos

For more information, including tips for finding, safely handling and disposing of asbestos if you are renovating, please see the resources provided by the Department of Health and the Cancer Council.

Read about asbestos on the Department of Health website

Take the Cancer Council’s free online course – KNOW asbestos and DIY

Read about asbestos on the Australian Asbestos Network website

Read about asbestos safety on the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency website

Read about asbestos on the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety website