Hazmobile Collection Day
The Hazmobile is back. Make sure you take this opportunity to get rid of your hazardous waste for free.
Hastings
Saturday 14 November 2009
10am -2pm
Hastings
Sports Centre
Hastings location map (via Google Maps)
Napier
Sunday 15 November 2009
10am-2pm
Eastern Truck & Marine, 95 Austin Street, Onekawa
Napier location map (via Google Maps)
So what is the HazMobile Collection all about?
The HazMobile is New Zealand's first mobile household hazardous waste collection service. It's a free service for householders provided by the Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Hastings District Council and Napier City Council.
Last year 336 people visited the Hastings collection, and another 295 in Napier.
The HazMobile visits carparks in Hastings and Napier once a year so that householders can dispose of their hazardous wastes - for example old paints, waste oil, batteries and household and garden chemicals - safely.
Why have special collections for household hazardous waste?
Hazardous waste can be dangerous at every stage of its 'life'. Hazardous materials stored at home could react with one another and cause a fire or toxic fumes. Children could poison themselves. A container may leak and contaminate the soil or groundwater. If hazardous waste is disposed of with the rest of the household rubbish or put out with the inorganic rubbish collection, the people who pick up the rubbish could be injured. Hazardous waste that ends up in our landfill could pollute our environment.
By offering a special collection for this waste, the Hastings District and Napier City councils provide householders with a chance to 'do the right thing' for everyone's health and for the environment - and it's a great opportunity to raise awareness about hazardous waste!
What kind of waste can I take to the HazMobile?
The HazMobile accepts most hazardous materials that can be found in a household, such as:- Paints, solvents and paint strippers
- Wood preservatives
- Glues and resins
- All types of garden chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers
- Petrol, oil and diesel
- Car care products
- All types of cleaners, including toilet and drain cleaners, oven cleaners, bleaches and disinfectants
- Pool chemicals
- Furniture and shoe polish
- All types of batteries, including car and boat batteries and rechargeable batteries
- Gas cylinders
- Energy-efficient light bulbs
- Fluorescent light tubes
Is there anything that HazMobile won't take?
HazMoblie won't take commercial hazardous waste. Please contact a hazardous waste treatment company or call Wipeout Waste FREE on 0508 NO WASTE (669 278) for more information.
The HazMobile cannot accept ammunition or other explosives due to transport restrictions. If you have such items please contact your nearest police station.
To safely dispose of medical waste such as syringes, please ask your doctor or other health professional for advice.
What do I do with unwanted agricultural chemicals?
The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council provides a free collection for both rural and urban ratepayers who have unwanted agricultural chemicals. Our agrichemical contractor carries out a collection in Hawke’s Bay approximately every three months. Please register for an agrichemical collection by calling Fred King at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council on 06 835 9200 ext 9327.
What happens to all hazardous waste that is collected through the HazMobile?
The majority of the waste we collect is in fact recycled, or can sometimes be re-used.
Approximately 75% of the waste paint collected is recycled, the final product being used for anti-graffiti work. The remainder, usually toxic or otherwise unusable paint, is treated before disposal to landfill. Paint cans are recycled as are plastic paint pails.
Much of the waste oil and petrol is used as a fuel source for heating, for example to fire a large New Zealand cement Kiln. Wet cell batteries (lead-acid) are recycled in New Zealand, while rechargeable Nickel-Cadmium and mercury-containing batteries are recycled overseas.
Is there anything I need to know about transporting my household hazardous waste safely?
All containers should be in good condition - this means they should not have holes or be brittle, and the lid must be fitted tightly. They must be transported upright and secured so that they cannot fall over or leak liquid or gas. If you do have a leaking container, put it into a bucket with a lid, and please remember to do this outside so that any fumes can disperse easily. Heavy-duty plastic bags may be acceptable for solid wastes. Please label the container clearly to help the person receiving the waste.
You can help us - and yourself - by putting your household hazardous waste upright into cardboard boxes. This way, you protect your car from leaks, and when you arrive at the HazMobile all we need to do is lift out the box and you can be on your way!
But if you have to have hazardous materials at home, make sure they are always stored safely and securely:
- Keep hazardous materials dry and away from heat or flames
- Always keep things in their original container so that you know what it is
- If the container is leaking and you have to use another, label it correctly
- Keep lids tightly closed
- Always keep hazardous materials out of the reach of children - for example in a locked cupboard
Hastings District Council and the Napier City Council would like to acknowledge the Auckland Regional Council and thank them for their support and contribution.
The HazMobile is New Zealand's first mobile household hazardous waste collection service adopted by the Auckland Regional Council and a consortium of councils within that region.
Contact
For more information on the HazMobile collection, contact the Waste Minimisation Team on freephone 0508 NO WASTE or 06 871 5046 or email wipeoutwaste@hdc.govt.nz.
