Hazardous WastePara mōrearea

Don’t put this stuff in the bin . . .

Particular care must be taken when disposing of waste classed as hazardous. Many products used commonly in the home or garden are a particular danger to the environment, even in small quantities.

Containers holding hazardous waste (even if empty) must not be put out with the recycling or mixed in with general rubbish. It is illegal to tip hazardous waste into stormwater drains and containers that have held hazardous waste should not be burnt as they can give off toxic fumes.

Products that are hazardous have the classification on the labelling and these types of products should always be kept in their original packaging.

A product is considered hazardous (and must be marked as such) if it is:

• Flammable
• Toxic
• Explosive
• Corrosive
• Radioactive

Hazardous products commonly found in the home include paint, pool chemicals, disinfectants, drain cleaners, gas cylinders, batteries, acids, garden sprays and insect baits.

So how to manage these products?

The first consideration should be to buy only what you need so there is no waste to be disposed of. However, no matter how careful we are, there is always that little bit of paint or chemical residue to get rid of, and, of course, the containers.

First check the container to see if it has disposal instructions on it. In some cases the manufacturer will handle the waste and containers if they are returned to their agent. For example, some paint suppliers will take all paint and paint containers, with a small charge levied on tins that are not their brand.

Hazardous waste collection

A free once-a-year hazardous waste service for householders is provided by Hastings District Council and Napier City Council. Find out more on the Hazmobile page.

Hazardous waste advice

For more information contact: