Household hazadous waste collection questions and answers

What can you bring to a collection?

  • Acids and alkalisPharmaceuticals
  • Garden chemicals
  • Agricultural and veterinary chemicals
  • Fertilizers
  • PaintsSolvents
  • Oils
  • Batteries
  • Cleaning chemicals
  • Pool chemicals
  • Photographic chemicals
  • Fluorescent light tubes
  • Gas cylinders
  • Smoke detectors

What can’t you bring to a collection?

  • Waste generated by business and government agencies. Instead, contact waste companies in the Yellow Pages.
  • Explosives and ammunition. Please contact your local police station.
  • Empty pesticide containers. Contact your local council for information on the drumMUSTER program.
  • Asbestos. Contact the EPA on (08) 8204 2004 for advice.
  • Tyres. Contact the EPA on (08) 8204 2004 for advice.

How to handle hazardous waste

  • Keep chemicals in their original containers.
  • Ensure the containers are clearly labelled and well sealed. Attach your own label if the original has fallen off. But don’t guess. Only make a label if you’re absolutely sure of the chemical.
  • Don’t mix chemicals. Apart from making disposal difficult, you increase your risk by handling them and – in extreme cases – mixing incompatible chemicals can lead to violent reactions such as fire or explosion.

How to transport hazardous waste safely

  • Secure them in the boot of your vehicle or, preferably, in a ute or trailer.
  • Don’t put them in the passenger compartment: a fallen or leaking container could fill the car with dangerous vapour.
  • Travel with your car windows down when carrying flammable or odorous materials.
  • Secure containers so they don’t fall over or leak.
  • Ensure lids are fitted tightly.
  • Place containers of liquids in a tray or plastic bucket so they don’t spill or fall.
  • Pack powders and solids securely.
  • Keep corrosive chemicals, such as battery acid, away from poisons.
  • Keep oxidising agents, like peroxide, away from all other materials.Protect taps on drums so they don’t break off in transit.
  • If the packaging is open or leaking, put it into another container and label it.
  • Place corroded or suspect containers in something like a plastic rubbish bin to secure them. A bucket is good for smaller containers.
  • Don't transport your chemicals with food, household items, pets or other livestock.

What do you do at a hazardous waste collection?

  • Follow the directions of the Council staff.
  • Stay in your car, unless directed, and trained staff will unload the hazardous items for you.
  • For safety, pets and children MUST remain in the car at all times.
  • No smoking is allowed on the site.
  • Switch off your car engine while you’re being unloaded.
  • Licensed professional contractors will then manage the segregation, transport, recycling, treatment and disposal of the waste.

Download the household hazardous waste depot details. (PDF, 1Mb) This document explains what you can and can't take to the Dry Creek depot, and provides advice on what to do when dropping off hazardous materials.