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Safe disposal of hazardous waste
You might be surprised to learn that common items from our homes, such as batteries, fluorescent lights, unused medicines and flares can be hazardous.

Household hazardous waste can’t be poured down the sink or put in the waste or recycling bin because it can damage the environment including waterways vegetation and soil. So where do we take it?

Household hazardous waste includes a broad range of products that are flammable toxic explosive or corrosive. A substance is hazardous if:

  • it can catch fire
  • react or explode when mixed with other substances
  • releases dangerous vapours or
  • is corrosive or toxic.

Hazardous waste items should not be placed in your kerbside waste or recycling bin but taken to your closest drop-off point.

Disposing of hazardous waste correctly will not only protect our environment but the people who collect our kerbside bins sort our recycling and work at our landfills.

We’ve listed local drop-offs below to help you correctly dispose of your hazardous waste.

Ammunition

Unwanted ammunition should be taken to your local police station (which will issue a property receipt) a licensed firearms dealer or through an individual who is appropriately licensed under the Firearms Act 1996.

It is recommended that you contact your local police station or the premises of a licensed firearms dealer to arrange for surrender of the ammunition.

If you are required to transport the ammunition for disposal purposes you must ensure that it is transported in a safe and secure manner that is not dangerous and that you take reasonable precautions to ensure that the ammunition is not lost or stolen.

Asbestos

The disposal of asbestos whether from a workplace or household is controlled by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA). The Drysdale landfill is EPA-approved to receive small quantities of asbestos only such as those from a DIY job.

The asbestos must be correctly packaged or may be refused by the landfill.

Call the EPA on 1300 372 842 for advice or visit the EPA website.

Batteries (single-use and rechargeable)

Batteries can contain toxic metals such as cadmium mercury and lead that may contaminate soil and groundwater if they are sent to landfill. Small household batteries are the most common form of hazardous waste in Australia.

Drop off your AA AAA C D and 9volt batteries (domestic quantities only) free of charge at:

Car batteries

 

Gas BBQ bottles

Drop off for free at:

Flares (boating/signal)

Flares have a serviceable life of three years and must be replaced when their use-by-dates are expired.

Flares can be dropped off at your local police station but contact them first to confirm they can accept them.

Fluorescent tubes and lights

Used tubes and bulbs are the largest source of mercury contamination in landfills. The mercury inside them converts to methyl mercury a toxic and volatile gas that can easily escape into the environment.

Drop off your fluorescent tubes free of charge at Geelong Resource Recovery Centre.

Medicines (unused)

You can drop medicines off for free at your local pharmacy through the Returned Unwanted Medicines (RUM) project. The pharmacist will put the medicines in a secure bin for collection and safe disposal.

Visit Return Unwanted Medicines for more information.

Motor oil (limits apply)

A maximum of 30 litres in any one transaction will be accepted. Maximum size of oil container is five litres.

Paint

Domestic quantities only – up to 30 litres in one transaction.

Accepted free of charge at: