On this page: Disposing of hazardous waste | Electronic waste
Hazardous waste
Hazardous wastes are chemicals that are harmful to the environment due to their toxic, corrosive, flammable and/or reactive properties. Some hazardous wastes do not become hazardous until they break down, such as e-waste.
Examples include household cleaning products, aerosol sprays, automotive supplies (including motor oil), paints and thinners, batteries, photographic chemicals, gas bottles, e-waste, pool chemicals and pesticides.
Important tips:
- Do not place hazardous waste in your kerbside bins or hoppers.
- Do not put any chemicals down the drain, on the ground, or into sewers. Chemicals that are disposed of improperly make their way into the environment and put animals, our water and us at risk.
- Hazardous waste can be dangerous to children and pets if left around the house.
Disposing of hazardous waste
You can drop off small quantities of household hazardous waste free of charge at:
Contact a private service provider to dispose of commercial quantities of hazardous waste. Visit www.businessrecycling.com.au to find a provider.
Hazardous waste accepted at drop-off
- Liquid hazardous waste (e.g. aerosol cans (full). caustic materials (acids, alkalis), household cleaning agents, cooking oils, household pesticides, photographic chemicals, domestic poisons, domestic pool chemicals): Maximum 20 litres of a single substance.
- Helium party balloon cylinders: Maximum 10 items.
- Fire extinguishers: Maximum 10 items.
- Batteries: Maximum 10 items.
- Gas bottles: Maximum 9kg bottles, 10 items or less.
- Paint: Maximum 100 litres of paint in 20 litre containers (paint must be in containers no larger than 20 litres) will be accepted. Visit the Paintback website for more information on paint recycling and conditions for disposal
- Fluorescent tubes (including compact fluorescent tubes and bulbs): Maximum 10 tubes per customer.
- Automotive fuels: Maximum 5 litres in a metal container or an approved plastic or metal jerry can.
Special requirements
Asbestos:
Agricultural and veterinary chemical containers:
- drumMUSTER is a national program that accepts empty agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemical containers for recycling.
- Remondis runs this collection service at the Mitchell Resource Management Centre.
- Collections are held on the first Thursday of each month between 10 am and 12 pm – by appointment only.
- Contact Remondis on 13 73 73 to arrange an appointment for disposal.
- For more information on container preparation and conditions please visit the drumMuster website.
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Electronic waste
You can dispose of old or unwanted televisions and computer products for free under the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme. Find a drop off location online.
E-waste is a significant waste stream in the ACT. The largest volume of e-waste is made up of televisions and computer equipment such as printers, scanners, monitors, keyboards and mice.
| Items accepted | Details for disposal |
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E-waste, including: - televisions (CRTs, plasma, LCD, LED and projections televisions)
- desktop and portable computers (laptops and notebooks)
- monitors
- keyboards
- mice
- drives
- printers
- scanners
- cables
- computer-related peripherals.
| - Limit of 15 items per person apply (a keyboard, mouse and monitor equals one item)
- Visit the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme website for more information
- Televisions and computers contain materials which are hazardous both to humans and the environment when disposed of inappropriately. There are penalties for the illegal dumping of these products outside collection sites and charities.
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| Items not accepted | Details for disposal |
|---|
- mobile phones
- game consoles
- video recorders
- DVD and blu-ray players
- toner Cartridges
- radios and stereos
- power tools
- universal power supplies and other electronic appliances.
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More information
- Visit the Recyclopaedia to look up hazardous waste disposal by item.
- Find a service provider for your business on www.businessrecycling.com.au.
- Call Remondis on 13 73 73 and ask if your hazardous waste item is accepted at the hazardous waste drop off.
- Call Access Canberra on 13 22 81 and ask for the Environmental Protection Authority for advice on hazardous waste.
