Hazardous waste is any solid or liquid material that may cause harm to human health or the environment if not disposed of correctly. The following are examples of hazardous waste:

• Asbestos
• Flammable liquids
• Garden chemicals
• Household cleaning products
• Motoring products
• Paint (Liquid)
• Photographic chemicals
• Poisons
• Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders
• Items containing mercury

Disposal must be done in a way that avoids harming the environment or causing harm to human health. You should never dispose of household hazardous waste (e.g. pesticides or creosote) down sinks, drains, lavatories, watercourses, ditches, near wildlife habitats or ponds.

Products for disposal should not be mixed together, and containers should be clearly labelled. 
 


Can I take hazardous waste to my local Household Waste Recycling Centre?

Hazardous waste such as syringes, asbestos, poisons or flammable liquids cannot be taken to your local Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRC) although it will accept the following items:

• Motor oil
• Car batteries
• Household dry cell batteries
• Flourescent tubs and light bulbs
• Used cooking oil

Visit www.suffolkrecycling.org.uk or telephone 08456 066 067 for more details.



Disposal of Paint

Empty paint containers
Empty containers of paint (regardless of type) and chemicals can be disposed of in the black household waste bin.

• Leave the lid off so the refuse collection crews can see they are empty.
• Empty and dry metal paint cans can also be recycled with scrap metal at one of the 18 household waste and recycling centres in Suffolk. Some sites also have facilities to recycle empty plastic containers.

Partly used paint containers
Tins of emulsion paint can be disposed of by adding soil and sand to it and leaving it with the lid off (away from children and animals). Once it has solidified it can be disposed of in the black bin.

• Try to use up all your paint - if you only have a small amount left apply another coat to an area that might need extra protection.

Full paint containers
You could see if somebody else could use it. Donate or exchange your paint. If you can’t use your leftover paint, consider donating it to community or theatre groups, schools, churches or others who may need or want it.

• Alternatively, you can contact Waveney District Council for a hazardous waste collection. 

Hazardous Waste Collection

A special 'Hazardous Waste Collection' can be arranged for;

• Part or full containers of solvent based paint
• Other hazardous household waste

The Hazardous waste collection service is 'free' to residents. Collection, treatment and disposal costs of hazardous waste are expensive for the council (approx. £80 per collection). For this reason, residents are urged to follow the advice as set out above and to use this service only when absolutely necessary.

To request this service, please contact Waveney District Council’s refuse team. The application details you provide will be shared with our contractor who will contact you within 4-6 weeks for collection.


Useful links:

• Visit our Clinical Waste page for further information on the disposal of clinical waste, syringes and needles.
• For further information on waste reduction and recycling visit www.suffolkrecycling.org.uk.
• For further information on household hazardous waste, visit the National Household Hazardous Waste Forum.

Contact us

Email: recycling@waveney.gov.uk
Telephone: 01502 523117


Consultation

If you have any ideas or suggestions as to how we can improve our services or the information we have provided, then we would be pleased to hear from you.