Household Problem & Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste must be disposed of correctly and safely.

Some common examples are paint, cooking oil, gas bottles, pool and hobby chemicals, fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, old medicines, syringes, car batteries and asbestos.

These items never go into your red-lid or yellow-lid kerbside bins because:

  • They contain harmful materials to the environment
  • They have the potential to create a dangerous situation at waste facilities and for transport staff

You will find safe disposal options for household problem and hazardous waste below.

Household problem waste

Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) are free drop-off centres for problem household waste and are located at all our Recycling and Waste Depots and are open during Depot hours.

Items accepted at all our CRCs - only domestic quantities are accepted.

  • Aerosol Cans (paint, butane and other accelerants)
  • Car Batteries
  • Household Batteries
  • Fluro Tubes and Light Globes
  • Gas Bottles
  • Smoke Detectors
  • Motor Oils (up to 20L)
  • Other Oils (up to 20L)
  • Oil Based Paints (up to 20L)
  • Water Based Paints (up to 20L)
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Polystyrene - must be clean and white sheets commonly found in electronic packaging

E-waste (electronic waste)

E-waste refers to discarded electrical items or devices - this includes most items that are operated by a power cord or household battery.

E-waste contains a high amount of non-renewable resources such as plastic and precious metals including gold, silver, platinum, nickel, zinc, aluminium and copper. Recycling these materials prevents new electronics being made from virgin non-renewable sources while also preventing the products ending up in landfill.

E-waste is accepted for recycling at any of our Recycling and Waste Depots for free*.

*To be accepted for free recycling all E-waste must be complete, fully intact and not physically tampered with, otherwise it will be charged at the mixed waste rate.

Common E-waste includes:

  • Computers: monitors, devices, keyboards, scanners, calculators and other office electrical equipment
  • Phones: mobile, portable and house phones
  • Entertainment equipment: TVs, radios, CD players, stereos, video cameras, game consoles
  • Household appliances: kettles, toasters, food processors, lamps, torches, hairdryers

Whitegoods

Whitegoods can be recycled at any of our Recycling and Waste Depots free of charge.

Some whitegoods such as fridges and air conditioners may incur a refrigerant removal fee.

Household chemicals and poisons

Household chemicals and poisons cannot be accepted at our Depots. There are 2 options for the safe disposal of household chemicals and poisons for residents:

1. At a household Chemical CleanOut event:

  • Saturday 22 June 2024, 9:00am to 3:30pm,  Shoalhaven City Council Administration Centre car park, Deering St, Ulladulla.
  • Sunday 23 June 2024, 9:00am to 3:30pm,  Shoalhaven City Council Administration Centre car park, Bridge Rd, Nowra.

At a Chemical CleanOut event you can drop off the following items for free (domestic quantities only):

  • Poisons, acids and alkalis
  • Garden, pool and hobby chemicals
  • Solvents, oils and household cleaners
  • Expired and unknown chemicals

2. Visit the NSW EPA Chemical CleanOut website for more information

Other problem & hazardous waste

Printer Cartridges

Farm chemicals

Unwanted medicines

  • Most pharmacies in the Shoalhaven will receive these for collection and safe disposal as part of a Federal Government initiative for the safe disposal of unwanted medicines

For more information visit Returning Unwanted Medicines or contact RUM Project on 1300 650 835 or rum@netconnect.com.au.

Keep unwanted medicines away from children, out of our water supply and the environment.

Ammunition

  • To dispose of ammunition contact your local Police station

Marine Flares

Syringes

More recycling and waste disposal options

There are many organisations providing recycling and waste disposal options for a range of items.

Find more options here.

Contact Us