Hazardous and special waste
What are hazardous and special waste?
Hazardous waste is waste that can be dangerous to human health, property or the environment if they are not properly treated, stored, transported, disposed of or otherwise properly managed.
Hazardous waste are mainly liquid or solid (but can be gaseous) with the following properties: ignitable, explosive, corrosive, reactive, toxic, infectious, or radioactive.
Some examples are:
- asbestos
- solvents e.g., turps, and solvent based paints
- oil and other petroleum products
- lead acid batteries
- industrial chemicals e.g., timber treatment or metal processing waste, redundant or spoiled stocks of processing or laboratory chemicals
- household chemicals including redundant medicines and garden sprays
- agricultural chemical waste and containers
- explosives including fireworks, flares and ammunition
- mercury
Hazardous waste does not include wood painted with lead based paint, treated timber, household batteries (dry cell or gel batteries) and household smoke detectors. Although these materials contain potentially hazardous elements, the risk to human heath and the environment is small and they may be disposed of in your official City Council rubbish bag or at any of the three council refuse stations.
Special waste are commercial waste or significant quantities of waste that are not hazardous but require special handling during disposal e.g. bulk grain, decontaminated soil, odourous materials and materials written off or considered unusable by Customs, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries or insurance assessment. These materials cannot generally be accepted at refuse stations and will need to be transported directly to landfill.
Contact Canterbury Waste Services 377-2200 Their staff will discuss with you the requirements for your specific situation.
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How do I dispose of household hazardous waste?
Hazardous waste from households can be dropped off at a Hazardous Waste Drop Off Centre at a council refuse station for no charge.
Click here to find out what hazardous waste is accepted at the drop off centres.
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How do I dispose of commercial quantities of hazardous or special waste?
In the interest of public health and the environment please contact Canterbury Waste Services on 377-2200 for advice on acceptable disposal methods.
For guides and information on commercial hazardous waste refer to the Target Zero website or the Waste Minimisation Directory. You can also check the waste disposal section in the Yellow Pages for companies who dispose of hazardous waste.
Any such waste residue may need treatment to ensure it meets the landfill acceptance criteria and to make disposal safe for the environment. For a manifest application, contact Canterbury Wastes Services (phone 377-2200).
For disposal of liquid waste see our trade waste website.
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