Did you know that batteries are the leading cause of fires in trucks and facilities? Australians are unknowingly causing dozens of fires each year by discarding hazardous waste incorrectly in kerbside bins putting drivers, operators and communities in danger. One spark from an old battery is all it takes to set a rubbish truck or an entire facility up in flames. Spark the right sort of action in your community by disposing hazardous waste materials responsibly. Batteries from smartphones, laptops and other electronics are a growing cause of truck, facility and landfill fires. These can ignite from friction and heat, starting a fire that spreads to other flammable material nearby such as cardboard. Keep batteries and other
household hazardous waste out of all your kerbside bins. Safe disposal of household hazardous waste Remove batteries from their devices if you’re not using them. Store old, used and empty batteries in a cool and dry space away from sunlight pending disposal. Single-use batteries can be recycled through specific retail outlets. Computer and phone batteries can be recycled as e-waste. Vehicle batteries can be recycled at select retail outlets and garages. Check with
your local council to see if they offer a kerbside recycling service. Most councils also offer a Household Hazardous Waste drop-off event or permanent drop-off points. When batteries are not properly disposed of, the casing disintegrates and the toxic chemicals inside leach into the surrounding environment. This toxic material can contaminate the soil and groundwater affecting the health of humans, wildlife and the environment. PaintPaint is considered hazardous due to its flammability. When disposed of incorrectly, it exposes people and animals to risk of injury in a fire and cause skin, lung and eye problems through the paint fumes. If the paint contains lead, it increases the risk of lead poisoning if ingested. E-wasteChemicals in e-waste such as mercury, cadmium, lithium and lead are a safety hazard to people, animals and the environment. In addition to contaminating soil, these toxic materials can pollute the air and leach into waterways. FlaresMost flares have a use-by date of three years and must be replaced before the expiry date. Damaged or expired flares are a fire hazard if not stored or disposed of correctly. Hazardous chemicalsHousehold hazardous chemicals such as chlorine and bleach are highly flammable, corrosive, or explosive and should never be thrown into just any bin. How do I dispose of household hazardous waste?Many councils across Australia regularly organise free household hazardous waste drop off events in addition to permanent drop off sites at community recycling centres and selected resource recovery facilities. Check with your local council on the availability of local drop-off events, permanent disposal sites, and national or state collection programs. Typically, each container of material dropped off should not exceed 20kgs or litres. Any more would require a dedicated chemical collection and disposal service. Businesses should also contact a hazardous waste disposal service directly. In view of the current public health situation, some household chemical disposal services across Australia may be affected. Check with your local councils by calling them or looking up information online to find out the latest household waste disposal guidelines. If you’re unable to immediately dispose of household chemicals, make sure you safely store them until you can. National programs
How do I handle and store household hazardous waste safely?
How does Cleanaway support hazardous waste disposal?Cleanaway partners with local councils to collect and dispose of unwanted chemicals at our facilities and through mobile drop off events. Our service includes EPA-compliant transportation, processing, recycling and disposal technologies. If you are a business, farm or have large volumes of hazardous waste, please contact 13 13 39 to learn more about our hazardous waste disposal services. More solutions for Hazardous Regulated WasteA reliable hazardous waste solutions provider is key to minimising risks to your staff, site and the environment. Interested in a Cleanaway service? Contact us directly on 13 13 39 or fill up one of these short forms. We will get back to you as soon as possible with your request or booking. Find your nearest Cleanaway team We are in every major city and region in Australia. Chances are you will find us not too far away from where you are. We’re in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, as well as Karratha, Rockhampton, Newcastle, Geelong, Port Augusta, Albury, and more. How do you dispose of lighters in Australia?Recycle hazardous waste materials at council drop-off points and never put them in your kerbside bin. Send your hazardous household waste for disposal at local drop-off events, permanent disposal sites, and national or state collection programs. Check with your local council to learn more.
How do you dispose of butane cans in Australia?Butane aerosol cans or canisters such as those used for camping should NOT be put in the kerbside recycling they are highly flammable if any gas is remaining in them. It's best practice to keep them out of the kerbside bin and dispose of them at your local household chemical drop-off service.
How do I dispose of a gas lighter?Wait 2-3 minutes before handling the lighter after it burns out. Put your lighter in your garbage can and wait for it to be collected. Once your lighter is empty, simply toss it in the trash. Wait for your trash to be collected by your local waste management service to dispose of your lighter.
Can you put lighter fluid in the bin?Lighter fluid is a type of household hazardous waste. This means you can't throw it away in your garbage. If you have any unwanted lighter fluid lying around, the best option is to give it to a friend or neighbor who can use it.
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