Skip to main content

Hazardous waste disposal

Link copied

Find out how you can safely dispose of hazardous waste, such as paint, chemicals, engine oils and gas bottles.

Woman taking a tin of Valvoline oil and other hazardous waste from her car boot at a Council resource recovery centre.

How to dispose of hazardous waste 

Hazardous waste includes items that are corrosive, flammable, explosive, toxic or poisonous. Many household cleaning, gardening and pool chemicals are considered hazardous waste.

Proper disposal of hazardous waste is critical to limiting its impact on the environment.

Disposal options

You can dispose of most hazardous waste in one of four ways:

    tip

    Important things to know

    • Do not dispose of hazardous waste in your Council bins unless it is specified below.
    • Hazardous waste can cause fires in bins and collection trucks. This can create a safety hazard for truck drivers, the community and the environment.

    Looking for something else

    What goes in my bins?

    Bin replacement, repair or collection

    Acceptable items for kerbside collection

    Hazardous waste that can go in the general waste bin (red lid)

    Cooking oil (small amounts)

    Fibreglass resins

    Floor care products

    Fluorescent light bulbs or tubes

    Hair care products

    Medicines

    Metal polish with solvent

    Paints and mediums (but only small, dried quantities)

    Smoke detectors  (Ionisation and photoelectric types with removable batteries. Remove the batteries and recycle separately)

    Wet wipes

    mdi alert yellow

    Important things to know

    • Paints and hair care products should be solidified by mixing with an absorbent material such as kitty litter, soil or grass clippings before being placed in the red-lid general waste bin.
    • Empty hair product containers and paint tins with minimal paint residue can be placed in your yellow-lid recycling bin.
    • Compact fluorescent light bulbs and fluorescent tubes must be wrapped tightly in newspaper or put in the original box.

    Hazardous waste that can be taken to a resource recovery centre

    The following items are accepted anytime.

    Batteries (household and automotive)

    Empty gas bottles (maximum of 6 bottles of up to 9 kilograms)

    Fluorescent light bulbs and tubes

    Motor and gear oils

    Paints and mediums (maximum of 20 litres per container and 100 litres per customer per visit)

    Free hazardous waste drop-off days 

    You can dispose of your hazardous waste during free hazardous waste drop-off days at Council's resource recovery centres.

    Eligibility criteria for hazardous waste drop-off days

    • All items for household hazardous waste disposal must remain in their original containers and not be mixed.
    • A 20-litre limit per customer per visit applies for each chemical or product, except for paint and engine oil (hydrocarbon oil), where up to 100 litres per customer per visit is accepted. 
    • Due to workplace health and safety requirements, paint and oil containers must not exceed 20 litres per container.

    Upcoming free hazardous waste drop-off days

    There are currently no events scheduled.

    Hazardous waste that can go into the sewer (via a sink or toilet)

    Aftershaves

    Ammonia-based cleaners

    Bathroom cleaners

    Disinfectants

    Drain cleaners

    Hair care products

    Medicines (small quantities only)

    Perfumes

    Window cleaners

    Windscreen washer solution

    mdi alert yellow

    Important things to know

    • Do not pour chemicals into septics tanks or down stormwater drains.
    • Do not put wet wipes marked as 'flushable' in the toilet or sewer. Place them in your red-lid general waste bin.
    • Mix chemicals with water before disposing via the household sewer.
    • While it is acceptable to dispose of small amounts of medicine via the sewer, Council recommends you take used or unwanted medicines to your local pharmacy.

    Helpful links

    Recycling near you

    Find more drop-off locations and pick-up options for disposing of hazardous waste.

    Find disposal locationsopens in a new tab
    A range of household chemcials including a fuel can, lawn weed killer, oil, spray paint, insect spray, paint and turpentine.

    Disposing of chemicals

    Check the Queensland Government advice for getting rid of chemicals and containers, including drums.

    Learn moreopens in a new tab
    Woman carrying a cardboard box with oil and mower fuel for a hazardous waste drop-off at Chandler Resource Recovery Centre. Her white hatchback vehicle is in the background.

    Frequently asked questions