Hazardous waste disposal
Learn how to safely dispose of hazardous waste, including paint, chemicals, engine oils and gas bottles.
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.
How to dispose of hazardous waste
Hazardous waste must be disposed of safely. Choose the correct option below.
Some hazardous items can go in your red bin. This includes:
- cooking oil (small amounts)
- dried paint
- hair and cleaning products.
Only certain hazardous liquids can be safely disposed of through your sink or toilet. This includes:
- cleaning products
- diluted household chemicals (where safe).
You can drop off some hazardous waste at a resource recovery centre any day of the year. This includes:
- batteries
- empty gas bottles (conditions apply)
- fluorescent light bulbs
- motor oil
- paint and solvents.
Hazardous waste items that are more difficult to dispose of can only be taken to free drop-off days held throughout the year. This includes:
- cleaning chemicals
- fuels and solvents
- nitrous gas bottles (conditions apply)
- pool chemicals
- pesticides.
Hazardous waste you can take to a resource recovery centre any day
Our 4 resource recovery centres have specialist recycling facilities. You can drop off the following accepted hazardous items for free all year round.
Free hazardous waste drop-off days
You can dispose of your hazardous waste during free drop-off days at our 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) - 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.
- 3D printer resin
- Antifreeze
- Dry cleaning solvents
- Metal polish with solvent
- Nitrous oxide, helium, and CO2 industrial gas bottles up to 9kg
- Petrol, diesel, fuels, brake fluid
- Paint thinners and solvents
- Pesticides, insect sprays, weed killers, garden chemicals, fungicide
- Photographic chemicals
- Swimming pool chemicals
- Other chemical products not accepted daily
- Asbestos
- Chemical or hazardous waste from non-domestic or commercial sources. Includes pest control businesses, painters, schools, pharmacies or charities
- Explosives, ammunition, flares, fireworks
- Gas bottles exceeding 9kg
- Radioactive materials.
For disposal advice, refer to licensed contractors or the Recycling Near You website.
Chemical waste that can go in the sewer via a sink or toilet
Only the below chemicals meet general conditions, concentration limits and volume limits acceptable to discharge to the sewer.
Frequently asked questions
Do not dispose of gas bottles in your red bin. Pressurised gas bottles, even when empty, pose a significant safety hazard to our workers and the community.
Empty gas bottles can be disposed of at our resource recovery centres.
Gas bottles can also be disposed of through a refill or recycling service. Visit Planet Ark’s website to find a retailer that will accept your gas bottle.
Our 4 resource recovery centres feature Paintback drop-off points. This means you can dispose of paint at your nearest centre every day of the year.
Paintback takes unwanted paint and packaging and responsibly disposes of it. This diverts it from landfill and vital waterways.
Cooking oil should not be poured down the sink, as this can lead to plumbing and environmental issues.
Small amounts of cooking oil can go into your garden compost or sealed containers placed in your red bin.
Collect larger amounts of cooking oil in a container and drop it off at a cooking oil recycler. Use Planet Arks website to find a cooking oil recycler near you.
You can dispose of chemicals during our free hazardous waste drop-off days, at your nearest resource recovery centre.
To find out about upcoming free hazardous waste drop-off days, visit our event calendar. Or download the Brisbane Bin and Recycling app.
Batteries should not be disposed of in any household red, yellow or green bin. The chemicals within batteries can cause significant harm to the environment when sent to landfill.
Batteries can be recycled year-round at our resource recovery centres. You can also use B-cycle drop-off points for processing by specialist recyclers. Visit the Recycle Mate website to find a recycling location near you.
Dead batteries can be placed in an e-waste bin. Damaged batteries (cracked, smashed, swollen or leaking) require special handling due to fire and explosion risks.
Damaged batteries
- Wear gloves and protective clothing to avoid contact with corrosive or toxic battery acid and vapours.
- Tape the terminals (ends) using clear sticky tape or electrical tape.
- Place leaking batteries in a sealed plastic bag, or a non-metallic container (e.g. glass jar without an airtight lid).
- Place swollen or damaged lithium batteries (commonly found in mobile phones) in a fireproof container. Or surround them with a non-conductive material such as sand. Do not remove lithium batteries from the device.
- Do not stack or pile damaged batteries together.
- Transport the contained battery to one of our resource recovery centres.
- Never store damaged batteries indoors. E-waste bins should be kept in well-ventilated outdoor areas away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and flammable materials.
Engine oil can be disposed of at our resource recovery centres. Supercheap Auto also has an engine oil recycling scheme at participating outlets.
Antifreeze (coolant), brake fluid and fuel can be disposed of during free hazardous waste drop-off days.
It is illegal to dispose of asbestos in your red bin or at one of our resource recovery centres.
For more information about asbestos, visit the Queensland Government website.
Fire extinguishers can be disposed of at our resource recovery centres.
