Skip links and keyboard navigation

Waste and chemical disposal

‘Waste’ is made up of general waste, such as household waste, and regulated waste which requires a higher level of management to prevent harm to the environment or human health.

We are working with industry and the community to develop a new, industry-led waste strategy. The review of the current strategy is driven by the repeal of the industry waste levy. 

Disposing of chemicals and containers

When disposing of chemicals and containers:

  • check the label for advice on disposal of chemicals or containers
  • triple rinse empty containers to remove all traces of the chemical
  • uncap, puncture and crush all rinsed containers—do not burn them 
  • ask your local government authority about collection requirements.

The chosen disposal site should:

  • have a depth between 50cm and 1m
  • be located to avoid contaminating homes, underground water, surface water, crops or livestock
  • be level, preferably with a clay liner and have lime spread across the bottom
  • have a heavy duty plastic pit liner where there is risk that chemicals may leak

Drums, other packages and containers marked 'returnable' should be returned to the supplier.

DrumMuster provides more information about drum disposal.

Find out more about:

Licence
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0)
Last updated
23 April 2013

Page feedback

Your privacy

Information collected through this form is used to improve this website.

Any information you submit that could identify you (e.g. name, email address) will be stored securely, and destroyed after we process your feedback.

  1. This page was

  2. We want this information to be the best it can be and we know we can’t do it without you. Let us know what you thought of this page and what other information you would like to see.

    We do not reply to feedback. Contact us if you need a response.

  4. Contact (optional)