Hazardous household waste

What is hazardous waste?

Waste is classified as hazardous when it has properties that might make it harmful to human health or the environment.

You should take hazardous waste to one of Bristol's Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC's), where there are dedicated facilities for its safe disposal.

Hazardous waste includes:

• asbestos
• pesticides
• fluorescent tubes and low energy lightbulbs
• some paints

If you have any other questions about hazardous waste, please call us on 0117 922 2100.

Traders or businesses should note that the Council's Transfer Stations cannot accept asbestos waste. Businesses will need to arrange for disposal at a site licensed to take asbestos.  Please review our commercial waste pages for further information.

Asbestos

Asbestos is potentially dangerous and should be taken to either of our Household Waste Recycling Centres for disposal.  Please read the following advice on the removal and transportation of asbestos:

• Always try to remove the asbestos in whole sheets. If the cement is dry, spray it with water first before attempting to dismantle it to avoid dust being produced. If you need to cut the asbestos, use plenty of water on the area and saw or break it up carefully to avoid dust being created.
• Double wrap each sheet in polythene before transporting to either of Bristols Household Waste Recycling Centres.
• If you have any pieces of asbestos, please double bag them before transporting them to either of Bristol's Household Waste Recycling Centres.
• Before setting off to one of our recycling centres please phone 0117 922 2100 to check there is sufficient space left in our skip to take the amount you are bringing in.
• If you turn up at one of our recycling centres with unwrapped asbestos you will be refused entry. If there is insufficient room for the asbestos you bring in you will be turned away. This is necessary for the safety of the staff working at the site, other members of the public and yourself.
• If you are employing a builder to do the work, make sure they include in their quote the cost of providing a skip from a waste contractor licensed to take asbestos products for disposal. Do not dispose of the waste for them, as it is their responsibility in law to take care of the waste if they have created it themselves. This also applies to general building waste.
• If in doubt, employ a specialist asbestos contractor to do the work for you.
• We do not provide a collection service for asbestos.
• If you want to find out which type of asbestos you have, you can have it tested by Scientific Services.
• Government guidance on asbestos can be found at the Directgov website.

Fluorescent tubes and low energy lightbulbs

Flourescent tubes and low energy lightbulbs contain mercury, a hazardous element which must be disposed of properly.  We are able to recycle some parts of the tubes and bulbs we receive once the mercury has been removed.

Paints

Not all paints are classified as hazardous, but they can all create a mess if disposed of irresponsibly.  As it is not always easy to identify which ones contain the nasty hydrocarbons and solvents, it is best to bring them to our Household Waste Recycling Centres so we can safely dispose of them all.

Bristol's Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC's),