Hazardous Waste
We are no longer accepting any hazardous waste at any of our Recycling Centres (except for up to 10 litres of engine oil).
A free household hazardous waste drop-off event will be held later in the year. Keep an eye on this page for more details to come.
See below for how to deal with common hazardous items that have a higher environmental harm when land-filled:
Asbestos
Council does not accept any asbestos at the Transfer Stations. Please refer to the Yellow Pages under Asbestos.
For Health and Safety requirements contact WorkSafe New Zealand. If you have discovered asbestos in your own property, the Ministry of Health website has some information to help keep you safe.
Batteries
Batteries are classified as a hazardous waste as they are flammable when placed under pressure e.g. if they get compressed in a rubbish truck.
The following types of batteries should not be placed in your household rubbish or recycling bin. See below where to take these:
- Car batteries - All WBOPDC Recycling Centres or alternatively the Rotary Club in Katikati runs a Battery Recycling project where batteries can be dropped off at participating business`s i.e. Auto Super Shoppe, Sheffield Street Automotive or Northern Automotive. To have batteries picked up by the Rotary Club, please call: Rod Calver: 0275909710.
- Cell phone batteries and other small electronics batteries which are difficult to remove from the device can be dropped at the recycling centres free of charge.
- Standard household batteries AA, AAA, A, and small cell batteries (round batteries and hearing aid batteries) can be taken to any WBOPDC Library & Service Centres, Barkes Corner Office, or Recycling Centres for free.
- Bunnings battery recycling program
Electronic waste (e-waste)
Electronic waste contains reusable resources and potentially harmful materials so should not be placed into rubbish or recycling bins.
Most items can be dropped for free recycling at Te Maunga transfer station. A full list can be found under Free recyclable material.
For anything not accepted on this list contact Computer Recyclers NZ.
Fluorescent Tubes including Eco-Bulbs
Fluorescent tubes and Eco-bulbs contain mercury and phosphor that is dangerous for humans and our natural environment. These items need to be taken to special locations for safe recycling in Tauranga.
Residential volumes are accepted at:
- Te Maunga transfer station recycling area
- Mitre 10 Mega, Tauranga
Commercial volumes:
- Rexel Electrical Supplies, Tauranga. This is a charged service to ensure the bulbs are correctly recycled. The charges are $2 excl GST per Eco-bulb or fluorescent tube
For large quantities of fluorescent tubes or Eco-bulbs, boxes can also be bought directly from Interwaste. The cost of each box covers the collection and recycling of the light bulbs.
You can contact Interwaste direct on 0800 102 131.
Medical waste
Medical waste is not accepted at the Transfer Stations. Businesses should contact one of the following contractors for appropriate disposal of medical waste:
- Interwaste (0800 102 131)
- Nitrogen X (0800 22 33 85)
- Waste Management (0800 888 278)
There is a New Zealand Needle Exchange programme for needles that have been used for drugs. Find a list of participating outlets in the region.
New Zealand Needle Exchange programme.
Paints - Oil and Water Based
Resene Paint shop will accept Resene paints free and other brands at a cost for recycling of the tins and processing of the paint. Resene Paintwise Scheme.
Paints - Lead Based
Lead based paint (in a can) can no longer be purchased. If you have old lead based paints at home these can be disposed of as a hazardous waste at the Transfer Station. Resene Paintwise Scheme
Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms only present as hazardous waste in large quantities. For individual smoke alarms it is acceptable to put it out in your normal rubbish disposal. Every cubic metre of New Zealand soil, on average, contains naturally occurring radioactive material equivalent to about thirteen smoke detectors.
National Radiation Laboratory website
Solvents
Will be accepted by Solvent Recovery for processing and resale.
