Household Hazardous Waste Collection

A free hazardous waste service for householders is provided by the Hastings District Council and the Napier City Council every year. While we normally host in November each year, this year has been rescheduled with the new date expected around Feb 2019. We'll let you know the exact date a little nearer the time. The last drop-off location was at Eastern Truck and Marine in Austin Street Onekawa, but this may also be subject to change.

Householders can dispose of their hazardous wastes - for example old paints, waste oil, batteries and household and garden chemicals - safely.

Hazardous waste can be dangerous at every stage of its 'life'. Hazardous materials stored at home could react with one another and cause a fire or toxic fumes. Children could poison themselves. A container may leak and contaminate the soil or groundwater. If hazardous waste is disposed of with the rest of the household rubbish or put out with the inorganic rubbish collection, the people who pick up the rubbish could be injured, sometimes severely. And finally, hazardous waste that ends up in the landfill could pollute our environment.

By offering a special collection for this waste, the Hastings and Napier councils provide householders with a chance to 'do the right thing' for everyone's health and for the environment - and it's a great opportunity to raise awareness about hazardous waste!

Acceptable Hazardous Materials

The HazMobile accepts most hazardous materials that can be found in a household, such as:

• Paints, solvents and paint strippers
• Wood preservatives
• Glues and resins
• All types of garden chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers
• Petrol, oil and diesel
• Car care products
• All types of cleaners, including toilet and drain cleaners, oven cleaners, bleaches and disinfectants
• Pool chemicals
• Furniture and shoe polish
• All types of batteries, including car and boat batteries and rechargeable batteries
• Gas cylinders

Unacceptable Hazardous Materials

HazMobile won't take commercial hazardous waste. asbestos or lead-based paint scrapings.

Please contact a hazardous waste treatment company for more information.

To safely dispose of medical waste such as syringes, please ask your doctor or other health professional for advice.

Electronic waste can be taken to the HB Environment Centre in Hastings.

Unwanted Agricultural Chemicals

The Hawke's Bay company 3R provides collection for customers who have unwanted agricultural chemicals. This is done under the umbrella of the AGRECOVERY Rural Recycling Programme.

Agrichemical Collection - 3R

Email: info@3r.co.nz
Phone: 0508 374 768 (within NZ only)
Phone: +64 6 872 7235 (overseas)

Hazardous waste collected

The majority of the waste we collect is in fact recycled, or can sometimes be re-used.

Approximately 75% of the waste paint collected is recycled, the final product being used for anti-graffiti work. The remainder, usually toxic or otherwise unusable paint, is treated before disposal to landfill. Paint cans are recycled as are plastic paint pails.

Much of the waste oil and petrol is used as a fuel source for heating eg to fire a large New Zealand cement Kiln.

Wet cell batteries (lead-acid) are recycled in New Zealand, while rechargeable Nickel-Cadmium and mercury-containing batteries are recycled overseas.

Transporting household hazardous waste safely

All containers should be in good condition - this means they should not have holes or be brittle, and the lid must be fitted tightly. They must be transported upright and secured so that they cannot fall over or leak liquid or gas. If you do have a leaking container, put it into a bucket with a lid, and please remember to do this outside so that any fumes can disperse easily. Heavy-duty plastic bags may be acceptable for solid wastes. Please label the container clearly to help the person receiving the waste.You can help us - and yourself - by putting your household hazardous waste upright into cardboard boxes. This way, you protect your car from leaks, and when you arrive at the HazMobile all we need to do is lift out the box and you can be on your way!

More Information

But if you have to have hazardous materials at home, make sure they are always stored safely and securely:

• Keep hazardous materials dry and away from heat or flames
• Always keep things in their original container so that you know what it is
• If the container is leaking and you have to use another, label it correctly
• Keep lids tightly closed
• Always keep hazardous materials out of the reach of children - for example in a locked cupboard

Hastings District Council and the Napier City Council would like to acknowledge the Auckland Regional Council and thank them for their support and contribution

The HazMobile is New Zealand's first mobile household hazardous waste collection service adopted by the Auckland Regional Council and a consortium of councils within that region.