Hazardous waste comes from many sources - industry, small businesses, school labs, households to name a few. A waste is considered hazardous if it poses a risk to people or the environment if not properly managed, stored or disposed of.  All household hazardous waste should have information on how to dispose of it, either on the container label or on the accompanying information.

 At Xtreme Waste we receive a broad range of hazardous waste. The types of things brought in include; farm chemicals, drenches, chlorine, fertilisers, organophosphates, insecticides, home garden chemicals.

 All customers with any hazardous waste should report to a staff member prior to unloading.

Charges

There is no charge to drop off hazardous waste for householders. We do not take from businesses. They should make arrangements for collections directly with an appropriate collection company.

Asbestos - We DO NOT take asbestos

It is illegal for any transfer station to take asbestos and also it is very dangerous. Asbestos fibers when inhaled can cause serious scarring to the lungs and can be cancerous. Symptoms for many asbestos related diseases do not become apparent for 15-20 years after exposure. Asbestos was commonly used in the past for insulation, lagging, vinyl backing, textured paints, cement sheets, to name a few. The only way to confirm asbestos in a suspected product is to have it tested by an approved laboratory.

Testing can be carried out by the Public Health Unit, Community Health PO box 505, Hamilton Tel: 07 838 2569 and this is usually at no charge provided you are a domestic home owner. Alternatively if you are a commercial operator or builder, you can get the testing done for around $100 by Dowdell and Associates - 09 526 0426.

In Aotearoa, around a 100 people die every year from asbestos related diseases. If you are working in the building industry or doing up old houses, it would be best to exercise caution or get advice.