Hazardous waste

To safely dispose of hazardous waste:

• make sure containers are properly labelled and follow manufacturer’s instructions
• store chemicals safely and away from children and pets
• place only completely empty containers in your bin.

Do not:

• dispose of any hazardous waste by pouring it down the sink, toilet or drain
• burn any hazardous waste on a garden bonfire as it can be dangerous
• dispose of hazardous waste in your household refuse (general rubbish), recycling or green waste bin.

Our contractor, Biffa offer the following collection services to Suffolk residents:

• Household hazardous waste collections within 25 working days - £53.00
• Household hazardous waste collections within 10 working days - £62.00
• Household cement bonded asbestos collections within 25 or 10 working days – £36.00 plus the relevant collection cost of £53 or £62

Non-Household collections, price to be determined when booking arranged. 

Find out how to book a hazardous waste collection here

If you have clinical or medical waste, including used dressings and sharps boxes, please contact your District or Borough Council to arrange the collection. 

A few types of hazardous wastes and dry paint tins are accepted at Suffolk’s Recycling Centres.

Recycling Centres accept:

• Used motor oil
• Household and vehicle batteries
• Fluorescent tubes and low energy lightbulbs
• TVs and computers
• Fire extinguishers (except Halon & BCFs ones which can be collected through your local council service)

Recycling Centres will not accept other types of household hazardous waste, including paint and asbestos.

You must book an appointment before visiting your local recycling centre. 

Only buy the amount you need (the guidelines on the tin will help you assess this).

Use up any leftover paint for recoating or patching or offer it to others.

Read some great tips for keeping paint so it can be used again

Water based paint
If you have less than ¼ tin left, leave the lid off and mix with dry sand, soil or clean cat litter until completely solidified. Then double bag it and place in your black bin. You must not place any liquid paint in your wheeled bin or take it to a Recycling Centre.

Oil based paint
The above method should not be used for solvent based paint. Please complete the hazardous waste collection form here to request a collection.

The following items are accepted for collection:

• Paint & varnishes,
• Solvents, such as white spirit, paraffin, wood stain & paint stripper;
• Chemicals or pesticides, such as weed killers or insect killers;
• Cleaning products and chemicals, such as toilet cleaners, drain cleaners or bleach;
• Water or air reactive chemicals such as sodium/potassium metal and carbides;
• Motoring products, such or antifreeze, brake/clutch fluid, petrol or diesel;
• Poisons, such as rat or mouse poisons;
• Items containing Mercury;
• Small non-returnable gas cartridges e.g. Camping Gas canisters
• Aerosols
• Railway sleepers and treated wood
• Unknowns (this will need to be identified before collection).

The following items are not accepted for collection:

• Clinical waste
• Explosives
• Fibrous asbestos
• Flammable film stock (cellulose acetate)
• Fireworks or yacht flares
• Helium gas cylinders
• Radioactive waste (including low level)
• Returnable gas cylinders.

To ensure hazardous materials are safely packaged for collection, please follow this guide:

• Ensure small items are packed upright in a strong cardboard boxes or plastic containers. Failure to package waste may result in it not being collected. (Please note that boxes/containers will be taken and cannot be returned)
• If packing glass bottles together, use additional packaging material such as vermiculite to prevent the glass bottles from breaking.
• Segregate oxidising materials (e.g. peroxides and nitrates) from flammable materials (e.g. thinners, solvent based paint, white spirit and petrol)
• Segregate acidic materials (e.g. battery acid and acid-based cleaning agents) from alkaline materials (e.g. ammonia, hydroxides and both solid and liquid bleaches)
• Segregate corrosive materials (e.g. acid or alkali) from flammable, oxidising or toxic materials.
• Any highly toxic or reactive chemicals (e.g. cyanides and sodium or potassium metal) should be kept separate from all other materials and marked accordingly.

To ensure safe handling of hazardous materials, please follow this guide:

• Always wear disposable gloves and safety glasses.
• Make sure you follow manufacturers safety advice on containers.
• Store chemicals in a safe dry place away from heat sources.
• Always keep hazardous material secure.
• Hazardous materials will not be collected if they in a leaking or unsound container. If safe to do so, the container should be transferred into another compatible leak proof container – handle any leaking container with care. If you are unsure or have any issues with being able to do this, please contact us for advice.
• Do not dispose of any hazardous waste by pouring it down the sink/ toilet/ drain or putting it in your bin as it may be dangerous to the environment.
• Do not burn any hazardous waste on a bonfire as it can be dangerous and harm the environment.

Please complete booking form for quotation for collection of non-domestic hazardous waste collection. Booking forms are shared with our contractor Suez and sub-contractor Biffa.

Contact the Environment Agency or call 03708 506 506 for guidance on whether your business premises needs to be registered as a producer of hazardous waste.