Hazardous Waste Collection
The term 'hazardous' does not always mean that such waste is immediately toxic, though some can be. By improving the way in which we manage all wastes classified as hazardous we reduce the risk they might pose now and in the future.
Many domestic waste items can put human health or the environment at risk. Hazardous Household Waste (HHW) has historically represented less than 1% of the household waste stream. We need to ensure that all these materials are treated or disposed of correctly. The range of waste recognised as hazardous has increased, and this adds to the challenges facing Durham County Council and other organisations collecting household hazardous waste.
The Hazardous Waste Regulations, which came into effect in July 2005, define further categories of waste as hazardous (eg fridges and freezers containing ozone-depleting substances, fluorescent lighting tubes and televisions and computer monitors containing cathode ray tubes).
Hazardous Household Waste also includes many paints and other coatings, garden chemicals, petcare products, motoring products, household chemicals and electrical appliances.
The problems that can occur when Hazardous Household Waste is disposed of as part of the domestic waste stream include:
- Danger to waste operatives (eg when using on-site compaction equipment).
- Contamination of other wastes (eg recyclables, compostable material).
- Uncontrolled pollutants entering land and water courses.
Asbestos
Durham County Council provide places where residents may deposit asbestos waste from domestic sources free of charge. If you have asbestos to dispose of please call 0191 383 5674 at least 24 hours before you are taking it to one of the disposal locations. These locations are Thornley Station near Shotton Colliery, Heighington Lane, near Aycliffe Village and Annfield Plain. Please go to our household waste recycling page for details on your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.Automative Batteries
The current national recycling rate of lead-acid batteries is around 90% and Durham County Council offer facilities at all Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs). Please inform the operative that you have a automotive battery to dispose of once you are on siteClinical Waste
HWRCs do not accept clinical waste. Residents are advised that they should contact their local Primary Care Trust or doctor’s surgery for information. Waste pharmaceutical products should be taken to a local pharmacy.Syringes
There are a number of hazards associated with handling these items and if discovered you should contact your local District Council to have them safely removed and disposed.We advise members of the public not to pick up needles, unless it poses an immediate danger to you or other residents.
Please note that any needles, or syringes, etc. found on educational premises (e.g. schools, nurseries, etc.) during working hours should be reported immediately to the premises directly where staff on site are trained to deal with such items.
Explosives
Residents wishing to dispose of explosives should contact their local police station.Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are returned to the original producer. They are stored in the open air in a locked, caged area with other (non-LPG) compressed gas cylinders and cartridges. Please inform the operative that you have fire extinguisher to dispose of once you are on siteFluorescent Lighting
Fluorescent lighting tubes and fluorescent bulbs (energy-efficient light bulbs) contain mercury. In order to avoid breakages fluorescent tubes and bulbs are placed in storage containers by members of site staff. Members of the public are advised to contact site staff if wishing to deposit fluorescent tubes. Fluorescent lighting tubes and fluorescent bulbs recycling is only available at 10 Household Waste Recycling Centres (except Stainton Grove, Middleton in Teesdale, Cragwood, and Hett Hills and Brooms Dene).Fridges and Freezers
Fridges and freezers have been subject to the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Regulations (2037/2000/EC) since January 2002. All waste refrigeration appliances containing ODS (eg CFCs and HCFCs) must be sent to specialist reprocessors. Most refrigerators reaching the waste stream in the UK are between 10 and 15 years old, and are therefore likely to contain ODS. Units manufactured after 1994 are unlikely to contain CFCs.Please inform the operative that you have a fridge /freezer to dispose of once you are on site. Commercial fridges are not accepted.
Gas Cylinders
Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders and other compressed gas cylinders may contain significant residual amounts of their original content. Please contact the owner of the cylinder which will be detailed on the bottle. If you cannot contact the owner they can be accepted on sites. Please inform the operative that you have a compressed gas cylinder to dispose of once you are on site. These containers are stored in locked cages in the open air before being returned to their manufacturers.Household and Garden Chemicals
Hazardous chemicals can only be taken to either Thornley Station near Shotton Colliery, Heighington Lane, near Aycliffe Village and Annfield Plain. To dispose hazardous chemicals please call 0191 383 5674 at least 24 hours before you are taking it to one of the disposal locations.This category includes household products such as solvent based paints, bleaches, disinfectants and some cleaning products, as well as garden chemicals including pesticides, weedkillers, fertilisers and lawn treatments. Residents are advised to leave household and garden chemicals in their original container. Once on site contact the site operator for assistance.
If chemicals are brought to an HWRC in unmarked containers, ie any container other than that provided by the manufacturers, members of the public will be asked what the substance in the container is, and anything they know about where it has come from. These details are recorded to assist collection contractors with identification of chemicals.
Batteries
At present Durham County Council do not have a battery recycling facility however this will change shortly with the advance of proposed changes in EU legislation. Please dispose of batteries in the same manner as other household wastes.Monitoring Chemicals
Since there are specific segregation and management systems at HWRCs for some motoring products (eg automotive batteries, oil and tyres) guidance is provided on these individual categories.Other hazardous materials in the motoring products category include brake fluid, petrol, diesel, transmission fluid, antifreeze and rust remover. Many of these motoring products are flammable and will need to be stored in a designated flammable safe on HWRCs.
Hazardous chemicals can only be taken to either Thornley Station near Shotton Colliery, Heighington Lane, near Aycliffe Village and Annfield Plain.To dispose hazardous chemicals please call 0191 383 5674 at least 24 hours before you are taking it to one of the disposal locations.
Members of the public are directed to approach a member of site staff when depositing motoring products at an HWRC. Flammable motoring products should be stored upright, and in their original containers.
Engine Oil
It is estimated that domestic waste oil arisings (primarily used car engine oil) account for 10% of total waste oil collections. Please inform the operative that you have waste oil to dispose of once you are on siteWaste oil filters can be recycled and a number of companies operate collection and recycling services, although most of these services are designed for commercial garages. Please contact your local garage to see if they take part in a filter recycling scheme.
Paint
Although most paints and related products are not hazardous, some are, and all have the potential to create mess or nuisance. One means of avoiding these problems, and reducing the costs of managing paint waste, is to donate paint to reuse schemes which help to house those in need. Call County Durham Furniture Scheme; 01388 721509 to donate your old paint to charity.Water based paints can be disposed of safely in the usual manner on each HWRC.
Solvent based paints must be taken to either Thornley Station near Shotton Colliery, Heighington Lane, near Aycliffe Village and Annfield Plain. To dispose hazardous chemicals please call 0191 383 5674 at least 24 hours before you are taking it to one of the disposal locations.
TV Monitors and Other Waste Electrical and Electronical Equipment (WEEE)
Other waste electrical and electronic (WEEE) items that fall within the scope of the Hazardous Waste Regulations are televisions and computer monitors that contain cathode ray tubes. Please inform the operative that you have TVs or monitors to dispose of once you are on site.Some of the items brought to HWRCs by members of the public may be potentially refurbishable or reusable. County Durham have a number of community recyclers who can provide a refurbishment service, and they will also be able to distribute these goods to households in need. Please visit our Furniture Reuse Schemes page to find out your nearest community furniture scheme.
TVs and monitors will not be accepted at Hett Hills, Stainton Grove, Craggwood, Mickleton/Middleton in Teesdale and Broomsdene because these sites are not licensed to accept hazardous wastes.
Aerosols
Empty post-consumer aerosols are not in themselves hazardous. However, they may contain significant residual amounts of their original content and aerosols are often used to contain hazardous and/or flammable substances (eg automotive products, insecticides).Please remove loose plastic parts such as over-caps/lids and put empty used aerosols in can banks or kerbside collections. Do not pierce or squash the aerosols.
Tyres
Tyres are not classified as hazardous waste. However, under the Landfill Regulations (SI 2002/1559), whole tyres have been banned from landfill since July 2003 and shredded tyres will be banned from landfill from July 2006.Therefore, tyres cannot be disposed of with the mixed general waste stream and should be stored separately and collected for retreading, recycling or responsible disposal. Please inform the operative that you have tyre/s to dispose of once you are on site.
The National Household Hazardous Waste Forum have launched new guidance on the safe management and storage of small quantities of hazardous wastes. Please visit the Hazardous Waste Guidance website for more information.
