Dispose of hazardous household waste

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibre that was widely used in buildings for insulation. It was used in flooring and roofing, and was sprayed on ceilings and walls. Its use is now banned in the UK, but buildings constructed before the year 2000 may still have asbestos in them.

It’s only when it’s damaged or disturbed that tiny asbestos fibres can be released into the air. Breathing in asbestos fibres can damage your lungs.

If you have asbestos to dispose of, we would recommend a private waste contractor who is registered to handle the material. You can find these specialists by contacting members of the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association.

If you do choose to dispose of asbestos yourself, you can do this at a household recycling centre which accepts hazardous waste.

We can only accept bonded asbestos that is double bagged and carefully wrapped.

The maximum amount we can accept is three normal sized bin-liner bags or four sheets which measure about  2 metres by 1 metre each.

Items with asbestos, or cement bonded asbestos inside (for example storage heaters and ironing boards) should be disposed of by a specialist asbestos removal company instead.

You will need to apply for a waste permit before visiting a household recycling centre.

Our team will be wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) during your deposit. You should also wear appropriate PPE when you deposit your waste.

When you arrive at the recycling centre:

• speak to a site attendant who will assess the load and take your payment
• we'll show you where the asbestos container is
• a member of the team will meet you at the container and dampen the inside and outside of the container
• they'll ask you to deposit your double bagged asbestos into the container

Your visit may take slightly longer than normal because of the type of waste.

Some products are perfectly safe to use in everyday life, but are considered hazardous when it comes to disposing of them.

This means they require specialist treatment, using safe and environmentally friendly disposal or recycling methods.

We can help and accept up to 5 litres of:

• garden chemicals (weed killers, insecticides, fungicide sprays)
• paraffin
• petrol
• diesel

Ensure they are still in the original containers which are not leaking.

Petrol and diesel should be in the original container or a petrol or jerry can. This will need to be left at the recycling centre - you cannot decant the fuel into the containers at the centres.

There is no charge for fuel disposal.

Plasterboard is made of gypsum sandwiched between two sheets of lining paper. In a building it is used to make interior walls and ceilings.

All plasterboard brought to site should have tiles, wood and other materials removed before disposal.

You can dispose of a certain amount for free if you apply for a DIY waste permit.

Plants that have been introduced to a place where they do not naturally occur are known as non-native species. Many of these grow in the UK without causing a problem, but a few become invasive and can take over.

The most common non-native invasive plants are:

• Japanese knotweed
• giant hogweed
• Himalayan balsam
• rhododendron ponticum

If you want to dispose of these plants you should read the guidance on how to stop invasive non-native plants from spreading. This includes advice on managing, treating, and disposing of non-native invasive plants.