Dangerous goods in kerbside recycling bins

Dangerous goods in kerbside recycling bins pose a real risk to staff at Tasmania’s Materials Recovery Facilities who are sorting bin contents by hand.

Examples of dangerous goods include needles and other sharps, ammunition and pieces of wire.

Help keep recycling sorting staff safe by keeping needles and other sharps out of kerbside recycling. If a needle is found in a load of recycling, sorting stops and it’s all diverted to landfill so workers remain safe.Safe Sharps Disposal

The best way to dispose of syringes, needles and other sharps including those use in tattooing, is to place them in a specially designed sharps disposal container.

These approved biohazard containers have rigid walls, are resistant to puncture and can be sealed in such a way that the contents are not capable of causing injury.

Containers are available from the Tasmanian Government’s Needle and Syringe Program outlets. The outlets distribute sharps disposal containers and provide services for the appropriate disposal of used injecting equipment and full containers. Containers may also be available from your local council.

Find your nearest location from the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services’ Needle and Syringe Program website or contact your local council for advice.

Sharps bins in kerbside  Sharps in kerbside

Household hazardous waste disposal in Northern Tasmania

Are you spring cleaning ready for summer & have old chemicals in your garden shed or laundry cupboard?

Free household hazardous waste drop off – 16th and 17th September 2017

The drop off is an unregistered service for all residents of northern Tasmania including the Break O Day, Dorset, George Town, Launceston, Meander Valley, Northern Midlands and West Tamar areas, for domestic quantities of household chemicals.

When and Where
9:00am – 4:00pm on 16 September 2017 at the Launceston Waste Centre, recycling shed.
10.00am – 11:30am on 17 September 2017 at the Exeter Waste Transfer Station, Biloo St
1:30pm – 3:30pm on 17 September 2017  at the Longford Waste Transfer Station ,291 Marlborough St.

Chemicals accepted include:

• Solvents and household cleaners
• Floor care products
• Ammonia-based cleaners
• Pesticides and herbicides
• Poisons
• Pool chemicals
• Hobby chemicals
• Acids and alkalis

Chemicals NOT accepted include:

• Motor oil
• Asbestos
• Pharmaceuticals
• Farm vet chemicals
• Fire extinguishers
• Ammunition & explosives
• Chemicals from commercial businesses

Download our poster to promote these free drop-off events in your workplace, school or community group:

verticaldividerRethink Waste aims to improve our efforts at reducing, reusing and
recycling in order to decrease the amount of waste that ends up as landfill.
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