How to dispose of hazardous waste

Asbestos is not accepted in your kerbside collection or at any Essex County Council recycling centre. Essex residents can request a collection of asbestos, if the asbestos is from their own household. Find out more about household items that commonly contain asbestos.

A subsidised collection is available for each household in Essex, every financial year.

Request a collection of asbestos

Find out more about dealing with asbestos from The Health and Safety Executive. Alternatively, you can contact Essex County Council if you cannot use the online form or have any further enquiries.

Household hazardous chemical waste products can be identified by checking the packaging for a black X inside an orange box, they include but are not limited to:

• oil-based paint
• varnishes
• paint stripper
• some wood treatments (creosote)
• garden chemicals (such as weed killer, insect killer and fertilizers)
• swimming pool chemicals (such as chlorine additives, pH adjusters and algicides)
• poisons (such as rat poison and mouse poison)
• flammable liquids (such as white spirit, paraffin and wood dyes)
• motoring products (such as antifreeze and brake or clutch fluid)

Chemical waste is not accepted in your kerbside collection and where possible should be used for its intended purpose. For chemical waste from your own household, a subsidised collection of up to 20 litres of household chemicals can be arranged from your home, however larger amounts will be chargeable. To request a collection please contact waste.management@essex.gov.uk and include a list of chemicals and the amounts of each, along with your address, phone number and email address.

Alternatively, reasonable amounts of household chemicals can be taken to any ECC recycling centre and given to a member of site staff for disposal. Note: non-labelled chemicals need to be permanently marked as ‘Contents unknown’.

Undamaged thermometers containing mercury can be taken to any ECC recycling centre and given to a member of site staff for disposal.

Clinical waste includes human or animal tissue, blood or bodily fluids, excretions, drugs or other pharmaceutical products, swabs or dressings and syringes, needles or other sharp instruments, that may put human health at risk.

Clinical waste is not accepted in your kerbside collection or at any Essex County Council recycling centre. Clinical waste produced by a healthcare worker during a visit to your home should be removed by them. For clinical waste that is generated at home by self-treatment, contact your local council for a collection:

• Basildon clinical waste collection
• Braintree clinical waste collection
• Brentwood clinical waste collection
• Castle Point clinical waste collection 
• Chelmsford clinical waste collection
• Colchester clinical waste collection
• Epping Forest clinical waste collection
• Harlow clinical waste collection
• Maldon clinical waste collection
• Rochford clinical waste collection
• Tendring clinical waste collection
• Uttlesford clinical waste collection

Household pets can be buried in your own garden or a vet can advise you on cremation options. The PDSA and Blue Cross websites provide advice on disposing of a dead pet and some of the factors you will need to be aware of if you wish to bury the animal in your garden. 

For other animals including farm animals or horses burial at home is not generally permitted. You should seek the advice of your vet who will be able to provide details of local premises approved for the disposal of such animals, or contact the National Fallen Stock Company, a not for profit industry led community interest company offering collection services for farmers and horse owners.

Further information on animal disposal can also be found on the gov.uk website.

Fire extinguishers from your own household waste can be taken to any Essex County Council recycling centre. Before visiting a recycling centre, ensure the fire extinguisher is empty by squeezing the lever to ensure no pressure remains inside. Remove the extinguisher head to make it apparent that it is not charged. Ask a member of site staff where to place the fire extinguisher.

Gas canisters, such as small (maximum 500ml) camping gas canisters from your own household waste can be taken to any Essex County Council recycling centre. Before visiting a recycling centre, ensure the gas canister is emptied safely to ensure no pressure remains inside. Please ask a member of site staff where to place the gas canister.

Gas cylinders, such as Calor gas or Flogas, are not accepted in your kerbside collection or at any Essex County Council recycling centre. Contact the company you purchased your gas cylinder from for advice.

Spent or used fireworks, must be fully soaked in water and can then be placed in your kerbside general rubbish bin. Live fireworks, explosives and ammunition are not accepted in your kerbside collection or at any Essex County Council recycling centre. Contact the company you purchased your fireworks, explosive or ammunition from for advice.

Fuel, including diesel and petrol is not accepted in your kerbside collection or at any Essex County Council recycling centre. Fuel should be taken to your local vehicle service centre or garage for safe disposal.

Japanese knotweed is not accepted in your kerbside collection or at any Essex County Council recycling centre. You have an obligation to ensure Japanese knotweed does not spread from your land. The gov.uk website outlines how you can stop the spread of Japanese knotweed and provides advice on disposal.

Ragwort is not accepted in your kerbside collection or at any Essex County Council recycling centre. You have an obligation to ensure ragwort does not spread to agricultural land. The gov.uk website outlines how you can stop the spread of ragwort and provides advice on disposal.