Due to their hazardous nature, there are some forms of waste that come from homes and businesses which cannot be collected by the standard council waste collection vehicles. This refuse falls into a few categories – Household Hazardous Waste (HH waste), universal waste or electrical waste, construction waste, and medical waste.
What Is Hazardous Waste?
Household Hazardous waste is a broad description for chemicals and acids used in the home (for cleaning or in the garden), as well as any other products labelled with a hazardous materials or poisonous liquid label. Depending on the definition put forward by your local council or administrative area, Household Hazardous waste may also extend to include asbestos, COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health), WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), and fridges.
Available Services
While the council refuse collection system cannot handle these Household Hazardous waste materials in their usual collection, there are transporters and facilities (both private and council-run), which can be called in to collect your refuse. Similarly, electrical waste or universal waste (white goods, electrical and computing equipment, and lighting), construction waste (cement, asbestos, wood, bricks, and any other demolition waste), and medical waste cannot be collected by your standard council-run refuse collection service, but can be collected by specialized services and dealt with in a safe and legal manner.
If you are concerned about your refuse, you can call your local council or environmental department, health office or medical supplier, salvage yard or transfer station. Some areas also run Special Household Waste offices which specialize in the disposal of hazardous or awkward refuse.