Household Hazardous Waste

Household Hazardous Waste is defined as any material discarded by a household that is difficult to dispose of, or that puts human health or the environment at risk because of its chemical or biological nature.

Put simply, 4 main types of Household Hazardous Waste have been identified:

• paints, coatings and related products including asbestos
• garden chemicals and related products
• motoring products
• household chemicals

All these materials can be taken to the Household waste recycling centres at Poole and Priorswood. For those that don't or can't drive we would encourage them to seek the help of friends or family. As a last resort for the elderly, Help the Aged can provide volunteer drivers.

Somerset County Council no longer provide a collection service for Household Hazardous Waste but the Somerset Waste Partnership can provide specific advice for householders.

Useful Links

Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (external link)
Tel: 01283 531 126

Health and Safety Executive Information Centre (external link)
Tel: 08701 545 500
Minicom: 02920 808 537

Direct link to HSE asbestos page (external link)

Environmental Agency page on Household Pesticides (external link)

Pesticides Safety Directorate (external link)
Lists all banned pesticides which people may have in their homes.

Recycling Waste in Somerset (external link)
The Somerset Waste Partnership has been working since 1992; the partner authorities are Somerset County Council, Sedgemoor, South Somerset, Mendip and West Somerset District Councils, and Taunton Deane Borough Council.
Tel: 01823 356356