Hazardous waste, batteries and e-waste
It is important to dispose of hazardous items correctly. This includes paint, cleaning products, aerosol sprays, chemicals, electronic waste (e-waste) and batteries.
- Do not dispose of hazardous items in your household bins.
- Do not pour any chemicals down the drain, on the ground, or into sewers.
- Hazardous waste can be dangerous to children and pets if left around the house.
Incorrectly disposing of hazardous waste could result in fire or could cause severe damage to human health or the environment. Some items do not become hazardous until they break down, such as electronics.
Hazardous waste
You can drop off small quantities of household hazardous waste free of charge at Mugga Lane and Mitchell Resource Management Centres. This includes:
- Liquid hazardous waste (e.g. aerosol cans (full), caustic materials (acids, alkalis), household cleaning agents, cooking oils, household pesticides, photographic chemicals, domestic poisons, domestic pool chemicals): Maximum 20 litres of a single substance
- Helium party balloon cylinders: Maximum 10 items
- Fire extinguishers: Maximum 10 items
- Batteries: Maximum 10 items
- Gas bottles: Maximum 9 kg bottles, 10 items or less
- Paint: Maximum 100 litres of paint will be accepted in containers no larger than 20 litres, see the Paintback website for more information
- Fluorescent tubes (including compact fluorescent tubes and bulbs): Maximum 10 tubes
- Automotive fuels: Maximum 5 litres in a metal container or an approved plastic or metal jerry can
- Asbestos: Small amounts by appointment only. Contact Remondis on 13 73 73 to arrange an appointment. Please check the conditions for disposal on the WorkSafe ACT Asbestos webpage
- Agricultural and veterinary chemical containers: drumMUSTER collection service by appointment at Mitchell Resource Management Centre on the first Thursday of the month between 10 am and 12 pm. Contact Remondis on 13 73 73 to arrange an appointment
- E-waste (e.g. TVs, computers, monitors, printers): maximum 15 items per person (a keyboard, mouse and monitor equals one item)
Batteries
Batteries must never go in household waste or recycling bins. It only takes one battery to spark a fire.
Drop off eligible household batteries for free. There are over 50 B-cycle drop off points located around Canberra, including the Mitchell and Mugga Lane Resource Management Centres.
See below for more details on how to safely dispose of specific batteries, including household batteries, rechargeable batteries, e-bike and e-scooter batteries and embedded batteries in electrical products.
If you are unsure about what to do with your unwanted batteries, go to the batteries page for more information on battery safety or search the A-Z guide to waste and recycling for different battery types and items.
Household batteries
Household batteries
Household batteries include:
- single use and rechargeable AAA, AA, C and D size, 9V and button batteries (like those used in watches)
- rechargeable batteries
- some easily removable batteries such as digital camera or power tool batteries.
Eligible household batteries can be dropped off for free at accredited B-cycle drop-off points. Please check your type of battery is accepted before dropping off.
You can also drop batteries off for free at the hazardous waste area of the Mitchell and Mugga Lane Resource Management Centres.
E-bike and e-scooter batteries
E-bike and e-scooter batteries
E-bike and e-scooter batteries must never go in household waste or recycling bins.
Find your closest drop off point using the B-cycle website and call ahead to confirm if they are able to accept these.
All batteries can be dropped off and disposed for free at the hazardous waste area at the Mitchell and Mugga Lane Resource Management Centres.
Embedded batteries in e-waste
Embedded batteries in e-waste
Many items such as electric toothbrushes, wireless headphones, computers, mobile phones, electric shavers, watches and toys may have embedded batteries.
Items with embedded batteries should not go in household waste or recycling bins. They may cause a fire if disposed of incorrectly.
Drop items with embedded batteries off for free at the hazardous waste or e-waste area of the Mitchell and Mugga Lane Resource Management Centres.
Car and EV batteries
Car and EV batteries
Car batteries are classed as hazardous waste and must not go in your household recycling or landfill bins for safety and environmental reasons. Car lead-acid batteries are covered by a product stewardship scheme operated by the Association for the Battery Recycling Industry (ABRI). Find your closest drop-off point.
EV batteries and household solar energy storage batteries are not currently accepted by the B-cycle program. Please contact your auto electrician or dealership to discuss safe disposal options if your EV battery requires disposal. Lithium-ion batteries used by electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles should only be disposed of by a specialist.
Electronic waste (e-waste)
Electronic waste can be harmful if disposed of incorrectly. Discarded electricals can release toxic chemicals that are dangerous to humans and the environment.
You can dispose of old or unwanted televisions and computer products for free under the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme at Mitchell and Mugga Lane resource management centres and other locations in Canberra.
Find a drop off location online.
E-waste accepted for drop off
E-waste accepted for drop off
- TVs (CRTs, plasma, LCD, LED and projections televisions)
- desktop and portable computers (laptops and notebooks)
- monitors
- keyboards
- mice
- drives
- printers
- scanners
- cables.
Items not accepted
Items not accepted
- mobile phone (see MobileMuster for recycling options)
- game consoles
- video recorders
- DVD and blu-ray players
- toner cartridges
- radios and stereos
- power tools
- universal power supplies and other electronic appliances.
