Hazardous substances

The following is a guide to the safe disposal of household hazardous and difficult waste:

Asbestos

The District Council does not provide a disposal service for asbestos.  However it is possible to make arrangements for the disposal of small quantities of cement bonded asbestos (typically sheeting, drain pipes etc) free of charge at the Household Recycling Centre.  Please contact the Household Recycling Centre helpline on 0845 602 9344 (Monday-Friday during office hours) for further information about managing asbestos and to make arrangements for this disposal service.  Your must ring in advance prior to visiting the HRC.  For more information please visit the Recycle for Gloucestershire website.

Please note you will be sent guidance notes about the handling of your asbestos as well as free bags in which to contain the material following your initial call to the HRC helpline.  

For further details regarding the management of asbestos in premises please contact The Health and Safety Executive, who produce a number of free leaflets regarding asbestos.  More information is available from the HSE website.

Batteries

All Household Recycling Centres accept car batteries as do some garages. 

Household batteries are accepted by all Household Recycling Centres.  From 1 February 2010, some retailers will provide in store recycling facililties for batteries in order to fulfil their obligations under the recent EU battery directive.  Battery recycling points are available at Tesco and Coop stores in the Forest of Dean.  Find out more about battery recycling.

Computers & IT Equipment

There are a few options for this in Gloucestershire:

Gigotech, Cheltenham : Collect all types of IT equipment.  5 of more items are collected free of charge or items can be dropped off.  The company can also provide secure data removal.  For more information call 01242 676984.

Hemplan Design, Nr Innsworth:  Any IT equipment can be dropped off for free but there is a charge for collection.  For further information call 01452 730015.

IT Schools for Africa, Cheltenham:  Companies, organisations and groups can donate old working PCs and laptops, monitors and printers.  Bulk donations will be collected free of charge but individual items can be taken and dropped off for free.  For more information call 01242 228800 or visit the website.

Computers and IT equipment can also be taken to the Household Recycling Centre in Broadwell.

Cooking Oil

Small quantities of both cooking oil and engine oil can be taken to the Household Recycling Centres.

Dog Faeces

Large amounts of dog faeces are not accepted in the domestic refuse.  Faeces can be flushed down the toilet or buried in your garden.  In addition, there is a range of useful products available on the market including specialised wormeries and composting receptacles, including Staywell's Eco Clean system or Good Boy's Clean Green Dog Loo.

Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Electrical and electronic items cover a wide variety of items including: audio visual equipment, lighting, household appliances, IT and telecoms equipment, tools and even toys.  Most electrical and electronic equipment will contain hazardous substances such as mercury, lead or cadmium so it is essential that these items are disposed of responsibly. 

Following the introduction of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, retailers now have a responsibility to ensure their customers can return their WEEE free of charge and many now offer in-store take back schemes.  Alternatively, electrical and electronic equipment can be taken to the local Household Recycling Centre. 

The aim of the WEEE Directive is to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment.   For more information visit the DEFRA website.

Working electrical items in good condition can also be taken to Dial A Ride charity shops in Coleford, Lydney and Cinderford.  All items are PAT tested before being sold on.

Fluorescent Tubes

Small quantities of tubes can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre.  For large quantities of tubes please contact the Household Recycling Centre Helpline 01242 680010.

Gas Bottles

Where possible these should be returned to the company whose name is written on the bottle; legally gas bottles always remain the property of the manufacturer.  Householders may now take their household gas cylinders to the Household Recycling Centre at Broadwell, near Coleford.  Household or LP cylinders contain butane or propane gas.

Household Chemicals

A chemical bank is provided at each of Gloucestershire’s Household Recycling Centres for you to deposit your containers of household and garden chemicals.

Light Bulbs

Incandescent and engergy saving light bulbs are accepted at the Household Recycling Centre.

Mobile Phones

Many charities collect mobile phones to support their cause.  Within the Forest of Dean, Great Oaks Hospice, Oxfam and Cancer Research UK shops are all able to take unwanted mobile phones.  Alternatively visit www.recycleyourmobile.co.uk

Paint

The County Council provides chemical banks at all the Household Recycling Centres in which tins of paint can be deposited. If the paint is water based i.e. emulsion, and has dried up completely then it can be placed in with the non-recyclables at any of the Household Recycling Centres (HRCs).

For large quantities of usable paint try contacting the Gloucestershire Resource Centre 01452 504442. 

Syringes

See Clinical Waste.

Toner Cartridges

All inkjet and laser toner cartridges can be recycled by dropping them off at Officestar Group Ltd, Acorn Building, Mushet Park, Crucible Close, Coleford, Glos or telephone 01594 810081 to arrange a collection or to obtain a FREE recycling container.  Visit the Officestar website.  HP, Lexmark, Canon and Dell printer cartridges can also be taken to any Great Oaks Hospice shop for recycling.

If you have an item or substance which you think may be hazardous but is not included in this list, please contact the Environment Agency on 08708 506 506 for further advice.