Cleaning, Home, Skip Bins

Disallowed items in your skip bin. Plus how to safely dispose of them.

Avoid Placing these Items in Your Skip Bin

What not to dispose of and how to do it safely. 

Here’s a quick guide to ensure safe and proper disposal of prohibited materials.

When hiring a skip bin, it is important to know that there are some disallowed items. As a general rule, the items that are prohibited from skips are dangerous and cannot be put into landfill. They usually have particular safety handling processes and need to be disposed of with specialists. 

So, how do you know what is prohibited, and importantly, where can you dispose of those items? Allows us to make this a little easier for you. 

 

For more answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) click here. 

 

IMPORTANT – the information in this article may have changed since publishing – please confirm with our office staff.

 

Table of Contents

  • Asbestos 

Asbestos is known to cause asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer, As such, it cannot be placed in skip bins. This would be hazardous to all who come into contact with it. Our drivers, waste facility staff, and you. 

The safest option is to hire a licensed asbestos contractor to remove and dispose of asbestos. You can find a local asbestos removal contractor through DAIA – Demolition and Asbestos Industry Association (QLD). Contractors cannot take asbestos to just any landfill centre, as they must be licensed to dispose of asbestos. For instance, certain city council facilities. 

Want to know if your home has asbestos? As a general rule, the following guidelines can be used: 

  1. Homes built before the mid 1980’s it is more than likely that your home contains asbestos products. 
  2. Homes built between the mid 1980’2 and 1990 are likely to have asbestos products 
  3. Since Jan 1988 asbestos has been banned from use in building products. Therefore, homes built after 1990 are unlikely to contain asbestos products.

 

  • Some Fibro Cement Sheeting and Fibreglass Roof Sheeting

Asbestos-containing fibro sheeting, fibre cement sheeting, and fibreglass sheeting are classified as regulated waste and must not be placed in standard skip bins.
 
These hazardous materials must be handled and disposed of by licensed asbestos removal contractors at approved facilities. 
 
Jumbo reserves the right to refuse collection of any skip bin containing material that appears to be asbestos or similar substances, unless written documentation is provided confirming that the material is asbestos-free.
 

  • Foods and Liquids 

Jumbo cannot accept food or liquids in skip bins. Food is classed as domestic household waste. Regular household waste that goes in your bin can’t be placed in the skip. 

Liquids are restricted and a licence is required to carry them if they are dangerous. Liquids need to be looked after and treated with specific handling processes.

 

  • Chemicals or Hazardous Liquids of any Kind

All chemicals are toxic and hazardous, making them dangerous to staff at Jumbo and at our disposal centres. Thus, chemicals cannot be placed into skip bins. Other hazardous liquids include paint, oil, poisons, and pesticides. 

If you have a small volume of chemicals that you need to dispose of, they can be taken to your local Council drop off centres on one of their free drop-off days. See the links to the hazardous waste recycling of several Councils in our region at the bottom of this article. 

If you have a large volume of chemical waste, it is worth hiring a qualified specialist. There are several hazardous waste management companies across Brisbane, the Gold Coast etc. who will safely dispose of these substances for you.

 

  • Paint Recycling

There is a specific initiative called paint back where you can recycle old and excess paint. The paint is free to drop off with Paint Back.

 

  • Gas Bottles or any Pressurised Cylinder

Whether full or empty, gas bottles are hazardous and cannot be placed in skip bins. Nor can they be put into garbage trucks or landfill. 

Gas bottles must be collected separately for recycling. Gas cylinders can be refilled many times and can be recycled.

Most local Councils accept gas bottles on designated drop-off days for hazardous waste. See their links at the bottom of this article.

Planet Ark also offers the “Recycling Near You” guide, a database where you can find the drop-off locations or pickup businesses that recycle gas cylinders and other waste streams.

Most BBQ gas bottles can be returned to your local service station. Check the labelling.

 

  • Fire Extinguishers 

Fire extinguishers cannot go in skip bins because they are potentially pressurised and dangerous. They fall under the category of regulated waste as they contain radioactive material. Old fire extinguishers can be disposed of at specific drop-off centres, see the list of local Councils at the bottom of this page.

  • Batteries 

Batteries cannot be placed in skip bins as they contain dangerous materials, including lead and acid. Many Councils accept batteries and other hazardous waste on designated drop-off days throughout the year. You can view their calendar and drop-off centres through the list at the bottom of this article.

 

  • Oil Heaters 

Oil heaters cannot be placed in skip bins because of the hazardous oil component. They can be taken to council facilities on hazardous waste drop-off days throughout the year. View the calendar for your Council at the bottom of this article.

 

  • Human or Animal Waste, Carcasses, or Parts

Faeces from animals and animal waste are all prohibited from skip bins.

 

  • Medical Waste 

All medical waste is prohibited from skip bins.

 

  • Vehicle Tyres 

Disposing of old tyres can be tricky because there are very few eco-friendly ways to do so. If tyres are illegally dumped they end up polluting our soil and rivers, or they may catch fire, leading to significant hazardous air pollution. 

Tyres are generally disposed of at your local dump or for large quantities, there are specialists who may collect for you.

 

  • Mattresses 

Mattresses without springs are accepted in your skip bin. Mattresses with springs incur an additional charge because they require special treatment at processing facilities.

  • Expanded Polystyrene and Coolite 

Expanded polystyrene is prohibited because of the environmental hazard it causes when broken down. 

There are companies that will recycle expanded polystyrene; however, there is a fee involved. Learn more about recycling your polystyrene in Brisbane and other areas through the Planet Ark directory. 

 

For more answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) click here.

 

Hazardous Recycling – List of Local Councils 

The following links will take you to the drop-off centres in your region for items that are related to hazardous recycling.