Hazardous waste

What is hazardous waste?

Waste is generally considered hazardous if it (or the material or substances it contains) are harmful to humans or the environment. It should not be disposed of through usual household or business waste collections.

It includes:

• asbestos
• chemicals, such as brake fluid or print toner
• batteries
• solvents
• pesticides
• oils (except edible ones), such as car oil
• equipment containing ozone depleting substances, like fridges
• hazardous waste containers

You can find more information about hazardous waste on the government’s website.

How do you arrange household hazardous waste collections?

Asbestos

The City of London collects wrapped asbestos from Tower Hamlets.

Arrange a collection for hazardous waste

Batteries

• All batteries (including lithium batteries from e-bikes, e-scooters, mobile phones and other re-chargeable devices and car batteries) can be taken to the Reuse and recycling centre at Northumberland Wharf.
• Look out for battery recycling collection points when you are shopping. Retailers selling more than 32kg of batteries each year must collect household batteries for recycling from the public, so many big stores will have a battery recycling point.
• Household batteries (including small lithium batteries like those from mobile phones, vapes, other small rechargeable electrical devices) can be recycled in special recycling containers at all Idea Stores and libraries in the borough:
  • Idea Store Whitechapel 
  • Idea Store Bow  
  • Idea Store Chrisp Street  
  • Idea Store Canary Wharf 
  • Idea Store Watney 
  • Bethnal Green Library  
  • Cubitt Town Library 

Chemicals (including paint)

The City of London collects boxed chemicals from Tower Hamlets.

Arrange a collection for hazardous waste

Fridges

• Can be taken to the Reuse and recycling centre at Northumberland Wharf
  
• Arrange a bulky waste collection
• Many retailers offer a recycling service on delivery of a new product.

Book a hazardous waste collection