Hazardous Waste Collection

Here are some of the more common hazardous items you may want to know how to dispose of.

• Light bulbs, paint and smoke detectors (WEE - electrical equipment) can be disposed of at the Recycling Centre more information about this can be found in the  Know Before You Throw Leaflet which is on the Recycling page.

• Medicines which can go back to the doctor's/pharmacy even if they have been partly used

• Cleaning chemicals are also classed as hazardous waste and we recommend using a licensed collection contractor, these can be found listed in the Yellow Pages eg: East Coast Waste Disposal 01493 653600 / East Coast Insulations 01493 745111.

• Syringes - Great Yarmouth Borough Council does not operate a separate household collection service for syringes. However, we do provide a rapid collection service of syringes that have been found in a public place.

If you find syringes in a public place:

• Do not handle them

• Contact GYB Services on: 01493 846846 and we will collect them and arrange safe disposal

Guidance for the removal and disposal of household cement bonded asbestos

The Risks
Cement bonded asbestos is commonly found in sheet form as grey, corrugated or flat sheets.  It is thin and brittle and has a clean edge when broken.  This material contains a small amount of asbestos encapsulated within cement, which in good condition, does not normally present a health risk.  However, if it is broken, drilled, sawn, sanded or scrubbed, fibres are released and become airborne.  These fibres can be inhaled causing lung damage and possible cancer.

Many older garages are made from asbestos cement sheeting which can be removed and disposed of with minimum risk if done correctly.  Advice on how to do this can be found on the Health & Safety Executive website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/ this authority and we will send you some written guidance.

Other Forms of Asbestos
Asbestos can also be found inside the home in the form of insulation board, other wall boards, ceiling tiles, pipe lagging and is a constituent of some textured coat finishes. There is a greater risk when handling asbestos indoors therefore we recommend you seek the advice of a specialist contractor or trade association, try www.arcaweb.org.uk (see also no. 1 below).

Disposal
Asbestos from householders cannot currently be accepted at any Recycling Centres within the Borough due to licence restrictions.

It can be disposed of in the following ways:-

1. Using a licensed collection contractor, these can be found listed in the Yellow Pages eg: East Coast Waste Disposal 01493 653600 / East Coast Insulations 01493 745111.

2. Taking it to a licensed site for disposal.  Thetford Transfer Station  and Costessey Transfer Station are the the recommended sites.

Please ring Thetford Transfer Station, Burrell Way, Thetford, IP24 3RW on 01842 753129 or Costessey Transfer Station, Longwater Industrial Estate, Costessey, Norfolk, NR5 0TL on 01603 743543 to check capacity and opening hours before you visit.

If you decide to transfer your asbestos to the disposal site yourself, we recommend you transport asbestos either on a roof rack, in a trailer or on the back of a pick-up type vehicle. The asbestos should be double bagged/wrapped. Asbestos should not be carried in an enclosed vehicle unless there is a separate cab and cargo bay.

If you do not have your own transport and wish to use a skip company instead, you must ensure that the company you wish to use is willing to take the asbestos waste.  The skip company will need to provide you with a valid consignment note and be a registered carrier of waste.  More information is available on the Environment Agency website www.environment-agency.gov.uk.