Problem Waste

Discover how Council keeps Armidale and Guyra clean and safe through sharps collections, waste monitoring, asbestos and plant booking forms, and illegal dumping notices.

Asbestos Disposal

Asbestos can only be disposed of at the Armidale Waste Management Facility. Due to the special precautions and procedures for asbestos disposal, you must complete the Asbestos Disposal Booking Form and notify the Armidale Waste Management Facility at least 24 hours before your intended disposal.

For further information about safe handling and delivery of asbestos waste, please contact the Waste team on 02 6772 7090.

For further information about asbestos please visit the Australian Government Department of Health website or the Safe Work NSW website.

Sharps

There are specific management requirements for special waste to minimise the risk of harm to the environment and human health. It is the responsibility of waste generators to classify their wastes for appropriate management and disposal.

What is sharps waste?
Under NSW environment protection legislation, sharps waste is defined as any waste collected from designated sharps waste containers used in the course of business, commercial or community service activities. This includes any waste resulting from the use of sharps for any of the following purposes

  • human health care by health professionals or health care providers (either at health facilities or at home)
  • medical research or work on cadavers
  • veterinary care or veterinary research
  • skin penetration or the injection of drugs or other substances for medical or non-medical reasons

‘Sharps’ means items that

  • have sharp points or edges capable of cutting, piercing, or penetrating the skin (such as needles, syringes with needles or surgical instruments)
  • are designed for the purpose of cutting, piercing or penetrating the skin
  • have the potential to cause injury or infection

Not all sharps are classified as sharps waste.

What isn't sharps waste?
Sharps that do not fall within the definition of sharps waste include

  • sharps resulting from self-injection at private residences or public places that are not placed in a designated sharps container provided by a business, commercial or community service activity
  • needle or syringe litter collected by council staff or contractors, or other public land managers

How can I dispose of sharps?
All sharps' users must do the right thing when disposing of their used sharps. The inappropriate disposal of sharps, including needles, syringes and lancets, represents a health risk to the whole community.

You can find the designated sharps collection points in your LGA here.

 

Illegal Dumping

What is illegal dumping? 
Illegal dumping of waste is an environmental crime that is ongoing and is a highly visible problem in NSW. It is the unlawful deposit of waste, larger than litter, onto land or into water. It includes waste materials that have been dumped, tipped or otherwise deposited onto land where no licence or approval exists to accept such waste. 

Illegal dumping varies from small bags of rubbish in an urban environment to larger scale dumping of waste materials in isolated areas, such as bushland. Illegal dumping includes illegal landfilling, which is waste used as fill material with the consent of the owner or occupier of the land but without the necessary council or Environment Protection Authority (EPA) approvals. 

Illegal dumping at charitable recyclers 
Council is working with charities to combat illegal dumping within our local government area at their stores.  

Donating quality items to charities benefits the community through their charitable works. It also reduces the waste going to Council’s landfill by providing these items with a second life. Dumping of items that are soiled, stained or broken costs our charities more than 180 hours of volunteers' time per week to sort through what has been left to find items that may be re-purposed. Items that cannot be repurposed go to Council’s landfill. 

The dumping problem shouldn’t discourage genuine donors. Always ask yourself before donating, would you or someone you know buy this? Or if you have questions as to whether a charity can accept the item, call them. 

If you come across Illegal Dumping in the Armidale Regional Council Local Government Area - report it here.

 

Plant Material Source Form

The Armidale Waste Management Facility on Long Swamp Road accepts bulk garden waste that exceeds the green lid bin capacity. Separating your green waste and submitting the Plant Material Source Form enables Council to better manage weeds and invasive plants in the region and comply with NSW EPA requirements for producing and supplying mulch. This ensures a high-quality mulch that we can provide back to the community.

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