MidCoast Council, Midwaste and the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) have combined forces to provide residents with a free, safe and easy disposal method for any unwanted or out-of-date household chemicals.

For residents in the Great Lakes region, the collection will be held on Friday, June 3 from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Tuncurry Waste Management Centre located on Tip Road, Tuncurry.

Residents in the Manning Valley will have their collection on Sunday, June 5 from 9 am to 12 noon at the Bucketts Way Landfill, located at 6843 The Bucketts Way, Tinonee. 

The service is for domestic quantities of household hazardous chemicals only, with the first 20kg/litres able to be disposed free of charge.

Hazardous household chemicals eligible for this free collection include items such as pesticides, paint, garden chemicals (e.g. weed killers), solvents (e.g. paint stripper), household cleaners and chemicals (e.g. bleach and detergents), smoke detectors, fluorescent light globes and tubes, household batteries, old gas bottles, pharmaceuticals and fire extinguishers.

Midwaste Coordinator, Ali Bigg, encouraged residents to take advantage of the free service.

“Everyone loves a freebie and this is a great opportunity to get rid of those unwanted chemicals that have been lying around the house or garage,” she said.

For more information about the collection, residents can visit www.midwaste.org.au or call Midwaste on 1800 246 489.

Particular care should be taken to ensure all chemicals are transported safely to the collection centre.