Hazardous waste

The Albury Waste Management Centre (AWMC) is licensed to accept asbestos that has been removed and packed in accordance with legislative requirements.

To ensure the safety of all Albury Waste Management Centre users and the environment, it is essential to declare asbestos waste either on entry or prior to arrival.

Transporting Asbestos within NSW and interstate

Commercial Purposes

Asbestos transporters must report the movement of asbestos waste to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA). To help industry meet its legal obligations, the EPA has developed a new Integrated Waste Tracking Solution (IWTS) for tracking and reporting on hazardous and regulated waste.

If you’re involved with the transport or disposal of asbestos waste weighing more than 100 kilograms, or more than 10 square metres of asbestos sheeting in 1 load in NSW, you must track and report this waste to the EPA using the new IWTS.

Weather inhibits asbestos disposal, where wet conditions are present please contact 02 6043 5860 to seek disposal approval.

The IWTS generates a unique EPA consignment ID that allows each load to be monitored from the place of generation to the site of disposal. If you are planning on disposing of this waste at the AWMC, you will need to present this consignment ID upon entry. Persons not supplying the necessary information will be referred to EPA for their review.

For more information on the IWTS system, refer to NSW EPAs website Integrated waste tracking solution (nsw.gov.au)

Commercial asbestos disposals will only be accepted during business hours between Monday and Fridays unless otherwise authorised.

Residential Purposes

Council will only accept less than 100 kilograms of asbestos waste material from residents. All asbestos receivals need to comply with the triple wrapping requirements. Loads exceeding this volume are to be managed by an experienced asbestos removalist. The resident will be responsible for removing asbestos from their vehicles and placing in an area whereby onsite staff can pick up the package using bucket and loader machinery.

For any questions, please contact 02 6043 5860 .

Asbestos disposals will be accepted during business hours between Monday and Sunday.

Community Sharps Program Ending – From 1 July 2026

AlburyCity will be ending its Community Sharps Program (CSP) on 1 July 2026.

The CSP has been in place since the late 1990s to support the safe disposal of community generated sharps through collection bins located at selected pharmacies. Over time, the program has changed significantly, and after reviewing its operation, AlburyCity will no longer coordinate or fund the collection and disposal of sharps from pharmacy based bins.

What this means for the community

From 1 July 2026, community members will still have several safe and accessible options for disposing of sharps, including:

• NSW Health sharps disposal bins located at:
  • Albury Community Health Centre, 596 Smollett Street Albury
  • Albury Base Hospital, 201 Borella Road, East Albury
• Pharmacies that choose to continue accepting community sharps
• Personal sharps containers, available for purchase at pharmacies
• AlburyCity’s landfill, which accepts sealed sharps containers

These options ensure that safe disposal pathways remain available across the city.

What this means for pharmacies and businesses

Pharmacies may continue to accept community sharps if they choose. However, from 1 July 2026, they will need to arrange their own collection and disposal service with an authorised waste contractor.

More information

Further information on the roles and responsibilities for safe sharps disposal is available in the NSW Community Sharps Guidance.

If you have questions about sharps disposal options or this change, please contact AlburyCity’s Environmental Health team.

Community Sharps Program – Frequently Asked Questions

Why is AlburyCity ending the Community Sharps Program?

The program has changed significantly since it began in the late 1990s and no longer operates as originally intended. It now presents financial and operational challenges, and pharmacies already have responsibilities under state guidance for managing sharps generated on their premises. Ending the program allows AlburyCity to redirect resources to more effective community sharps management options.

When will the program end?

The Community Sharps Program will end on 1 July 2026.

Can I still dispose of my sharps safely after the program ends?
Yes. Safe disposal options will continue to be available across the city, including:
*NSW Health sharps disposal bins located at the Albury Community Health Centre and Albury Base Hospital
*Pharmacies that choose to continue accepting community sharps
*Personal sharps containers available for purchase at pharmacies
*AlburyCity’s landfill (sealed sharps containers only)

Will pharmacies still accept sharps?

Some may choose to continue accepting community sharps. However, from 1 July 2026, pharmacies will need to arrange their own collection and disposal service with an authorised waste contractor.

Does this change affect people who use sharps for medical reasons?

No. People who use sharps for diabetes, allergies, fertility treatment, or other medical needs will still have multiple safe disposal options, including personal sharps containers and NSW Health disposal sites.

What about businesses like beauty salons or cosmetic clinics?

Businesses that generate sharps as part of their operations must continue to use an authorised waste contractor for collection and disposal. This requirement does not change.

Why can’t AlburyCity continue to fund the service?

The program has expanded beyond its original purpose and now involves costs and operational processes that are no longer sustainable or aligned with state expectations.

Where can I find more information about safe sharps disposal?

Further information on roles and responsibilities is available in the NSW Community Sharps Guidance and NSW Health Community Sharps Management resources.

Who can I contact if I have questions?

You can contact AlburyCity’s Environmental Health team for assistance or clarification.

Leftover paint is one of the most common sources of liquid waste in landfills but we can dispose of old paint in a safe and practical way – and disposal is free.

Australians buy more than 100 million litres of paint a year. About five million litres ends up in landfill, along with the packaging and materials that go with it.

Leftover paint can contaminate groundwater and should not be put into garbage bins.

However, if you deliver unwanted paint to the Albury Recycling Centre, it will be mixed with other waste solvents and used as an alternative fuel in cement kilns. The metal containers are also recycled.

Remember, you should never mix your paint with other chemicals, and if possible you should keep your paint in its original containers.

We have partnered with Paintback, which collects the paint and packaging from the Albury Recycling Centre and transports it for treatment. The packaging and waste liquid are separated. Waste paint is treated in a number of ways including energy recovery for solvent and liquid/solid separation for water-based paint, significantly minimising pressures on our landfill.

Household users and trade painters can drop off the following items for free:

• Interior and exterior architectural paint
• Deck coatings and floor paints
• Primers, undercoats and sealers
• Stains and shellacs
• Varnishes and urethanes (single component)
• Wood coatings
• Packaging

Used motor and cooking oil can be recycled, so rather than risk contamination or a spill at your place, bring it to us and we'll have it cleaned and put to good use.

Each year, Australians buy more than 500 million litres of motor oil. Just one litre of motor oil is enough to contaminate one million litres of water, and a single oil change in your car produces four to five litres of oil waste.

Used motor oil picks up toxic chemicals when used in engines and transmissions and is hazardous to the environment.

Sump oil - which includes engine oil, two-stroke, diesel oil and lubricating oils along with cooking oil - can be dropped off for free at the Albury Recycling Centre.

Fortunately, used motor oil can be recycled because instead of wearing out, it just gets dirty. The contaminants can be removed and the oil recycled time after time.

Some uses of recycled oil are industrial burner fuel, re-refined lube oil, or it can be used in other products as an additive.

If you have small quantities (20 litres maximum) of old motor oils or unused/used cooking oil make sure it is in a secure oil container and bring it to the Albury Recycling Centre.

Households are not charged for oil disposal but a fee applies for commercial operators.

Here are some useful tips for recycling oils:

• Dispose of old oils straight away otherwise you risk it entering the soil and contaminating ground water if it spills or leaks
• Do not mix oils with other chemicals as contamination may cause the oil to be unrecyclable. Keep liquids in original containers

Ensure all containers are sealed and have clearly identifiable labels.

The Issue

Sending batteries to landfill is a huge waste of beneficial resources.

When disposed of correctly, around 95% of alkaline and lithium battery components can be recycled in Australia and can be made into new products such as streetlights and car parts!

In Australia, about 350 million batteries are purchased every year. More than two thirds of them end up in landfill, where they can cause health and environmental problems.

Councils and waste contractors have seen a significant rise in the number of truck and rubbish fires caused by batteries, which if damaged are explosive and cause fires that are difficult to put out.

Heavy metals in batteries include cadmium, nickel, lead, and mercury, are all toxic and dangerous to human, animal and environmental health if not managed properly.

The environment is damaged by batteries in landfill because once their casings disintegrate, metals and chemicals inside the battery leach out.

How Can You Help?

You can prevent this type of environmental damage by dropping batteries at a designated drop off point. Once we’ve received them, they can be made into new products such as streetlights and car parts.

Some of the new uses for your old batteries include:

• Recycling nickel to produce stainless steel.
• Recycling acid to form sodium sulphate, which is used to make detergents, glass, and textiles.
• The production of new batteries, fertilisers, waste bins and plant pots

Small household batteries

In Albury, you can dispose of your unwanted household batteries at either the Albury Recycling Centre located at the Albury Waste Management Centre or at the many local drop off locations listed here around town:

Accepted batteries include: AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, 6V, button batteries and batteries from detachable or removable household devices, appliances and power tools.

Please note: Tape both ends of battery terminals before dropping them off at a designated collection site.

Handheld lithium batteries can also be returned to Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, IGA and Bunnings.

Vehicle Batteries

Your unwanted vehicle batteries can be dropped off at the Albury Recycling Centre located at the Albury Waste Management Centre.

Embedded Batteries Trial

The NSW EPA has established a trial, in partnership with AlburyCity Council, to accept products with embedded batteries at the Albury Recycling Centre. This includes e-cigarettes and vapes.

To find out more, please visit: Embedded Battery Trial

Commercial Lithium-ion batteries

The Albury Recycling Centre does not accept Commercial lithium-ion batteries. These require direct disposal at a specialist recovery facility.

Battery Recycling

More Information

Safe battery recycling

Australia’s official battery stewardship scheme - B-cycle

What products are accepted at the Albury Recycling Centre as part of the Embedded Batteries Trial?

Common items you might have at home that may contain an embedded battery are:

• Bluetooth speakers and headphones
• Electric toothbrushes
• E-scooters, e-bikes and hover boards
• Flashing/light up toys – particularly wands or other hard plastic products
• Personal care devices (e.g. shavers)
• Powerpacks and portable charging devices
• Remote controlled and ride-on toys
• Vacuum cleaners (cordless hand-held and robotic)
• Vapes
• Wearable devices such as smart watches, trackers and medical aids

If you have an unusual product, please phone ahead to the ARC to see if it can be accepted.

Many products have removable batteries, so if the batteries can be easily removed, please only bring the loose batteries.

What products are not accepted as part of the Embedded Batteries Trial?

Products covered under the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS) should be directed to your Council’s e-waste collection, usually also located at the Community Recycling Centre. This includes e-waste such as televisions, computers, printers, computer parts and peripherals. E-waste products containing an embedded battery, such as rechargeable gaming controllers and laptops, are accepted as part of the NTCRS rather than through the trial.

Mobile phones and associated accessories should be directed to your nearest MobileMuster collection point. MobileMuster is the product stewardship scheme for the collection and recycling of old and broken phones, chargers and accessories. These can be recycled at any MobileMuster location: https://www.mobilemuster.com.au/recycle-a-mobile/

For more information on the NTCRS, please visit: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/product-stewardship/products-schemes/television-computer-recycling-scheme

Oversize items are also not accepted. Check with Council before presenting anything over 20kgs or that is bulky/requiring special delivery and/or more than one person from a manual handling perspective.

Where is the Albury Recycling Centre located?

The Albury Recycling Centre is located at the Albury Waste Management Centre at:

565 Mudge Street
Lavington, NSW 2641
Phone:02 6043 5860.

Are other Community Recycling Centres participating in the Embedded Batteries trial?

There are 21 Community Recycling Centres participating in the Embedded Batteries Trial. Visit www.epa.nsw.gov.au/embedded-batteries to find other trial locations.

How long is the Embedded Batteries Trial for?

The Embedded Batteries Trial will began September 2024 and will run until September 2026.

Because they contain mercury, fluorescent lamps are damaging if they end up in landfill - so let us take care of them for you.

While the risk of mercury poisoning from broken lights is low, 95% of mercury contained in waste lights in Australia end up in landfills which poses a significant environmental concern.

Over time, mercury converts to methylmercury, a toxic chemical that spreads into the environment through the air, water and soil.

The mercury from one fluorescent tube is enough to pollute 30,000 litres of water. But to eliminate the risk, fluorescent lights can be safely collected and recycled, creating positive uses for potentially dangerous products.

You can dispose of your waste lights for free by separating them and placing them in the correct receptacles at the Albury Recycling Centre.

The following can be recycled:

• Compact fluorescent lamps
• Fluorescent U-tubes
• Linear fluorescent lamps
• Mercury vapour lamps
• Metal halide lamps
• Sodium vapour lamps
• UV lamps
• LED tubes

Gas bottles that can no longer be refilled can be recycled for scrap metal

Gas bottles that are unfit for reuse can be recycled. High pressure gas bottles pose a significant safety hazard if compacted in landfill.

You can recycle your unwanted gas bottle for free at the Albury Recycling Centre.

Gas bottles have residual gas captured for reuse. Undamaged bottles are retested, restamped and entered into the hire industry. Damaged bottles are punctured and recycled as scrap metal.

Please do NOT put gas bottles into your kerbside bins as they pose a significant safety hazard if compacted in landfill.