In almost every house, you can find some type of hazardous waste, which needs to be disposed of correctly to ensure your safety. Below are some of the most common types of hazardous waste you are likely to find within a home.

Asbestos is an extremely serious hazardous waste, and is also very common. The use of asbestos in the building and construction industry was only banned in 1999, before which it was commonly used for a wide range of purposes. There are over 3,000 products made from asbestos, ranging from roof tiles through to vehicle brake pads. To identify asbestos, you need a specialist asbestos survey to be carried out. Once identified, the asbestos is usually removed or coated in a resin to ensure that the dangerous fibres are contained.

Fluorescent bulbs are everywhere, from shops to hospitals, and many people do not realise that these bulbs are a hazardous waste. Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, which can cause serious health issues and environmental problems if incorrectly disposed. Most local councils and recycling centres provide specialist containers for disposing of waste fluorescent bulbs.

Batteries are another common hazardous waste that is often overlooked. Batteries come in many shapes and forms, from small batteries to power your remotes right through to large car batteries. Batteries often contain dangerous metals, such as lead, as well as corrosive fluids, such as sulphuric acid. These materials pose serious threats to our health and the environment, so must be disposed of correctly. Most supermarkets take household batteries, whilst car batteries can often be taken to your local mechanic.

Paint may seem quite innocent, but it contains chemicals that can be extremely detrimental to the environment. Unused old paint should never be thrown onto the grown or chucked away in a waste bin. Instead, there are a number of organisations that will reuse the leftover paint, such as Community Repaint.

If you have hazardous waste, it is important to always use the correct disposal procedure for the good of our health and the environment. For more information on ways to dispose of hazardous waste, check out the government guide.