WAYS HOUSEHOLDS DISPOSED OF HAZARDOUS WASTE
Hazardous waste was disposed of in a number of different ways. The most common way of disposal was to have the waste collected as part of the usual (non-recycled) garbage from the house, accounting for 82% of households. The next most popular method of disposal was to take the items to a business or shop/central point, with 43% of households using this method (table 2.12).
The way items were disposed of varied by item. The majority of households (90%) disposed of motor vehicle tyres by taking them to a business or shop/central point. Over half the households (56%) disposed of car batteries by the same method, while 26% took them to a general/special area at the dump/waste transfer station. Household batteries were most likely to be disposed of with the usual (non-recycled) garbage (91% of households). Less than 1% of each of the listed hazardous items were disposed of by pouring down a drain, with the exception of medicines, drugs or ointments, of which 14% of households disposed in this fashion (table 2.12).