Cambridge
1 November, 2026
Cambridge
Event Ended!
Waipā District Council is funding this free household hazardous waste collection event to give local residents a safe and responsible way to dispose of unwanted household hazardous waste. If you have unwanted chemicals or other hazardous materials around your home, this event provides a free way to dispose of them safely.
Bookings are essential
No registration = no entry.
Places are limited, and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. When you register, please provide details of all the hazardous waste you intend to bring to the event. Only waste that has been registered and meets the event’s acceptance criteria can be received.
Accepted items
Household Waste
Cleaners
Poisons
Solvents
Aerosols
Batteries
Paint
Garden Chemicals
Insecticides
Herbicides
Fungicides
Automotive Waste
Antifreeze
Brake fluid
Fuel
Motor oil
Batteries
Pool Chemicals
Chlorine
No! Sorry we can’t accept your
| Explosives or ammunition | Call Cambridge or Te Awamutu Police Station (phone 105) to arrange safe drop-off. You must call in advance. | |
| Fertilisers | Share with friends, community gardens, or compost if safe. Small plastic containers (#1, #2, #5, under 4L) can go in your yellow recycling bin once rinsed. | |
| Light bulbs | Drop off at Mitre 10 Cambridge or Te Awamutu for recycling via Interwaste. | Light bulbs |
| Asbestos | Must be removed by a licensed asbestos contractor. See the WorkSafe register for approved providers. | |
| LPG gas cylinders | Return to National Gas Ltd or other licensed suppliers for safe recovery. | |
| E-waste | Take to Urban Miners collections (1st Sunday each month in Te Awamutu, 3rd Sunday in Cambridge). Call 021 168 4638 for details. | |
| Pharmaceuticals/medicines | Return expired or unwanted medicines to your local pharmacy for safe disposal. | |
| Mobile phones | Use the free RE:MOBILE programme. Drop-off available at Spark, Vodafone, Noel Leeming, and Resene ColorShop (Cambridge/Te Awamutu). Over 95% of materials are recycled. | |
| Cooking oil | Seal in a container and place in your rubbish bin. Do not pour down the sink (can cause blockages). |
Waipā District Council has an excellent guide to a wide range of waste items on their website.
Event Details
Event Ended.
Event Partner
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a MyHazWaste event?It’s an event, funded by councils, where ratepayers can safely dispose of hazardous household waste, such as garden chemicals, cleaners, fertilisers, pool chemicals and automotive waste, for free.
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Are these events just for householders?
Yes. Organisations such as businesses, farmers, growers, contractors, schools etc. should contact ChemCollect for a commercial chemical collection and disposal service as this is not covered by this council-funded event.
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How do I book to drop off my hazardous household waste?
Please see our upcoming events.
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Does registering for the event to drop off hazardous household waste automatically mean my booking is confirmed?
If you book after the funding limit has been reached, we will advise you that your waste cannot be accepted at this event. We will provide your details to your council so they can plan for future events should funding allow.
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What happens if I bring additional items that weren’t registered or were not on the acceptance list?
We have the right to refuse to take additional items or items that do not meet the acceptance criteria.
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What if I don’t know what’s in one of my containers?
Please include it under “unknown” on the booking form. The MyHazWaste team reserves the right to refuse it after inspection.
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Are these materials harmful to me?
Many household chemicals are harmful if used, stored, or disposed of incorrectly. This can cause harm to people, animals, and the environment. Please ensure your waste is stored carefully and out of reach of children and animals.
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How should I transport these materials?
When transporting hazardous waste, we recommend you put items in a container which won’t leak if there is a spill. Place this securely in the boot of your car, back of your ute, or in a trailer. If you are in doubt whether the items should be transported, please call us first on 0508 CHEMICAL (0508 243 642).
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Why don’t you take e-waste, LPG gas cylinders, pharmaceuticals etc?
Many hazardous items already have dedicated recycling or disposal services available in your community. These should be taken through the appropriate local channels rather than to this event. Please check your council’s website or waste guide for details on how to safely dispose of items we cannot accept.
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Do I have to bring my confirmation email with me?
No, we will have a list of everyone who registered.
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What if I can’t bring my waste in on the specified date.
You could ask someone else to bring it for you as long as you have received a registration confirmation and the person bringing it knows what name it was registered under. If that’s not possible, let us know you can’t attend and we’ll send your details to your council for future events.
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Can you collect from my house?
Unfortunately, we can’t collect direct from a home. You could ask someone else to bring it for you if you have received a registration confirmation and the person bringing it knows what name it was registered under.
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When is the next event?
Your council may decide to hold future events should funding allow. They will advertise any future events in their communities.
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What happens to the waste I bring in?
Waste is transported, stored, aggregated, and disposed of according to New Zealand regulations. This is organised by MyHazWaste team from 3R Group Ltd.