The short answer
Old paint, solvents, pesticides, oils, batteries, fluorescent tubes, gas cylinders and cleaning chemicals should not go in the household bin or down the drain. Keep them in their original containers, sealed and upright, away from children and heat. Ask WasteServ which civic amenity site accepts each item, and your gas supplier about cylinders. Never disturb material you suspect is asbestos.
What counts as hazardous
Hazardous household waste is anything that is flammable, toxic, corrosive or can react with other substances. In Maltese homes, garages and roof washrooms, the usual finds are:
- Paint, varnish, primers and wood stain, especially old oil-based tins.
- Solvents and thinners, white spirit, turpentine and paint stripper.
- Pesticides, weedkillers and rat poison.
- Engine oil, brake fluid and antifreeze from cars and scooters.
- Batteries, from AA cells to car batteries.
- Fluorescent tubes and energy-saving bulbs.
- Aerosol cans that are not empty.
- Pool chemicals and strong cleaning products, such as bleach, acids and drain cleaners.
- Gas cylinders, full or empty.
- Old medicines.
Why not the bin or the drain?
These products can leak, catch fire, react with other rubbish or poison people and animals. Pouring them down a sink, drain or into the soil can contaminate water. Collection crews and waste facilities also face real risks when hazardous items are hidden in black bags.
This guide is practical, not legal. For the rules that apply, ask WasteServ or your local council. We do not give guidance on waste law.
Storing it safely at home
Until you can take it away:
- Keep products in their original containers, with the labels on.
- Close lids tightly and store containers upright.
- Never mix chemicals or pour leftovers into other bottles. Some combinations, such as bleach and acids, give off dangerous gases.
- Keep them away from children and pets, ideally locked away.
- Keep them cool and dry, away from heat, sunlight and anything that sparks. Roof washrooms in summer get very hot.
- Put leaking containers inside a larger sealed container and label it.
Where it goes
WasteServ civic amenity sites
WasteServ civic amenity sites in Malta and Gozo accept some hazardous household items from residents. Check with WasteServ which items your nearest site accepts and when it is open before you go.
Shops and suppliers
- Batteries: many shops that sell batteries have collection points.
- Gas cylinders: ask your gas supplier or distributor how to return them.
- Medicines: ask your pharmacy.
- Car batteries and oil: ask the garage or the shop where you buy them.
Asbestos in older homes
Some older buildings in Malta and Gozo may contain asbestos-cement products, such as old water tanks, roof sheets, pipes or flue pipes. If you suspect asbestos, do not break, drill, cut or sweep it. Leave it where it is and get specialist advice. Ask a specialist contractor, not a general clearance team.
Unknown chemicals
Clearing a garage or an inherited property often turns up unlabelled bottles and tins.
- Do not open, sniff or mix them.
- Keep them upright and separate from everything else.
- Note anything you can see: colour, smell from outside, what was stored nearby.
- Ask WasteServ for advice on how to dispose of them.
Clearing a garage or washroom with hazardous items
Garages and roof washrooms are where most hazardous items end up: decades of paint tins, chemicals and car fluids. When you clear one:
- separate hazardous items first, before anything else is moved,
- wear gloves and keep the space ventilated,
- tell your clearance team what is there before they arrive.
See our garage and roof washroom clear-out guide.
How we can help
Our house clearance and junk removal teams separate hazardous items from general waste when they clear a property. Some items need specialist handling, so please tell us about chemicals, cylinders or suspected asbestos when you ask for a quote.
For other items, see disposing of old appliances and skip hire or a clearance service.