Wollongong's council depot says no to asbestos. So where does it go?

What the council says

Wollongong City Council's asbestos page is short. It says that if you are removing more than 10 square metres of asbestos, you must use a licensed asbestos removalist; that it is illegal to put asbestos in a household garbage bin or to dump it; and that you cannot take asbestos to its waste disposal depot.

The council's Community Recycling Centre is at that depot, at Kembla Grange. This site could not read the centre's list of what it takes, so the safe reading is the council's own: asbestos does not go to the depot.

What the EPA's list adds

The council points to the NSW EPA's list of facilities that accept household asbestos. Under Illawarra and South Coast that list names one, at Dunmore, and adds that waste is only accepted in the shire for these facilities. It does not say which shire's addresses that facility serves.

The EPA's advice is to phone any landfill in advance to confirm it takes household asbestos, and many landfills need a booking at least 24 hours ahead.

Shellharbour's side

Dunmore is in the Shellharbour City Council area. That council's illegal dumping page carries an asbestos heading and asks anyone who sees dumping to call 4221 6111. This site could not cite Shellharbour's waste pages, so it shows no fee, hours or booking rule for the facility.

Before a trailer is loaded

Non-friable asbestos must be securely packaged and carried in a covered, leak-proof part of the vehicle. If you carry more than 100 kg or 10 square metres from your home yourself, the EPA wants its household asbestos form within 24 hours of delivery, and you stay responsible for lawful disposal even when you pay someone to take it away, so keep the receipt.

What could change

Councils and the EPA can change a page at any time, and a free household collection trial is planned for 2027 and is not running. Check the current page before you rely on any of this.