Disposing of Asbestos Waste

Disposing of rainbow sand

A recall of EC Rainbow Sand (1.3kg) and Creatistics – Coloured Sand (1kg) is underway due to potential asbestos contamination, and we’ve had some questions about what to do with it. The best thing to do is contact your local council, who will be able to advise how to dispose of the material.

Here are the main things to note:

Stop using the product immediately
Do not let children touch or play with the sand
Do not dispose of the sand in household rubbish bags or vacuum the sand.
Secure the product in a thick plastic bag and twist the top of the bag tightly, fold over and seal with tape.
Clearly label the bag with “Asbestos-Contaminated Material”

For more info, check out to the Health NZ website: Asbestos in sand and the MBIE website.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is the name for a group of naturally occurring minerals made up of small fibres. Due to their extraordinary strength, and resistance to heat and chemical attacks, asbestos historically has been widely used in products such as insulation material in buildings, water supply lines, fire blankets, brake linings, gaskets and pads for automobiles.

The main route people are exposed to asbestos is by breathing in air that contains asbestos fibres. For further information about the health effects of asbestos see ‘What are the health risks associated with asbestos?’.

Where can I dispose of asbestos waste?

In Aotearoa New Zealand, there are a number of places where you can dispose of asbestos waste.

Not all sites are open to the public and conditions vary, see below for information on landfill and waste transfer stations that accept asbestos.

(Note: This list is not exhaustive and is correct as of August 2026. Always contact the provider to check beforehand as information is subject to change.)

North Island - Facilities accepting asbestos waste from the general public

Name	Location	Phone	Website	Address	Notes
Northland Waste Kerikeri	Kerikeri	0800 499 246	Northland Waste	1913 State Highway 10 Waipapa, Kerikeri 0230	Contact North Waste to purchase a disposal bag.
Northland Regional Landfill	Whangārei	0800 499 246	Northland Waste	State Highway 1, Puwera, Whangarei	Contact North Waste to purchase a disposal bag.
Wairoa Landfill & Recycling Centre	Wairoa	04 6 838 7309	www.wairoadc.govt.nz	Fraser Street, Wairoa 4193	Contact Wairoa District Council for a permit.
Spicer Landfill	Porirua	04 237 5089	https://poriruacity.govt.nz/services/rubbish-and-recycling/asbestos-and-other-hazardous-substances/	End of Broken Hill Road Porirua	Contact Porirua City Council for an application form.
Southern Landfill	Wellington	04 499 4444	https://southernlandfill.co.nz/	Landfill Road, Happy Valley, Wellington	Disposal conditions and a Special Waste Permit required, contact Wellington City Council, info@wcc.govt.nz
Silverstream Landfill	Upper Hutt	04 563 6 952	https://www.huttcity.govt.nz/services/rubbish-and-recycling/landfill-fees-and-charges	Reynolds Bach Drive, Stokes Valley	Accepts up to 50kgs from the public.
Bonny Glen Landfill	Rangitīkei		https://bonnyglen.co.nz/special-waste-applications	818 Wanganui Road, Turakina 4788	Requires permit and prior arrangement to accept correctly wrapped and labelled asbestos. Also accepts asbestos contaminated soil. Contact info@midwestdisposals.co.nz

North Island - Facilities accepting asbestos waste from approved/licensed contractors only

Name	Location	Phone Number	Website	Address	Notes
Northland Waste	Warkworth	0800 499 246	Northland Waste	183 Sandspit Road, Warkworth 0982	Contact North Waste to purchase a disposal bag.
Whitford Landfill and Energy Park	Auckland	09 530 8774	https://www.wastedisposalservices.co.nz/our-sites/whitford-landfill--energy-park/	301 Whitford-Maraetai Road, Whitford	Contact weighbridge whitfordlandfill@wm.nz
Hampton Downs Landfill	Waikato	0800 240 120	https://environz.co.nz/facilities	136 Hampton Downs Road, Te Kauwhata 3782	Managed by EnviroNZ enquiries@environz.co.nz
Omarunui Landfill	Napier		https://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/services/rubbish-and-recycling/omarunui-landfill/	329 Omarunui Road, Puketapu, Napier	Commercial operators/contractors with an Ōmarunui Landfill Waste Disposal Licence.
Rotorua South Resource Recovery Park (Landfill)	Rotorua	+64 07 348 4199	https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/property-building-bins/rubbish-and-recycling/facilities/landfill	210 State Highway 30, Horohoro, Rotorua 3077	Contact Rotorua Lakes Council for conditions of disposal.
Central Hawkes Bay Landfill	Waipukurau		https://www.chbdc.govt.nz/services/rubbish-and-recycling/landfill-services/	Farm Road, RD 4, Waipukurau	By prior arrangement with Central Hawkes Bay District Council - permit only open to commercial operators and contractors with a landfill tag.
Redvale Landfill & Energy Park, Dairy Flat	Auckland	09 427 0600		Landfill Access Road, Dairy Flat, Auckland 079	Contact Redvale Sales: Redvale_sales@wm.nz

South Island - Facilities accepting asbestos waste from the general public

Name	Location	Phone Number	Website	Address	Notes
Blenheim Hazardous Waste Centre	Marlborough	03 578 9622	Marlborough District Council	Wither Road Extension (opposite the Recycling Centre) in Wither Hills, Blenheim 7201	Can accept small quantities (under 10m2) of non-friable double wrapped asbestos.
Bluegums Landfill - Marlborough District Council	Marlborough	03 579 6343	Marlborough District Council	341 Taylor Pass Road, Blenheim 7274	Asbestos waste is only accepted subject to a Waste Acceptance Evaluation (WAE) application form that is assessed by Council and delivered to the site with prior arrangement.
EcoDrop Metro Place	Christchurch	03 9417513	https://ecocentral.co.nz/ecodrops/	40 Metro Place, Bromley, Christchurch 8062	Accepts correctly wrapped asbestos, weekdays only.
Redruth Resource Recovery Park	Timaru	03 687 7200	Timaru District Council	23 Shaw Street, Timaru	Requires application to Timaru DC prior to disposal.
Green Island Landfill and Resource Recovery Park	Dunedin	034774000	Dunedin City Council	9 Brighton Road, Green Island, Dunedin	Will accept properly wrapped from public and contractors.
Mount Cooee Landfill	Clutha	0800 801 350	Clutha District Council	69 Kaitangata Highway, Balclutha 9231	Clutha District Council permit required.
Wānaka Transfer Station	Wānaka	03 341 2092	Queenstown Lakes District Council	Ballantyne Rd, Wānaka 9343	Domestic scale volumes not exceeding 20 kilos can be disposed of with prior arrangement only.
Queenstown Transfer Station	Queenstown	03 341 2092	Queenstown Lakes District Council	110 Glenda Dr, Frankton, Queenstown 9371	Domestic scale volumes not exceeding 20 kilos can be disposed of with prior arrangement only.
Victoria Flats Landfill	Queenstown-Lakes	03 445 1860	Queenstown Lakes District Council	2780 State Highway 6 (Queenstown-Cromwell Highway), Gibbston Valley, Otago	Permit required, public and licensed contractors. Contact Scope Resources Limited.
Southern Regional Landfill	Southland	0800227559	Southern Landfill	10-20 Bend Road, Kings Bend, Winton 9782, Southland	Requires 48 hour notice and permit required.
Timpany Landfill	Invercargill	027 666 0609	Timpany Landfill	72 Coggins Road, 9RD, Invercargill	Specialist asbestos disposal facility prior arrangement required.

South Island - Facilities accepting asbestos waste from approved/licensed contractors only

Name	Location	Phone Number	Website	Address	Notes
York Valley Landfill	Tasman	03 546 0200	Tasman District Council	Off Market Road in the suburb of Bishopdale, Nelson	Accepted via application contact Landfill Business Unit via Nelson City Council landfill@ncc.govt.nz
Kate Valley Landfill	Hurunui	03 359 1800	Transwaste Canterbury	554 Mt Cass Road, RD 3, Amberley	Special waste permit through landfill required.
Burnside Landfill (Nash & Ross)	Dunedin	034881146	Nash & Ross	712 Kaikorai Valley Road, Dunedin 9011	Commercial waste only contact landfill directly for prior approval.
Reefton Landfill Site	Reefton	03 732 7033	Rosco Contractors	Not listed	Licensed contractors only. Disposal subject to completion and approval of landfill acceptance criteria sheet.

Who is involved in the regulation and monitoring of asbestos?

There are many agencies and organisations involved in the management of asbestos. The map derived from NZDAA – Asbestos Sector Review shows the asbestos ecosystem.

There are various rules and regulations applying when working with or removing asbestos. An overview can be found on the WorkSafe website here.

Click here for the New Zealand Guidelines for Assessing and Managing Asbestos in Soil as developed by BRANZ and ALGA.

A practical guide on how to safely remove asbestos from your home can be found on the Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand website here.

What are the health risks associated with asbestos?

All forms of asbestos have been found to be carcinogenic to humans. Exposure to asbestos can cause various forms of cancer such as lung, larynx, ovary and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos can also cause diseases such as asbestosis, plaques and thickening of the pleura.

Most people that become ill from asbestos have been exposed to asbestos via their workplace.

For more information about the health risks of asbestos please see:

Disposing of rainbow sand

What is asbestos?

Where can I dispose of asbestos waste?

Landfill sites that take asbestos waste

Who is involved in the regulation and monitoring of asbestos?

What are the health risks associated with asbestos?

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