Clean up and waste management

The Federal and State governments have covered the costs of cleaning up material affected by the 2019-20 Bushfires.

The clean-up is now largely complete, helping the community begin to rebuild.

If your property was affected by the bushfires and you still require assistance with clean-up and removal of bushfire-affected materials, including:

bricks
rubble and demolition waste
e-waste
metal sheeting
metal tanks
plastic rain water tanks
fencing materials
polypipe and irrigation materials
vehicles

Please contact Green Industries SA

Clean-up of bushfire affected material

For replacement of rubbish and recycling bins contact your local council.

Check with your local council before moving any non-household rubbish or waste. If you need temporary bins for this waste, contact your local council. Separate recyclable materials such as scrap metal, concrete and bricks.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides advice on waste management issues and disposal of burnt items from bushfires, including:

CCA treated timber
contaminated water in rainwater tanks
chemicals
bushfire-affected animal carcasses
building rubble
wastewater disposal.

Asbestos was a popular building material used widely in Australia until the 1980s. It was banned in 2003 because it can pose a serious health risk.

If your home was constructed before 2003, it may contain components with asbestos fibres. When undisturbed, asbestos does not pose a health hazard. However, when disturbed, asbestos particles will become airborne and dangerous.

If you suspect your property may contain asbestos, the debris must be disposed of safely and securely. Contractors must only enter the site in full personal protective equipment and all debris must be securely bagged and transported in a sealed tray. Not all landfills are equipped to accept and dispose of debris that contains asbestos.

Often the surrounding soil will be scraped to a depth of 10mm. Hard services such as concrete slabs and driveways will not absorb asbestos particles and can be cleaned.

If you are insured, and you have any questions regarding the removal of debris from a property, speak with your insurer.

Advice and information to help you manage asbestos

Asbestos – fire and water damage

Some solid and liquid waste is hazardous and is not suitable for the usual collection and disposal methods.

Hazardous waste products include:

garden chemicals - e.g. pesticides, weedkillers and fertilisers
insect repellents and rat poison
cleaners - e.g. oven cleaner, toilet cleaner, bleach, ammonia and furniture polish
automotive products - e.g. fuel, lubricants and degreasers
home improvement products - e.g. paints, thinners and adhesives, batteries and pool chlorine.

Hazardous products should not be put out for garbage collection, buried, or allowed to enter sewer or stormwater systems.

Materials like paint, pesticides, herbicides, poly-pipe and fertilisers can be collected from your fire-affected property free of charge.

Do not decant or mix chemicals, and keep them in the original containers. If you know what chemicals are in the container and the label is not readable, please label the container to assist with identification.

Household chemicals and paint can also be disposed of at one of Green Industries SA’s drop-off depots

Permapine and CCA timber

Replacing fences or other structures made from permapine – timber treated with copper chrome arsenate (CCA) – must only be done using safe handling procedures:.

make sure you wear personal protective equipment, including mask, goggles and gloves
bag permapine ash in heavy-duty plastic bags and seal each bag
store the bagged ash with other permapine posts and sleepers
store permapine ash and permapine timber separately, away from non-treated timber, organics or crops - mixed storage will result in the entire amount being treated as hazardous
do not chip or mulch permapine timber, burn it or use it as ground cover
store permapine timber on a waterproof lining - do not leave it in contact with soil
permapine timber must only be disposed of through a landfill licensed to handle chemical waste.

More information about handling permapine can be found in these fact sheets:

Permapine (CCA timber) waste - storage and management (EPA) (PDF 186 KB).

Managing hazardous chemicals, plastic dripline and irrigation and CCA treated timber (‘permapine’)

Free disposal vouchers for timber (Cudlee Creek)

If you are affected by the Cudlee Creek fire, and have permapine posts and logs (not ash), you can access free disposal vouchers from the Recovery Centre at Lobethal.

The opening hours and location for drop-off is printed on the vouchers. No other waste materials will be accepted.

Permapine (CCA Timber) Posts - free disposal vouchers