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Unacceptable cleanfill materials (section 4.3 in the Guide)

The following list includes common materials, especially construction and demolition waste, that are considered unacceptable for disposal at a cleanfill. Such material should be disposed of at a landfill authorised to accept that material.

  • Abrasive blasting sand/agents - May contain metals, paint and other contaminants.
  • Asbestos (including asbestos sheeting) - Potentially hazardous. Although an inert compound, future excavation could cause significant health effects.
  • Asphalt (new) - New asphalt or asphalt that has been ground or pulverised may release oily substances that could leach into the environment.
  • Bark - Degradable; leaches tannins.
  • Cables - Metal cables will degrade (see Metals).
  • Car bodies - Contain metals, oils, plastics, asbestos and other potential contaminants.
  • Carpet - Degradable. May also contain formaldehyde residue from flooring.
  • Cesspit/stormwater sump cleanings - Contain various metal contaminants and organics.
  • Containers - To avoid any potential confusion, all containers are considered unacceptable. Containers may degrade or be punctured, releasing their contents or the remnants of their contents. The containers themselves may be detrimental to the environment (see plastics and metal).
  • Cork tiles - Degradable.
  • Corrugated iron - Degradable steel and zinc.
  • Electrical equipment and insulation - For example, fluorescent light tubes could contain PCBs (also see Plastics).
  • Formica - Generally stable (it is a melamine-formaldehyde polymer), but may be bonded with urea formaldehyde. This is water soluble and may leach formaldehyde compounds into groundwater. Often attached to particleboard.
  • Foundry sand - Contains metals.
  • Greenwaste (e.g. grass clippings, tree trimmings) - Will degrade and release contaminants such as ammonia and nitrates into the soil and groundwater, and may generate gases such as methane and carbon dioxide. The resulting leachate may mobilise other contaminants in the fill.
  • Hardboard - Degradable; contains phenol resorcinol formaldehyde.
  • Household waste - Typically contains large amounts of putrescible and degradable waste that will degrade and cause odour problems, and create soluble compounds causing leachate. Also contains some hazardous components.
  • MDF (medium-density fibreboard & customwood) - Degradable; may use urea formaldehyde as a bonding agent. This is water soluble and may leach formaldehyde compounds into groundwater (see Particleboard). Some modern MDF boards use phenol formaldehydes and other resins that may be acceptable, but the board itself is unacceptable.
  • Medical and veterinary waste - Unsafe if excavated (health hazard); may generate leachate.
  • Metals - For example, structural steel, roofing, window frames, building components, etc; degradable, can leach into the ground or groundwater. Soluble metals may be toxic depending on the concentration.
  • Paint - Hazardous waste. Liquid paints may contain significant quantities of volatile organic carbon compounds. These will contaminate soils and groundwater, causing detrimental effects to the environment (e.g. killing aquatic life) and human health. Some paints contain metals. Water-based paints contain preservatives and biocides which may include mercury, or other compounds that can cause dermatological problems.
  • Painted materials - Lead-based paint is hazardous and must be taken to a hazardous waste facility. Once paint has dried, the potential for contaminants in the paint to migrate through the soil is minimised, so all dried paint other than lead-based is relatively inert. However, to avoid any doubt all painted materials should be rejected.
  • Paper and cardboard - Paper and cardboard are degradable and present a fire hazard.
  • Particleboard (chipboard) - Contains urea formaldehyde as a bonding agent. This is water soluble and may leach formaldehyde compounds into the groundwater. Formaldehyde is known to cause many adverse health reactions and has been classified as a "probable human carcinogen" by the USEPA.
  • Plywood - structural / external grade - Uses phenol resorcinol formaldehyde as a bonding agent. This is not water-soluble and is relatively inert. However, the board itself is degradable and the difference between internal and external grade may not be apparent to the cleanfill operator.
  • Plywood - internal grade - Uses urea formaldehyde glue as a bonding agent. This is water-soluble and may leach formaldehyde compounds into groundwater (see Particleboard).
  • Road sweepings - Contain various metal contaminants and organics.
  • Sawdust - Degradable and could contain timber treatment chemicals.
  • Tar - Can contain a variety of compounds, many of which have been found to be carcinogenic. Many of the compounds do not bind to soil and can migrate directly to groundwater; potential for groundwater contamination with hydrocarbon compounds.
  • Timber (processed) - All sawn, gauged or dressed timber is considered unacceptable, as the cleanfill operator will not be able to determine easily if it is treated or untreated. Chemicals used for timber treatment can leach out and contaminate soils and groundwater. The chemicals used include copper-chrome-arsenic (CCA), light organic solvent preservatives (LOSP), creosote, boron and pentachlorophenol (PCP). These can all have a detrimental effect on human health and the environment.
  • Wood Chips - Degradeable

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Last updated: 17 September 2007