Sometimes we have old items that we need to get rid of that won’t fit in the rubbish bins. Some of these items are restricted, and it’s illegal to leave them out on the nature strip, hoping someone else will pick it up and take it away – unless it’s a hard rubbish collection day.

You can of course hire a skip if you have a lot of rubbish to remove, but restrictions still apply. So what are these restricted items, and what’s the best waste management solution for them? Restrictions apply to items such as hazardous materials like asbestos, oils, lubricants, paints and dyes, liquids, car tyres, car batteries, explosives and fireworks. Other items that are not suitable for rubbish removal in a skip are food waste, sharps, animal waste and soiled nappies, alkalines, resins, adhesives, caustic substances and other similar chemicals. Old white goods such as refrigerators, washing machines and dryers also have restrictions on them – they must have doors removed for safety reasons.

The best option is to engage a waste collection company that will come to your property, whether it’s residential, an office, factory or building site, and remove the rubbish for you. Many specialise in construction materials, household appliances or office furniture, and will be able to tell you what items they are able to remove.