NSW East Coast Severe Weather Event updates
As the lead agency for the Environmental Services Functional Area (EnvSFA), the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) supports emergency management arrangements for the protection of the environment and human health before, during, and after an emergency.
We are working closely with councils across the NSW East Coast to help communities prepare for and undertake waste clean-up in the wake of the disaster.
Affected councils have been advised they will have the NSW waste levy and the requirement for reporting pollution incidents temporarily waived.
Council waste charges may still apply. Residents and businesses should contact their local council for advice and to find out whether their local waste management centre is still able to accept waste.
More information about the Waste levy waiver.
In flood affected areas, communities are reminded to avoid waterways and flood waters.
Heavy rain can wash a variety of contaminants, including raw sewage, into local waterways. Avoid consuming, contact with or using flood impacted water for any recreational or agricultural purposes.
Hazardous materials, chemicals and other unidentified items may also be present in waterways and should not be handled.
If you are handling waste and debris, always wear gloves and protective footwear to avoid direct contact with the skin and to protect yourself from injury.
Swimming in waters affected by stormwater can expose swimmers to several dangers, including contaminants and pathogens which can make you sick, and hidden debris below the surface which you could collide with or become snagged by under the water.
Common sense is advised. If you can see signs of pollution in the water, like discoloured water or debris floating on the surface, do not enter.
See NSW Health for information on maintaining health during and after floods and storms.
Flood mud is sediment or sand which has been deposited by flood waters and remains on land once the flood waters have receded.
If you come in to contact with flood mud, always wear gloves and protective footwear to avoid direct contact with the skin and to protect yourself from injury.
There is the potential for flood mud to be contaminated. We recommend doing a visual inspection of the material. If flood mud has an unpleasant odour, appears to be impacted by chemicals (discolouration or oil sheen) or has asbestos fragments it should not be used on land or returned to the river. For flood muds that have an unpleasant odour, discolouration or asbestos contamination, we recommend that this material be disposed of at a licensed landfill.
For residential properties, flood mud that is deposited on lawns or gardens can be left in situ. Flood mud that is present on hard surfaces can be washed into lawn or garden areas. If vegetable gardens have been impacted by the floodwaters, NSW Health advise that garden produce should be disinfected, peeled and cooked.
If your home or property was built before 1990 and has been impacted by flooding, it may contain asbestos materials. Asbestos is hazardous, but it can be safely managed.
Asbestos may be found in wall or roof sheeting (fibro), pipes, eaves, vinyl flooring backing, and other older building materials. If damaged or disturbed, asbestos can pose serious health risks.
If asbestos has been disturbed in your home, it's safest to stay elsewhere until it is professionally removed.
Safe handling tips
If you find asbestos debris and cannot access a licensed removalist, take precautions:
- Wear a P2 mask and disposable gloves.
- Avoid breaking or cutting asbestos materials.
- Gently pick up wet debris and double-bag it in thick plastic, sealing and labelling the bags.
- Wash hands thoroughly after handling.
Never use high-pressure hoses on asbestos, and do not put asbestos waste in red-lid bins or general waste skips. Keep it separate, securely covered, and follow your local council or emergency service advice for disposal.
Need help?
- Call 1800 ASBESTOS (1800 272 378)
- Visit NSW Government’s asbestos website
- Check the SafeWork NSW site for flood clean-up safety and licensed asbestos removalists.
Stay safe – know the risks and manage asbestos responsibly.
After a flood, it’s important to sort waste properly to protect your health, support safe clean-up, and help recycling efforts.
Key messages
- Separate hazardous waste like asbestos, chemicals, gas bottles, and batteries. Don’t mix them with general waste.
- Keep asbestos waste aside – double-bag it, label it, and don’t put it in red-lid bins or skip bins.
- Separate green waste, e-waste, and recyclables where possible to reduce landfill and speed up clean-up.
- Follow local council or emergency service advice on where and how to place flood waste for collection.
- Do not burn flood waste – it may release harmful toxins into the air.
For more information and updates, visit the the website of your local council.
The NSW Government is supporting farmers and community members impacted through the North Coast, Mid-North Coast and Hunter flood emergency during the difficult process of deceased animal disposal.
Landholders and community members can contact the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) hotline to request carcass disposal or report deceased livestock—whether on private properties or washed into community areas by floodwaters.
Contact DPI hotline number 1800 814 647 to request carcass removal.
For more information visit the DPI website.
If you've encountered dead wildlife due to the current floods in New South Wales, please report it to the appropriate authorities to ensure proper management and environmental safety.
Please contact the NSW EPA on 131 555 or [email protected]
If you’d like to help flood-affected communities, donate through trusted organisations like Australian Red Cross and GIVIT. These charities are experienced in managing and distributing donations where they’re needed most, helping to avoid oversupply.
GIVIT also lets you give specific items or fund requests directly, so you know exactly how you’re helping.
Please do not collect, send or drop off clothing or goods in affected areas—this can disrupt clean-up and overwhelm local recovery efforts.
More information
The May 2025 floods have heavily affected rural and agricultural lands.
The collection of this waste from private and public lands may take some time. More information will follow in the coming days as flood waters recede.
Silage bales
- Intact and wet for 2+ days? Local Land Services (LLS) may offer testing to check if they’re still suitable for cattle feed.
- Damaged or ripped bales? Remove the plastic and move the silage to a dedicated, controlled area to break down naturally. Keep animals away from it.
- Uncovered and water-logged? Treat as spoiled. Spread in a safe area away from livestock and let it degrade naturally. In most cases, wet silage bales decompose slowly and are difficult to remove from the environment. They cannot be recycled or reused safely.
Waste or reuse
- Landfills may have limited capacity and are not required to accept large volumes of silage.
- Silage bales are not suitable for mulch or compost without further processing and testing.