Product Overview

Summary: This Street Clean-Up Waste Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, safe and compliant process for collecting, handling and disposing of waste from street and roadside clean-up activities. It helps councils, contractors and community groups manage litter, sharps, hazardous materials and traffic risks while meeting Australian WHS and environmental obligations.

Street and roadside clean-up work exposes workers and volunteers to a unique mix of hazards: moving traffic, broken glass, sharps, biological waste, illegal dumping, and unpredictable weather conditions. This Street Clean-Up Waste Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step-by-step approach to planning and conducting clean-up activities that prioritise worker safety while maintaining public amenity and environmental standards. It covers everything from pre-start risk assessments and traffic management considerations through to safe manual handling, segregation of waste streams, and incident reporting.

Designed for Australian local government and contractors, this SOP helps organisations demonstrate due diligence under WHS legislation while ensuring consistent practices across different crews, sites and events. It addresses the practical realities of on-the-ground operations—such as working near live traffic, dealing with suspected asbestos or chemical containers, and managing community volunteers—so your teams know exactly what to do, what PPE to wear, how to handle hazardous finds, and how to dispose of collected waste in line with local regulatory requirements.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of injury from sharps, broken glass and hazardous waste during street clean-up activities.
• Ensure consistent, legally defensible work practices that align with Australian WHS and environmental requirements.
• Streamline planning, briefing and supervision of staff and volunteers involved in street and roadside clean-ups.
• Improve segregation and disposal of different waste streams, reducing contamination and disposal costs.
• Enhance public confidence by demonstrating visible, professional and safe clean-up operations in public areas.

Who is this for?

• Waste Services Supervisors
• Local Council Operations Managers
• Street Cleaning Crew Leaders
• Roadside Maintenance Workers
• Parks and Open Space Team Leaders
• WHS Advisors and Coordinators
• Event Clean-Up Coordinators
• Environmental Health and Compliance Officers
• Community Clean-Up Organisers (e.g. Clean Up Australia Day coordinators)

Hazards Addressed

• Exposure to moving vehicles and plant in and around roadways
• Contact with sharps (needles, syringes) and other biohazardous waste
• Cuts and puncture wounds from broken glass and sharp metal objects
• Exposure to hazardous substances (chemicals, oils, unknown containers, suspected asbestos)
• Manual handling injuries from lifting, carrying and loading bags, bins and bulky items
• Slips, trips and falls on uneven ground, kerbs, wet surfaces and roadside embankments
• Heat stress, sun exposure and adverse weather conditions
• Infection risk from contact with animal waste, decaying organic matter and general refuse
• Psychological stress from dealing with offensive or traumatic waste (e.g. drug paraphernalia)

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and References
• 5.0 Pre-Start Planning and Risk Assessment
• 6.0 Traffic Management and Working Near Roads
• 7.0 Required PPE, Tools and Equipment
• 8.0 Waste Categories and Segregation Requirements
• 9.0 Step-by-Step Street Clean-Up Procedure
• 10.0 Safe Handling of Sharps and Biohazardous Waste
• 11.0 Managing Hazardous or Unknown Materials (Chemicals, Asbestos, Drums)
• 12.0 Manual Handling and Use of Mechanical Aids
• 13.0 Environmental Protection and Spill Response
• 14.0 Volunteer and Community Group Management
• 15.0 Incident, Near Miss and Hazard Reporting
• 16.0 Training, Induction and Competency Requirements
• 17.0 Inspection, Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
• 18.0 Document Control and Review

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and relevant state/territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 and relevant state/territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (for work on or near roads)
• AS/NZS 4501: Occupational protective clothing
• AS/NZS 2161: Occupational protective gloves
• AS/NZS 1337.1: Personal eye protection
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• Local council and state/territory EPA guidelines for waste classification and disposal