Hazmat suits, booby traps and piles of waste: Cleaning meth-contaminated properties
Professional cleaners specializing in meth-contaminated properties face significant physical and safety hazards, including booby traps and hazardous waste. These workers operate in high-risk environments to restore properties after drug-related activity.
Why it matters
The report highlights the hidden, dangerous labor market involved in the aftermath of the methamphetamine crisis.
They’re not the authorities, but meth decontaminators deal with just as much when they’re doing their jobs.
Isra'a Emhail Digital Journalist 3 October 2026 8 min read Caption: “We're only ever cleaners. We're only ever doing deep cleaners. We never say we are doing meth [decontamination]," an industry expert says of the confidentiality. Photo credit: Supplied RNZ
Suited in hazmat gear, masks, face shields, heavy duty gloves, a pair of cleaners strategically park their vehicle, ready a swift exit if mayhem strikes.
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