GTA 5 Nuclear Waste Locations covers the 30 barrels that were dumped in the sea around San Andreas after a winter storm. Each barrel pays $23,000, and the last one adds a $250,000 bonus, for $940,000 in total. They are underwater collectibles, so you will want the submarine or a swim.
Key facts
- Total: 30 Nuclear Waste barrels
- Pay: $23,000 per barrel, plus $250,000 after the last one
- Total: $940,000 for the full set
- Unlocked by: buying the Sonar Collections Dock and finishing The Merryweather Heist (Freighter or Offshore)
- Achievement or trophy: Waste Management
How to start collecting
You need to buy the Sonar Collections Dock and complete The Merryweather Heist first. An environmentalist in Paleto Bay emails about cleaning up the seabed, and a news report after Fame or Shame explains how the tanks ended up in the water. All three protagonists can search, but all the profit goes to the protagonist who owns the property.
Use the Trackify app to find the barrels. It only shows the general direction, not the distance. You can pick up barrels from the sub or swim to them. For other maps and landmarks, check the GTA 5 map.
All 30 Nuclear Waste locations
The GTA 5 Nuclear Waste locations below are numbered 1 to 30, from Paleto Cove down to North Chumash.
| # | Location |
|---|---|
| 1 | Underwater cave in Paleto Cove, north of the tree that stands north of Sonar Collections Dock. |
| 2 | West of Paleto Forest beach. |
| 3 | West of the wooden jetty in Paleto Bay. |
| 4 | North of Procopio Beach. |
| 5 | North of Procopio Beach. |
| 6 | North of Procopio Beach. |
| 7 | North of Mount Gordo. |
| 8 | North of Mount Gordo. |
| 9 | North of Mount Gordo. |
| 10 | North of Mount Gordo. |
| 11 | East of Humane Labs and Research. |
| 12 | East of Humane Labs and Research. |
| 13 | East of Humane Labs and Research. |
| 14 | Northwest of the large island east of Palomino Highlands. |
| 15 | Southeast of the large island east of Palomino Highlands. |
| 16 | South of Palomino Highlands. |
| 17 | Southwest of Palomino Highlands. |
| 18 | Plane crash site south of Palomino Highlands and east of Terminal. |
| 19 | Under the Pleasure Pier at the end of Del Perro Pier. |
| 20 | Northwest of Del Perro Pier. |
| 21 | Northwest of Del Perro Pier. |
| 22 | West of the Pipeline Inn in Pacific Bluffs. |
| 23 | South of Pacific Bluffs Country Club. |
| 24 | South of Chumash Historic Family Pier. |
| 25 | Southwest of the RON gas station in Lago Zancudo. |
| 26 | South of the Fort Zancudo runway end. |
| 27 | Southwest of the Fort Zancudo runway end. |
| 28 | West of the Fort Zancudo runway end. |
| 29 | West of North Chumash. |
| 30 | West of North Chumash. |
Rewards
Collect every barrel to earn the Waste Management achievement or trophy. The final barrel also triggers the $250,000 bonus on top of the $23,000 it pays.
Related guides
- Abigail Submarine Pieces Location Guide: another underwater hunt
- Hidden Packages and Briefcases
- Omega Spaceship Parts Location Guide
- The GTA 5 guide and the GTA 5 lexicon
Video walkthrough
Prefer to watch? This video shows it in action.
FAQ
How many Nuclear Waste barrels are there in GTA 5?
There are 30 around San Andreas.
How much money do they give?
$23,000 each, plus a $250,000 bonus after the last barrel, so $940,000 in all.
What do I need before I can collect them?
Buy the Sonar Collections Dock and complete The Merryweather Heist.
How do I find the barrels?
Use the Trackify app, which shows the direction of the nearest barrel. Collect them from the submarine or by swimming.
