Here’s How to Dispose of your Household Hazardous Waste

Households in Ontario produce more hazardous waste than we may think. Toxic chemicals and pharmaceutical-grade waste is not uncommon. Products such as cleaners, cosmetics, some medications and medicine, motor oil, and even some components of consumer electronics contain traces of waste that if left to make way into our everyday environment would turn it toxic.

The most unfortunate thing is that products like these, among numerous others, have been making their way out to our waterways for decades. A study published by McGill University in 2015 revealed trace amounts of cocaine, oxycodone, and morphine found in southern Ontario’s water streams. Also, several other prescription drugs were found in the analysis that led to the report’s publication.

Even after going through purification at any of the province’s water treatment facilities, these things still end up sometimes in our water. The only option to guard against this pattern continuing is by knowing how to dispose of hazardous waste and to ensure that materials such as those mentioned don’t end up in our waterways.

The first step in the safe disposal of household hazardous waste is in knowing what fits the criteria. There’s the corrosive, such as car battery acid, paint strippers, and any other materials that may be deemed harmful to the skin or that may demonstrate skin-eating properties. Then there is flammable items such as gasoline or turpentine; explosive items such as gas or propane containers; and poisonous materials including cleaners and medicines that would be considered lethal.

Next step is to find garbage and recycling drop-offs in your region. These drop-offs accept hazardous waste and are the recommended option in safely getting rid of waste. Check their hours. There is no charge to dispose of household waste however you may be required to make a deposit on any vehicle entering the drop-off zone. That deposit will be returned to you when you leave. Dropping off items that are not considered household hazardous waste may be subject to additional fees, or if the waste is from a renovation or construction.

Cities such as Toronto are getting ahead of the curb with hazardous waste pick-ups with a ‘toxic taxi’ pick-up service available to City residents who do not have a vehicle to make it down to a depot.

The safe disposal of household hazardous waste is a necessity in making the environment cleaner for all to enjoy. Current rules and regulations prevent a resident from throwing out their household hazardous waste with the garbage and recycling. Ideally, more cities in the future will consider offering similar waste taxi services to pick up hazardous waste regularly.

Presently, the recommended option is to make it out to a drop-off depot, which is something that can be done once every six months depending on the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of.

Needless to say, minimizing the impact of waste on our environment is going to take further commitment from provincial and municipal governments, garbage collection services, and everyday Canadians.