5 Hazardous or Toxic Things you Should Never Throw in the Garbage
There’s no reason for toxic waste to continue to end up in our landfills here in Ontario. As part of the campaign to improve landfill diversion rates and to ensure toxic waste is being processed appropriately, here’s a quick list of five toxic things to never throw in the garbage. Help us prevent some of the more toxic household waste items from having to enter our landfills.
Fluorescent light bulbs
Although incandescent bulbs and halogen light bulbs are perfectly fine to throw away in the regular garbage, fluorescent light bulbs actually contain some pretty toxic chemicals which should be handled as appropriate. Take these to a hazardous waste collection facility.
Paint products
Some of the more toxic pain products include oil-based paints, coatings, stains, varnishes, paint removers, and strippers. When these are casually tossed in the garbage, they can come to harm us, animals, and the environment. If it’s still more or less a full can of paint, simply return it to the store or perhaps donate it to a local non-profit organization who can put it to good use.
Glass thermometers
Glass thermometers can contain up to 500 milligrams of mercury. These are a health hazard to both human beings and the natural environment, should they break. If you want to throw out a glass thermometer, going to a household hazardous waste collection facility is recommended. They will ensure it can be properly disposed of and some are even offering an exchange for a new electric thermometer, depending on where you go.
Batteries
Straightforward enough, the chemicals in batteries are extremely damaging to human beings’ health and our environment. Should they infiltrate a water supply, we could have very big problems on our hands. Not all batteries are the same however no battery is fully recyclable. Therefore, no battery should ever be tossed in with recyclables. Instead, always ensure they’re grouped together with other hazardous or toxic waste materials. Some of the batteries you want to watch out for include car batteries, rechargeable batteries, alkalines, zinc carbon batteries, lithium batteries, watch batteries, lead acid batteries, and zinc-air batteries.
Some electronics
In general, electronics need to be handled separately because of the dangerous substances they may contain. Lead, mercury, cadmium, beryllium, and brominated flame retardants are dangerous to human beings and the environment. Considered ‘e-waste’, it can either be donated or dropped off at a recycling centre to be processed.
Core Mini Bins is Toronto’s #1 Choice!
These are just a few of the things that cannot be entered into our regular day-to-day garbage. Whether you’re using waste management services, recycling, dumpster rental, or bin services, always discuss what waste materials you will be throwing out. That way, there are no surprises on how much you’re charged nor on what’s being picked up.
As a waste management and dumpster rental company in Toronto, we can assist is proper disposal of almost any waste materials. Just be sure to advise us of what you need picked up and we’d be happy to recommend the most appropriate solution. Anything that can be recycled or donated, rest assured it will be. If you are interested in regular dumpster or bin rentals, we can assist with that. Speak with a representative today at Core Mini Bins for more information on Toronto waste management, junk removal, and garbage pick-up.
