Hazardous Waste

• What is hazardous waste?
• What is household hazardous waste?
• How is hazardous waste bad for the environment?
• How do I dispose of household hazardous waste?



• Are you a company or business that collects, stores, transports, treats, recovers or disposes of hazardous waste?

 

 

What is hazardous waste?

Hazardous wastes are waste that can be harmful to human health and the environment.

Hazardous wastes include leftover materials from manufacturing processes, biomedical wastes from hospitals, photo finishing chemicals, waste pesticides, PCBs and motor oil, just to name a few. These wastes require special handling to reduce their harm.

In Ontario, all hazardous waste must be disposed of properly at a hazardous waste treatment facility or a specially designed landfill,

Ontario has strict rules to ensure that industrial hazardous wastes are managed in an environmentally safe manner.

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What is household hazardous waste?

Many products that you use every day like household cleaners, pesticides, paints, stains and personal care products can be called household hazardous waste once you decide they are no longer usable. To know what’s considered hazardous, look for warning symbols on the labels.

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How is hazardous waste bad for the environment?

Some of these wastes can explode or become flammable if not used properly. Some are poisonous to humans or animals, while others can cause cancer, birth defects or other serious medical problems.

If hazardous products are improperly dumped in the sink, yard or storm drain or sent to a landfill, they can poison drinking water supplies, damage sewage treatment plants, contaminate soil and air, and poison aquatic life in our lakes and rivers. 

The used oil from one oil change can contaminate more than 3.7 million litres of fresh water – enough water to supply 50 people for one year.

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How do I dispose of household hazardous waste?

Please contact your local municipality about household hazardous waste depots in your area. Most municipalities hold events each year where residents can dispose of household hazardous products at no charge.  Some municipalities may have special depots that are open year-round.

As well, some businesses may have take-back programs. Many pharmacies, for example, will take expired prescriptions or syringes.

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Are you a company or business that collects, stores, transports, treats, recovers or disposes of hazardous waste?

• View the Hazardous Waste Rules and Regulations page

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