FAQ-Waste-Household Hazardous Waste

Since 1988, the Alberta Household Hazardous Wastes program has safely treated and disposed of over 14.5 million litre equivalents of household hazardous waste materials in the province. Generally speaking, hazardous wastes consist of solid or liquid materials, their containers, or containers holding gasses. They are either flammable, corrosive, explosive, or toxic. Because of these dangerous characteristics, they should not be disposed of in landfills or sewage systems.

For more information about the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program including a schedule for round-up days or permanent collection facilities visit Alberta Environments website .

How do we identify Household Hazardous Wastes?

None of us consciously generates hazardous waste. But take a look around your home. The countless items we use in our daily activities inevitably result in some form of waste. Many of these wastes are potentially damaging to our environment and to our health and safety. We all have a responsibility to ensure that these wastes are managed safely and effectively.

Products in the household that have potentially hazardous characteristics display at least one of the following warning symbols:

	Flammable - These are wastes that burn easily like painting wastes, degreasers, and other solvents.
	Corrosive - These wastes will eat away surfaces and skin. Familiar examples are waste acids, rust removers, alkaline cleaning fluids, and old battery acid.
	Reactive/Explosive - These are wastes that react violently when mixed with other chemicals or that react under pressure or heat such as aerosols.
	Toxic/Poison - These are substances that can poison or cause damage to living organisms. Materials containing heavy metals like mercury, lead or cadmium are toxic.

When a product displaying one or more of the warning symbols is discarded (after considering reuse possibilities), it should be disposed of properly.

Ammunition, powder, primer, etc. should be delivered to a fire or police station or your local RCMP. Household hazardous waste sites will NOT accept explosives of this nature.

Stale-dated or unwanted “dead” drugs should also not end up in the landfill. Many pharmacies will accept these for proper disposal.

What are some common Household Hazardous Waste products?

Materials commonly brought to a Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up or other hazardous waste collection site:

Abrasive cleansers
Acetone
Aerosol paints and sprays
Air fresheners (aerosol)
All-purpose cleaners (solvent-based)
Ammonia
Ant/wasp spray
Antifreeze
Auto body filler
Barbeque starters
Bleach
Brake and transmission fluid
Butane refills
Carbon tetrachloride
Car (lead-acid) batteries
Car waxes and polishes (solvent and water based)
Contact cement
Degreasers (petroleum based)
Disinfectants
Drain cleaners
Fabric softeners
Floor wax strippers
Fungicides
Furniture polishes and waxes
Gasoline
Glass cleaners
Glues (solvent and water based)
Hair coloring
Hair perm solutions
Hair sprays (aerosol)
Insecticides
Kerosene

Laundry starch
Laundry stain removers
Lighter fluid
Liquid cleansers
Lye
Mildew removers
Muriatic acid
Nail polish and remover
Oven cleaners
Paint thinners and strippers
Paints (oil and water based)
Photographic chemicals
Propane gas cylinders
Rechargeable Batteries
Rubbing alcohol
Rug and upholstery cleaners (both water and solvent based)
Rust removers
Septic tank degreaser
Shoe polish
Silver and brass polish
Solvents, turpentine, varnish, lacquers
Spot removers
Spa and pool chemicals
Toilet cleaners
Tub and tile cleaners
Used oil (where recycling not available)
Weed killers
Windshield washer solution containing methyl alcohol
Wood preservatives

What is the proper way to dispose of household chemicals (hazardous and non-hazardous waste)?

“Toxic Round-ups” are held in many communities throughout the year, where HHW is collected, sorted, packed and labelled by qualified personnel. The hazardous waste is then taken to Swan Hills Treatment Centre for safe treatment and disposal. Participate in your local round-ups to safely dispose of products you no longer need. Find out when a Round-up is scheduled in your area by visiting Alberta Environment's Round-up Schedule. Keep all materials in their original containers. If the container is cracked or broken, place it in a leak-proof package and label it. Ensure that the material is stored safely in accordance with the product label while waiting to take it to a collection site.

If your community does not have a scheduled Round-up, consider neighbouring communities or contact your municipality, local fire station, or local landfill for information on household hazardous waste (HHW) drop-off depots. Many cities across Alberta, ie. Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge, have permanent household hazardous waste drop-off facilities. The City of Calgary accepts HHW at specific local fire stations.

Can Household Hazardous Waste be recycled?

There are recycling options for some hazardous wastes, such as used oil, lead-acid batteries, Ni-Cd batteries, and propane tanks. Check the Yellow Pages under “Recycling” for other opportunities in your area.

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