Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program - Acceptable items

• Used motor oil: From vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc.)
• Used fuel: Gasoline, diesel, kerosene
• Automotive fluids: Brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, chain oil
• Antifreeze: Ethylene glycol only
• Oil filters
• Automotive batteries (lead-acid): Car batteries, motorcycle batteries, golf cart batteries, lawn mower batteries, wheelchairs (EV batteries not included)
• Any container with a hazard symbol: Including empty containers with flammable, poisonous, or other hazardous markings

*Cooking oil is not included.

Special instructions:

• If you want to keep your container, you must empty your used motor oil and used fuel at a City Eco Centre. This option is not available at HHW depots located at designated fire stations.
• Maximum container size is 20 litres.
• Use the original container if you have it. If you can’t keep the original container, follow the instructions.
• Never flush automotive products down your toilet, sink or drain as they harm the environment and may damage the pipes in your home.

Old and used chemicals, as well as empty containers of the items listed below, can be dropped off.

• Personal care: Hairspray, mousse, sunscreen, deodorant, shaving cream/foam
• Cleaning: All-purpose cleaners, disinfectants, degreasers, furniture and upholstery cleaners
• Cooking oil spray, Pam cooking spray, whipped cream spray
• Air fresheners
• Bug sprays: Insecticides

Special instructions:

• Any aerosol/CO2 containers with a hazard symbol on it, including full, empty and expired containers.
• Do not puncture or crush aerosol/CO2 containers.

• Cleaning products: Includes all-purpose cleaners, disinfectants, drain cleaners, furniture polishes, glass cleaners, bleach, ammonia and acetone
• Healthcare: Hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol
• Gardening: Herbicides, fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides
• Hot tub and swimming pool chemicals
• Glues and cements

Special instructions:

• Maximum container size is 20 litres.
• Use the original container if you have it. If you can’t keep the original container, follow the instructions.
• Never flush chemicals down your toilet, sink or drain as they harm the environment and may damage the pipes in your home.

• Bear spray
• Pepper spray

Special instructions:

• Ensure valve is closed and secure.

• Paint in cans: Alkyd, latex and oil-based paints
• Spray paint
• Lacquers, stains and varnishes
• Paint thinners, paint strippers and solvents
• Wood preservatives
• Nail polish and remover
• Artist paint

Special instructions:

• All paint cans are accepted including dried out paint and empty cans.
• Maximum container size is 20 litres.
• Use the original container if you have it. If you can’t keep the original container, follow the instructions.
• Never flush paint and related products down your toilet, sink or drain as they harm the environment and may damage the pipes in your home.

• Household batteries (weighing 5 kg or less), including: 
  • Single-use: AA, AAA, 9V, C, D – Alkaline, button cells, lithium primary, zinc carbon
  • Rechargeable: Nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, lithium-ion, nickel zinc, small sealed lead acid
  • Damaged household batteries: Damaged batteries may be swollen, corroded, leaking, or show burn marks. These hazardous batteries are accepted only at Eco Centres. When dropping them off, please hand them directly to a staff member and inform them of their condition.

Special instructions:

• Protect the terminals before dropping off household batteries:
  • Tape over the ends (positive and negative terminals) of each battery using non-conductive tape (e.g., clear tape, electrical, or duct tape); or
  • Place each individual battery in a clear plastic bag (e.g., Ziploc bag, produce bag, or newspaper bag).
  • If the battery cannot be removed from the device, please bring the entire item to an Eco Centre for disposal through the electronics recycling program.

• Fluorescent light tubes (Up to 4 feet in length)
• Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)

Special instructions:

• You may bring up to 3 light tubes per visit to HHW Depots located at designated fire stations and up to 8 light tubes per visit to Eco Centres.

• Thermometers
• Thermostat with manual dial
• Smoke detectors

Special instructions:

• Put thermometer in a non-breakable sealed container (e.g. plastic bleach bottle). Clearly label the bottle "Thermometer" or mercury.
• Package thermostat in a puncture-resistant, non-breakable, sealed container like a yogurt or margarine tub. Clearly label the bottle "Thermostat" or mercury.
• Call 911 if a thermometer, thermostat or wall-mounted blood pressure cuff is broken and mercury is released.

• Helium tanks (8.9 and 14.9 cubic feet)
• Propane tanks (Under 30 lbs)
• Fire extinguishers (Under 30 lbs)