What is Household Hazardous Waste?
Paints, pesticides, propane tanks, batteries, syringes, used motor oil and many cleaning products are just some examples of household hazardous wastes, that are used daily by residents. These items contain toxic ingredients and should be used and disposed of with caution. Do not place out for regular garbage pick-up. Please do not pour motor oil, paints or solvents down your drain or into sewers.

Household Hazardous Wastes include those that are:

Corrosive such as car battery acid and drain cleaners that will eat away at material and injure skin.

Flammable such as lighter fluid, turpentine and gasoline that can ignite.

Explosive such as aerosol containers that may explode if incinerated or stored above 50 degrees Celsius.

Poisonous such as cleaning fluids, pesticides and medicines that can be poisonous or lethal, even in small quantities, to adults, children and pets.

Household Hazardous Waste WILL NOT be collected with your garbage or recyclables.

Used motor oil can be taken to used oil drop-off centres. The Toxics Taxi provides free pick-up of HHW from residents of Toronto with a minimum quantity of 10 litres and maximum quantity of 50 litres. Call 311 for the Toxics Taxi.

Household Hazardous Waste depots
There are HHW depots in various locations across Toronto, so first check if there's one conveniently located to you for drop-off. There are also Reuse Centres at your local HHW Depots where residents can donate useable but unwanted HHW materials, including oil and latex paint. Staff sort donations and set reusable materials aside for other residents to pick up - for free.

Non-hazardous alternatives
In addition to the varied non-hazardous cleaning products available in today's marketplace, you may wish to try making your own using environmentally-safe ingredients.

Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) require proper disposal
Energy-saving fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), also known as compact fluorescent light bulbs, use less electricity and last longer than conventional light bulbs, but they also contain small amounts of mercury, a poisonous heavy metal, which is used to produce their light. Here's how to safely dispose of fluorescent tubes and CFLs.

Syringes and needles CANNOT be collected with your regular garbage
Please do not place them in a garbage bag or out with your recycling. They are a serious hazard to the collector. Put all used syringes and needles in a tightly sealed and labelled container and take them to a Household Hazardous Waste depot (phone before you go). Call 311 for more information.