Household Hazardous Wastes (HHW)

Proper storage, use, and disposal of hazardous material is important for the health of the watershed. Improper handling may lead these materials to enter the river or groundwater.

What are household hazardous wastes?

These symbols are a good way to check if something is dangerous.

Toxic/Poison

Household Hazardous Waste

These items poison or damage living organisms: solvents, batteries, antifreeze, medications, pesticides, fertilizers, wood stains and preservatives, radiator coolants, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and any confirmed or suspected carcinogens.

Corrosive

Household Hazardous Waste

These items eat away at surfaces, including the skin of humans or animals. Corrosive materials include bleach and household cleaners, rust removers, wax strippers, laundry stain removers, oven cleaners, drain cleaners, and automotive lead-acid batteries.

Flammable

Household Hazardous Waste – City of Toronto

These items burn easily and pose serious risk of igniting with minimal spark or heat. They include fuel oil, gasoline, motor oil, kerosene, camping fuel, paint thinners, lighter fluids, contact cement, oil-based paints, insect repellent, partially full aerosol containers, furniture cleaners, paint brush cleaners, and gasoline/oil mixtures.

Reactive/Explosive

Household Hazardous Waste – City of Toronto

These pressurized containers contain materials that can poison or damage living organisms: gas cylinders that carry propane or butane and aerosol cans with unused product.

Everyone has at least some of these substances around their house, so everyone has a role to play in protecting our water from toxic pollution. It might seem like these materials wouldn’t make much of an impact, but if every house, pollutes a little bit, it adds up to poor water for everyone.

What do I do with HHW?

Drop them off at your nearest IWMC location.

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