Alberta's Household Hazardous Waste program
Unused household products that contain corrosive, toxic, flammable, or reactive ingredients are considered to be "household hazardous waste" (HHW). Leftovers of products, such as cleaners, oils and pesticides that contain potentially hazardous ingredients require special handling when you dispose of them. Improper disposal, such as pouring down the sink, pouring in the storm sewer, burning, throwing in the landfill or putting in the trash can ultimately lead to contamination of our water, air and land, and can be a threat to human health.
So what can you do with that part bottle of plant fertilizer or that old aerosol spray can you have stored in the corner of the garage?
Round it up
The Household Hazardous Waste collection program is coordinated through Alberta Environment and administered by Alberta Recycling. With several permanent collection sites and household hazardous waste roundups provided every year across Alberta, it's easy and convenient for you to safely dispose of those unwanted hazardous household products. Materials collected at sites and roundups are safely shipped and disposed of at the Swan Hills Waste Treatment Centre.
2010 Household Hazardous Waste Roundups
For a list of scheduled roundups please click here.
Please note that the schedule posted may not include all roundups happening around the province. Please contact your municipality for additional details on roundups happening in your area.
Proper disposal
Click here for more information and tips on proper handling and disposal of household hazardous waste.
How do I know if it's hazardous?
A household hazardous product has at least one of the following properties:
It is reactive It is corrosive It is flammable It is toxic
For a detailed list of household hazardous wastes commonly brought to HHW roundups or collection sites,Click here.
Did you know?
More than 127 communities in Alberta operated household hazardous waste roundups in 2007/08.
Over 10,000 drums of hazardous material and 268,000 aerosol cans were collected and safely disposed of in 2007/08.
Over 17.6 million litre equivalents of household hazardous waste materials have been safely treated and disposed of in Alberta since 1988.