Household Hazardous Waste

Important details for 2022:

• The event is scheduled to take place in the east parking lot of the George Preston Recreation Centre (20699 – 42 Avenue) on Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30 from 9:00am until 3:00pm both days.
• This event is a drive through event. Walk-ins are not permitted. Access to the event is via southbound 208 Street.
• Residents must remain in their vehicles at all times with windows rolled up – only event staff will unload waste from vehicles.
• Items will only be accepted if they are retrievable via truck beds or vehicle trunks/hatches. Please ensure only materials for drop off are in the rear of your vehicle. No items will be accepted from the vehicle cabin or accepted through windows/doors.
• Boxes, totes, and containers carrying or storing items for drop-off will not be returned (ex. Rubbermaid-type containers).
• Liquid items must be in a secure container with a secure lid. Leaking items will not be accepted as they can be dangerous if spilled or mixed with other materials.

Items accepted at the event for drop-off:

• Antifreeze*
• Ballasts (must be removed from fixtures)*
• Batteries (residential and automotive)*
• Bleach
• Brake fluid
• Concentrated acids
• Darkroom chemicals
• Fire extinguishers
• Light bulbs*
• Herbicides
• Motor oil*
• Oven cleaner
• Pesticides*
• Propane tanks (empty)*
• Swimming pool chemicals
• Toilet bowl cleaner
• Transmission fluid
• Turpentine
• Electronics*
• Thermostats*
• Small appliances*
• Smoke detectors*

Residents with paint or stains are asked to return these items to local depots for free, year-round recycling as part of provincial stewardship programs run by Product Care Recycling. In addition, all asterisked items above have free year-round disposal options available. For details, call the BC Recycling Hotline at 604-RECYCLE (732-9253) or visit tol.ca/takeitback.

Items not accepted at the event (list is not comprehensive):

• Tires
• Appliances with refrigerant, such as air conditioners, mini-fridges, and water coolers
• Built-in appliances, such as over the range microwaves
• Ink/toner cartridges
• New and used gypsum (drywall, tiles, etc.)
• Biohazardous items, including sharps
• Explosives and ammunition

Important note:

If you want to drop off an item but it is not listed in the “accepted items” list, please call the Engineering Division at 604-532-7300 for confirmation before attending the event.

Preferred packing order:

Vehicles will pass through up to three (3) stations during the event, depending on what items are being dropped off. Only materials accessible from truck beds and/or vehicle trunks or hatches will be accepted. To improve unloading efficiency, please consider packing items in our preferred order to help reduce wait times:

1. Pack first (unloaded last) – household recyclable products: electronics, small appliances, batteries, lightbulbs, smoke/CO alarms, thermostats
2. Pack middle – household hazardous waste: motor oil, antifreeze, cleaning supplies, acids, pool chemicals, propane tanks, etc.
3. Pack last (will be unloaded first) – Product Care Items: flammable liquids, pesticides, gasoline and diesel in approved container

Household hazardous waste is anything with a warning symbol on the label (such as flammable, corrosive, explosive, or poisonous), as well as anything unidentifiable.

Some of the most common examples include:

• Paint and solvents
• Automotive wastes (motor oil, antifreeze, etc.)
• Electronics (TVs, cell phones, mp3 players, etc.)
• Mercury-containing wastes (switches, fluorescent lighting, thermometers, etc.)
• Batteries; aerosols and propane cylinders
• Cleaning agents and caustics
• Radioactive waste
• Appliances containing refrigerant (fridges, freezers, etc.)

These types of items are not accepted in municipal waste or recycling collection and should never be dumped down drains and sewers, buried, thrown in the garbage, or dumped illegally. Additionally, do not leave these items in your home, garage, or yard, as they can leach into soil and water, or harm people and animals.

It is important to dispose of these items carefully, via participating depots or programs, or at the Household Hazardous Waste Plus Collection Event held in the fall.

Remember, when it comes to household hazardous waste materials, never:

• Pour them down the drain or on the ground
• Dump them into the storm sewer
• Discard them in the garbage
• Bury them

Municipal sewage systems and private septic systems cannot filter or remove these products from our wastewater, which would allow hazardous substances to enter waterways. Burying these items can lead to groundwater contamination.

If your product label contains one of the following warning symbols, or you suspect it to be hazardous, it must be disposed in a safe and responsible manner:

How to dispose of household hazardous waste

Residents are encouraged to visit local drop-off depots for hazardous waste items. Many items can be disposed of year-round and free-of-charge. Instead of waiting for the yearly collection event, check the following resources to find drop-off options most convenient to you:

• Search the Recycling Council of British Columbia website or call the recycling hotline at 604-RECYCLE (732-9253) for general information on household hazardous waste and where it can be disposed, including local retailers.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs provide residents with free and convenient drop-off options for batteries, small appliances, tires, and more, all year long.
• Looking to dispose of motor oil or empty motor oil containers? Visit BCUsedOil.com.