How do I prepare household hazardous waste for safe disposal?
Ensure chemicals are clearly labeled and properly sealed in the original containers, if possible. This is important because household chemicals pose a danger to your family, pets, neighbourhood, workers and the environment.
For your safety and to avoid spillage or contamination, please ensure all household hazardous waste is transported to the Waste & Recycling Centre (landfill) or roundup events upright in a sealed box or container. Only containers holding fuel, glycol, motor oil, or cooking oil can be poured out and returned to the customer, in order to prevent safety hazards and spills.
Containers larger than 5 gallons cannot be accepted for drop-off at the landfill. If you have larger sized containers of household hazardous waste, please contact the scale house at 403-327-3288 to see if delivery can be arranged.
Upcoming Roundup Events
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What items are acceptable at the Waste & Recycling Centre and roundup events?
Household Cleaning Products
- Bleach, ammonia, lye
- Cleaning solvents and spot removers
- Disinfectants
- Drain, toilet, and window cleaners
- Hot tub and swimming pool chemicals
- Oven cleaners
- Metal polish
- Turpentine, varnish, lacquers
- Septic tank cleaners
- Furniture polish and waxes
- Shoe polish
Gardening and Pest Control Products
- Insecticides and pesticides (including ant and rodent poison)
- Flea powder
- Fungicides and herbicides (including weed killer)
- Fertilizer
- Wood preservatives
Beauty Products
- Nail polish and remover
- Hair colour and perm solutions
- Aerosols (including hairspray)
Renovation and Hobby Products
- Paint, inks, stains, colourants, tints
- Paint thinners and strippers
- Photographic chemicals
Automotive Products
- Antifreeze
- Brake and transmission fluid
- Gasoline
- Motor oil and empty containers
- Rust inhibitors/removers
- Car waxes and polishes (solvent and water based)
- Non-aerosol automotive paints
- Auto body filler
- Solvents
Other Products
- Fluorescent light tubes and compact fluorescent lightbulbs
- Water proofers
- Glues and cements
- Butane and kerosene
- Mercury thermometers
- Rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries (lithium batteries not accepted at roundup events)
- Smoke detectors
- Needles - your pharmacy may also provide options for needle disposal
Electronic Waste (E-waste)
Lists of accepted e-waste can be found on the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) website
here.
What items are not acceptable at the Waste & Recycling Centre?
- Explosives and ammunition- call Lethbridge Police Service at (403) 328-4444.
- Radioactive waste- contact the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) in Calgary at (403) 292-5181
- Asbestos waste- contact the landfill at (403) 327-3288 for disposal options.
- Compressed gas cylinders other than propane (medi-gas, helium, Freon)- contact the manufacturer for disposal options.
- Broken glass and other sharp items- place these in sealed, puncture proof containers (such as plastic bleach bottles) with a tight fitting lid and include it in your regular household garbage pickup.
- Old drugs and medications- return unused or expired medicine to your pharmacist for disposal.
Containers larger than 5 gallons cannot be accepted, to ensure safety for staff and customers. If you have larger sized containers, please contact the scale house at 403-327-3288 to see if delivery can be arranged.