Hazardous Waste
Information and Resources
Hazardous Waste
Most households and businesses have hazardous waste. It could be used oil from vehicles, fluorescent light bulbs, expired bear spray, cleaning products, and many others.
Proper disposal is important to ensure these materials don't end up polluting the air we breath or the water we drink. You wouldn't pour these items onto the ground, so why put them in your garbage? Placing these items into the landfill has the potential to cause harmful effects to human and environmental health.
how do i know if it is hazardous?
Look for the following symbols on products to determine if they are hazardous:
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| Reactive | Poisonous and infectious | Oxidizing | Flammable and combustible | Corrosive | Compressed gas |
commercial hazardous waste
The industrial, commercial, institutional, construction and demolition sector must handle hazardous waste responsibly. For more information on commercial hazardous waste visit Yukon Government Community Services hazardous waste webpage, click here for more information.
household hazardous waste (hhw)
Household hazardous waste can be taken to one of the Household Hazardous Waste Days hosted at the Whitehorse Waste Management Facility in partnership with Yukon Government. Click here for more information on collection dates and acceptable materials. *Commercial hazardous waste and 45 gallon drums are not accepted.
hazardous waste materials and services
| Material | Requirements | Services | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerosols and empty aerosol containers, antifreeze and brake fluid, cleaning chemicals, fluorescent light bulbs, fluorescent light ballasts manufactured before 1980, gasoline, propane, solvents and waste oil, herbicides and pesticides, alkaline and rechargeable batteries, vehicle batteries, stains and oil paint products, other products labeled as corrosive, toxic, reactive, explosive, oxidizing, poisonous, infectious or flammable. |
Must be separated from regular waste. The only exception is car batteries: these can be dropped off for free at the Waste Management Facility. |
Yukon Government Community Services operates a commercial and residential hazardous waste collection program. Click here for more information. Household hazardous waste days are twice a year hosted at the Whitehorse Waste Management Facility. Click here for information on dates and acceptable materials. For commercial hazardous waste collection services contact General Waste Management or KBL Environmental Services |
Alkaline and rechargeable batteries can be dropped off at Call2Recycle depots: The Source, Staples & Raven Recycling Society. More information visit Yukon Governments hazardous waste page here. Pharmaceutical waste can be taken to your nearest hospital, nursing station or pharmacy. |
handling hazardous waste
Hazardous materials are...hazardous, and do not belong in your garbage bin! Here are some things to keep in mind while handling and transporting hazardous waste:
- Package hazardous waste properly; do not transport fluids in open buckets and do not mix fluids
- Tape ends of rechargeable batteries (transportation safety regulations require this for shipment)
- Be careful not to break fluorescent bulbs when transporting; breaking them releases harmful mercury vapour
- Keep items in the original packaging when possible so that the waste can be easily identifiable
- Paint thinners, stains and cleaners are to be disposed of as hazardous waste
- Latex paint cans should be opened and left to dry and disposed of with your regular garbage
Waste Sorting App
Sorting your waste is easy with our What Goes Where app. Type the name of an item into the search bar and we will give you recycling, composting, or disposal options.