There are many options to properly dispose of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). There is no charge to drop off HHW materials; however, maximum quantity limits will apply.
Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Depots
Our permanent HHW Depots are located at five of our County waste facilities; Aberfoyle, Belwood, Elora, Harriston, and Riverstown.
The only materials accepted at these depots are:
Automotive motor oil (maximum 25 litres per day)
Automotive oil filters (maximum 5 filters per day)
Automotive antifreeze (maximum 25 litres per day)
Automotive motor oil and antifreeze plastic containers
Aerosol cans (empty or containing product)
Batteries
Automotive batteries (maximum 4 batteries per day)
Household batteries (separate rechargeable from single-use batteries, place in a clear sealable plastic bag)
E-mobility batteries are not acceptable; please visit the Call2Recycle website to find drop-off locations
Propane cylinders (no larger than 30 lb. tanks)
Mobile Household Hazardous Waste Depot
The Mobile HHW Depot rotates between County waste facilities and roads garages. The depot is available at each site for one month.
Photographic chemicals, paint removers, nail polishes and nail polish removers, hair colour
Adhesives and glues
Flea sprays/powders, air fresheners, lighter fluid, kerosene, lubricating oils, mothballs, aerosol cans, etc.
Batteries
Automotive batteries - including snowmobile, motorcycle, lawnmower, garden tractor, etc.
Household batteries - button cell, rechargeable, lithium, alkaline, etc.
E-mobility batteries are not acceptable; please visit the Call2Recycle website to find drop-off locations
Fluorescent bulbs, tubes and ballasts
Mercury thermometers and thermostats
Outdoor household chemicals
Pool/spa chemicals, fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, driveway sealers, aerosol cans, etc.
Medication - prescription and non-prescription drugs
Medical needles and syringes - medical "sharps"
Automotive products
Antifreeze, motor oil, oil filters, empty motor oil containers, gasoline (in certified containers, which will be forfeited at the site), brake fluid, transmission fluid, waxes, windshield wiper solution, diesel fuel, etc.
Fire extinguishers
Propane cylinders
What Goes Where?
Find out if your item is accepted at our any of our HHW Depots by using the Recycle Coach waste app.
Non-Residential Hazardous Waste
Hazardous wastes generated by the Industrial, Commercial, Institutional (IC&I) and Agricultural sectors cannot be accepted. For information on proper disposal requirements, contact the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) at 1-800-565-4923, or MECP licensed hazardous waste carriers/haulers.
If you live on a farm, only the HHW materials generated from the household can be accepted.
There are many options for safe disposal of spent batteries:
County residents can drop their alkaline batteries (up to D size) into the top of Battery Tubes, located in all 14 Wellington County Library Branches. There is no charge to participate.
E-mobility batteries are not acceptable within our programme; please visit the Call2Recycle website to find drop-off locations and to learn more about battery disposal.
Never dispose of medication down the toilet or sink, or throw it out in the garbage. These practices may have a harmful effect on the environment.
Safely dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medication:
Drop at the Mobile HHW Depot
Many pharmacies provide free medication disposal services. Visit the Health Products Stewardship Association and search by postal code or city for a participating pharmacy in your area.
Medical sharps include needles, syringes and lancets. It is essential that sharp objects are disposed of using safe practices to reduce the risk of injury.
We provide free sharp disposal services to County residents at HHW Depots.
Here's how to safely deliver your sharps:
place residential medical sharps inside a sealable, rigid, puncture-proof plastic container (maximum five litre container)
pour bleach over the full container contents and leave for a minimum of 24 hours. Pour off the bleach.
seal the container and clearly label it "SHARPS"
Many pharmacies also provide free medical sharps disposal services. Visit the Health Products Stewardship Association and search by postal code or city for a participating pharmacy in your area.
Please note that medical sharps generated by the commercial, institutional, industrial and agricultural sectors cannot be accepted. For more information, contact the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) at 1-800-565-4923, or MECP licensed hazardous waste carriers/haulers (listed in telephone books under headings such as Liquid Waste Removal and Waste Management).
It is essential that sharp objects are disposed of using safe practices to reduce the risk of injury.
Here's how to safely dispose of non-medical sharp objects:
carefully wrap in newspaper and place inside a cardboard box suitable for the quantity of material
seal the box and label it "SHARPS"
deliver to a County waste facility - sharps will not be collected curbside
let the site attendant know that you have "non-medical sharps" and follow the directions for proper disposal
pay the appropriate fees based on the County's fee schedule
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are NOT considered Household Hazardous Waste - these items can go into your regular garbage, However, you must first remove the 9V battery, which can be taken to Select HHW Depots. For more information, please visit the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission website.
Empty paint cans are not hazardous waste. Metal paint cans are accepted as scrap metal at all six waste facilities or may be placed in your regular garbage. Empty and dry plastic paint cans can also be placed in your regular garbage.
