Waste & Recycling Facilities

Household Hazardous Waste

Many products that you use every day like household cleaners and batteries are hazardous. Look for common warning symbols such as corrosive, poisonous, explosive and flammable on hazardous products.

Hazardous waste should never be put in the garbage or poured down drains or storm sewers. Household hazardous waste is not picked up at the curb. Hazardous waste should be taken to a Community Recycling Centre.

Hazardous Waste Tips

You must live in Hamilton to drop off household hazardous waste at a Community Recycling Centre. Commercial, industrial and institutional properties may not drop off household hazardous waste.
There is no charge to drop off household hazardous waste. Empty containers are not accepted. Containers must have leftover hazardous waste in them.
Needles and syringes must be placed in a plastic or metal container with a lid such as an empty detergent bottle or metal coffee can. Write "syringes" on the outside of the container. You can also get a container for needles and syringes at most pharmacies. Needles and syringes in glass containers will not be accepted. Please contact your local pharmacy to inquire about needle/syringe take back programs.
Smoke/carbon monoxide alarms will not be accepted. Take the batteries out and place the alarm in the garbage. Take the batteries to a Community Recycling Centre.
Only use container(s) you are willing to leave at the CRC.

Each time you visit you can bring a maximum of:

40 kg (90 lbs) of hazardous waste or 40 litres (10 gallons) of liquid hazardous waste.
Eight fluorescent tubes.
One thermostat that has mercury in it.

Items that you can recycle in your blue box

Empty metal and plastic paint cans and lids go in your blue box or the container recycling at the CRC.
Empty plastic paint buckets and lids go in the bulky rigid plastics bin at the CRC.
Empty spray paint cans go in your blue box.

Leftover Exterior Paint Cans

Leftover exterior paint can be dropped off at a CRC to help victims of graffiti.

Each of the City of Hamilton's Community Recycling Centres has a reuse shed that we stock with cans of paint we think can be reused. The sheds are open from spring to fall. You can take home up to four cans of paint for free!

Find out more about the reuse program.

Collect household batteries (single-use and rechargeable) in a shoebox, plastic container or glass jar and recycle them at various locations throughout Hamilton.

The following batteries should be placed in a plastic bag or cover both battery ends with tape to make sure the ends do not touch:

Lithium
Button cell
9 volt
Corroded or leaking batteries

Store all batteries in a cool and dry location before bringing them to a Community Recycling Centre or Municipal Service Centres for recycling.

For additional battery recycling locations visit:

Call2recycle

There are a number of less toxic alternatives to hazardous products that you use on a daily basis.

Be sure to take proper precautions when handling and using the things listed below.

Commercial product

Bleach
Dish detergent grease cutter
Drain cleaner
General household cleaner (abrasive)
Grease remover
Ink spot remover
Linoleum floor cleaner
Mildew remover
Oven cleaner
Spot remover
Toilet bowl cleaner
Tub and tile cleaner
Window cleaner

Less toxic alternative

Borax (available in the detergent section of most grocery stores)
1/2 cup baking soda and lemon juice
Plunger followed by 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 litres of boiling water
Baking soda
Borax on a damp cloth
Cold water, 1 tablespoon of cream of tartar and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 cup of white vinegar and 2 litres of water
Equal parts vinegar and salt
2 tablespoons of liquid soap, 2 teaspoons of Borax and warm water
Club soda, lemon juice and salt
Paste of Borax and lemon juice
1/4 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of white vinegar and warm water
2 tablespoons of vinegar in 1 litre warm water

Illegal dumping of hazardous waste should be reported to the Ministry of Environment’s Pollution Hotline at 1-866-663-8477.

Spills of hazardous waste should be reported to one of the following:

Ministry of the Environment Spills Action Center 1-800-268-6060
City of Hamilton at 905-546-2489

Both of these lines are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When calling, note the date, time, location of the spill, what was spilled and the approximate quantity (if known) and any other details you can make note of.

Acids or bases
Adhesives (all types)
Aerosol cans that are full or partially full
Alkyd and lead-based paints/stains
Antifreeze
Automobile batteries
Barbeque propane cylinders (large and non-refillable)
Batteries (single use)
Bleach
Blueprint ink
Brake fluid
Car care products
Car wax
Chemicals
Chlorine
Drain cleaner
Driveway Sealer
Energy efficient light bulbs
Fertilizers
Fire extinguishers

Fluorescent light bulb/tubes (Must remove ballasts)
Fluorescent tube light (whole) (8 per day)
Fuel
Garden chemicals
Gas
Glue
Grease (automobile)
Helium tanks
Herbicides
Insecticides
Kerosene
Lancets
Light bulbs (residential):
- Fluorescent bulbs
- Halogen bulbs
- HiD lamps/bulbs
- Sodium lamps/bulbs
- UV lamps/bulbs
Lighter fluid
Medication
Mercury thermometers/thermostats

Motor oil
Nail Polish and Remover
Oil filters
Oven cleaner
Oxygen tanks
Paint cans that are full or partially full
Paint thinner
Perfume
Pesticides
Photographic chemicals
Pool chemicals
Rechargeable batteries
Salt (driveway)
Solvents
Syringes
Transmission fluid
Turpentine
Varnish
Vitamins and supplements

Ammunition, explosives or fireworks (are best handled by contacting the Hamilton Police).
Asbestos
Biohazardous waste / biochemical wastes (can be taken to a company listed in the Yellow Pages).
Toner/ink Cartridges
Radioactive waste (must be called in to Atomic Energy of Canada Limited).

Date modified

April 12, 2024