Household Hazardous Waste
In Summer 2024, HHW collection will move to the City's Material Recovery Centre. More information to come.
What is Household Hazardous Waste?
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) materials are the discarded, unused or leftover portion of household products containing chemicals that can cause illness or death to people, plants and animals. They can also negatively impact soil and nearby water sources. These products are often labelled CAUTION, WARNING, CORROSIVE, EXPLOSIVE, FLAMMABLE, POISONOUS or TOXIC. Common HHW includes aerosols, batteries, cleaners, propane cylinders, light bulbs, yard chemicals and more. These and many other types of hazardous materials require safe handling and should not be put in your garbage or recycling containers, dumped on the ground or poured down the drain.
Other options for disposal of common HHW material:
In 2022 paint, batteries and used oil accounted for 60% of the material dropped off at HHW events. Below are additional disposal options for these common materials that are open year round:
- Household paint, batteries and electronics can be dropped off at all SARCAN depot locations
- Used oil, antifreeze, and containers can be dropped off at a SARRC EcoCentre. Locations can be found here.
Acceptable items
- Acid - battery acid, toilet bowl cleaner, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid
- Adhesives - contact cement, resin, glue, sealer, caulking
- Aerosols - hair spray, insect repellant, lubricant spray, furniture cleaner, bear spray
- Automotive - used oil, oil filters, antifreeze, carburetor cleaner, batteries, fuel, windshield wiper solution, transmission fluid, brake fluid, empty oil containers and pails (note: maximum of 40L of oil will be accepted at HHW drop-off events; barrels/drums of oil will not be accepted at HHW drop-off events; please visit Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council for other options to recycle large volumes of oil)
- Batteries - Alkali, dry cell, NiCad, lithium, lead-acid (automotive). Household batteries (less than 5kg each) can also be recycled year-round at a number of convenient locations in Saskatoon. Find a drop-off location at call2recycle.ca/locator/
- Cleaners - floor, carpet, clothing, oven, glass, car wax, disinfectant, aluminum cleaner
- Cylinders - propane, helium, oxygen, acetylene, fire extinguishers, MAP gas, butane, carbon dioxide
- Corrosives - drain cleaner, engine degreaser, ammonia, battery acid, sulfuric acid
- Fuels - gasoline, diesel, kerosene, oil/gas mixture
- Light Bulbs & Ballasts - fluorescent light ballasts (with or without PCBs), light bulbs
- Mercury - mercury, mercury thermometers
- Oxidizing Chemicals - chlorine, bleach, pool chemicals, fertilizer, hydrogen peroxide
- Paint - Paint and paint products are accepted at HHW events; however, many items including leftover paint and empty paint cans are also accepted at all SARCAN recycling depots in Saskatoon. SARCAN is the designated collector of these materials under the Saskatchewan Paint Recycling Program. A complete list of items accepted under the program can be found at SARCAN.
- Pesticides & Fertilizers - pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, fertilizer
- Pharmaceuticals - prescription drugs, medicines (no needles, sharps or biological waste)
- Propane Cylinders - barbeque cylinders (20 lb), camp cylinders (1 lb)
- Solvents - varsol, paint thinner, naphtha, acetone, toluene, xylene, alcohol, benzene
- Vaping Products - Vape juice containers and cartridges (full or empty) and vape pens with non-removable batteries are accepted. Vape pens with removable batteries should be disposed of in the garbage, and the batteries can be taken to a HHW Day or disposed of through the Call2Recycle program.
- Other Materials - asphalt sealers, roofing tar, detergents, photographic chemicals, pigments, dyes, nail polish remover, lead, mothballs, phenol, pine oil, scouring powder, spot remover, septic tank chemicals, shoe polish, wood preservatives
Unacceptable items
Please note that the following materials are not currently accepted as part of any City of Saskatoon programming. Please contact private waste disposal contractors for safe disposal options of the following materials. Residents will be responsible for any fees incurred for cost of disposal.
- Asbestos and asbestos-containing materials - contact Loraas Landfill at 306-242-8909
- Biologically hazardous materials including sharps, needles and items contaminated with human fluids - see Needle Safe brochure or contact Needle Safe Saskatoon Information Line at 306-655-4444; operators of Medical or Business Offices please contact Biomed Recovery and Disposal Ltd. at 306-253-4476
- Construction, renovation, and demolition waste - tiles, shingles, insulation, light fixtures (ballasts and light tubes will be accepted if removed from fixtures).
- Class 1 (Explosives) - including ammunition, fireworks, flares, guns, gun powder and related items - contact Saskatoon Police Service at 306-975-8300.
- Class 7 (Radioactive) - including ionization chamber-type smoke detectors - contact Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council at 306-931-3242.
- Electronics of any type - see 'Other Recycling Opportunities in the Community' section below
- Large/heavy containers - 70L and 205L drums will not be accepted; liquid containers must be 20L capacity or less - contact Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council at 306-931-3242 for options to recycle large volumes of oil.
- Non-sealed containers - waste must be properly contained, and containers must be sealed.
- Railway or landscaping ties - please contact private waste disposal contractors for safe disposal options.
- Unlabeled containers - containers must be clearly marked to identify the contents.
- Used tires (automotive and bicycle) - contact Tire Stewardship of Saskatchewan at 1-833-790-1894
Other Opportunities in the Community
A variety of local retailers accept specific materials for disposal or recycling during regular business hours. Explore the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council website for a list of places that accept HHW materials.