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Household Hazardous Waste

NEW in 2019 - Household Hazardous Waste Events Relocated to Civic Operations Centre

To help you dispose of your household hazardous wastes, the City coordinates Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Days between April and November. On the dates listed below, a temporary site is set up at Civic Operations Centre (57 Valley Road), for residents of Saskatoon to drop-off their household hazardous waste materials for recycling or safe disposal. Event hours are 9am to 3:30pm (tip: gates close at 3:30pm, so plan accordingly for the 'end-of-day rush'). NOTE: the program is open to Saskatoon residents only - no commercial loads will be accepted.

2019 HHW Event Dates

  • April 7
  • May 5
  • June 2
  • July 7
  • August 11
  • September 8
  • October 6
  • November 3

Location 

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Days are held in the parking lot at Civic Operations Centre (57 Valley Road) – follow the signs and direction of attendants on site.

Household hazardous wastes (HHW) are the discarded, unused or leftover portion of household products containing chemicals that can cause illness or death to people, plants and animals. These products are often labeled CAUTION, WARNING, CORROSIVE, EXPLOSIVE, FLAMMABLE, POISONOUS or TOXIC. Common household hazardous wastes include aerosols, cleaning solvents, oils, paints, pesticides and batteries. These and many other types of hazardous materials should not be put in your garbage or recycling bins, dumped on the ground or poured down the drain.

City of Saskatoon provides free drop-off events between April and November, for residents to safely discard of household hazardous waste. This program is for residential or household hazardous waste only; hazardous waste from businesses or other organizations will not be accepted. For disposal/recycling opportunities of hazardous wastes from non-residential sources, please contact GFL Environmental Inc. at 306-244-9500.

 What you can expect from us

  1. Monthly drop-off events for the disposal of household hazardous wastes.
  2. A friendly and knowledgeable team of experts available to unload your vehicle safely and efficiently.
  3. Responsible disposal of your household hazardous wastes.

 How you can help us

  1. Help put waste in the right place. Learn about household hazardous wastes and how to safely and responsibly discard of unused or leftover portions of products containing harmful chemicals.
  2. If you plan to attend a drop-off event, make sure your household hazardous wastes are safely contained or packaged for transport. Let the event staff know if you want to keep the box/bin used to transport your items, and they’ll return it after your items have been removed.
  3. For large loads - specifically used oil and household paint - please consider the other convenient recycling options available to you. Used engine oil, oil filters, oil containers and antifreeze are accepted at no charge at the Eco Centre located at the City's Landfill (limit of 500 L); household paint and paint products are accepted at all SARCAN recycling depots.
  4. For exceptionally large loads (e.g., you cleaned out your parents' garage), please contact us at sustainability@saskatoon.ca to coordinate drop-off arrangements.
  5. Stay in your vehicle and let the event staff do the work – it is safer for everyone and speeds up the drop-off process!
  6. There may be other local opportunities as well to dispose of your stuff.  If you have questions about hazardous wastes from your household, ask our event staff or contact us at 306-975-2487 or sustainability@saskatoon.ca.
  7. Tell us about your experience attending the event – what did we do well and how could we improve? Contact us at sustainability@saskatoon.ca.

Customer Service

If you have any questions about the Household Hazardous Waste program, please contact 306-975-2487 or sustainability@saskatoon.ca. 

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: barrels/drums of oil will not be accepted at HHW drop-off events; please visit www.saskwastereduction.ca for other options to recycle large volumes of oil)
  • Batteries - alkali, dry cell, NiCad, lithium, lead-acid (automotive)
  • Cleaners - floor, carpet, clothing, oven, glass, car wax, disinfectant, aluminum cleaner
  • Cylinders - propane, helium, oxygen, acetylene, fire extinguishers
  • 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
  • Other Materials – asphalt sealers, roofing tar, detergents, photographic chemicals, pigments, dyes, hair colour, nail polish, nail polish remover, lead, mothballs, pet supplies, phenol, pine oil, scouring powder, spot remover, septic tank chemicals, shoe polish, wood preservatives, household products containing microbeads (e.g., hand soap)

Unacceptable items

Other Recycling Opportunities in the Community

A variety of local retailers accept specific materials for disposal or recycling during regular business hours. Visit Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council's website for a list of places that accept household hazardous waste materials.                                                                                                                                            

 

Paint

Leftover paint and empty paint cans are accepted without charge at all SARCAN recycling depots in Saskatoon. A complete list of items accepted under the Saskatchewan Paint Recycling Program can be found on SARCAN's website. Paint that is NOT accepted through the SARCAN program can be dropped off at Household Hazardous Waste Days.

Electronics

Electronics are accepted without charge at a number of drop-off centres in Saskatoon, including all SARCAN recycling depots. Residents and businesses can drop off approved products at one of twelve Recycle My Electronics drop-off centres in Saskatoon. Approved products include:

  • desktop and portable computers
  • computer equipment (keyboards, mice, cables and internal components)
  • desktop printers and fax machines, displays (TVs, computer monitors)
  • audio/video systems (personal or portable, vehicle, home)
  • non-cellular telephones

Batteries, Oil, Lightbulbs and More! 

For information about recycling other materials like batteries, oil, lightbulbs and many other items go to Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council's recycling database.