Certain household materials cannot go into regular garbage, recycling bins or drains. Paint, pesticides, solvents, fuels, batteries, propane tanks, fluorescent bulbs and pool chemicals all fall into the category of household special waste (HSW) or household hazardous waste (HHW). Disposing of them improperly risks contaminating groundwater and soil, and poses hazards to waste collection workers.
Canadian provinces have developed a range of take-back systems for these materials, from permanent depot facilities to scheduled collection events. This article describes the most common disposal channels and the composting programs that divert organic material from landfill.
What Counts as Household Hazardous Waste
Provincial guidelines use different terminology, but the core categories are consistent across Canada:
- Paints and coatings — latex paint, oil-based paint, stains, varnishes, lacquers
- Solvents and fuels — gasoline, diesel, kerosene, turpentine, acetone, paint thinner
- Pesticides and herbicides — insecticides, weed killers, fungicides, fertilizers containing pesticide ingredients
- Automotive products — used motor oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, transmission fluid
- Batteries — single-use alkaline, lead-acid vehicle batteries, lithium batteries
- Fluorescent lighting — tube fluorescents (contain mercury), compact fluorescent bulbs
- Propane and gas cylinders — camping canisters, BBQ tanks
- Pool and spa chemicals — chlorine, pH adjusters, algaecides
Never pour solvents, paint or automotive fluids down a drain or into the ground. These materials contaminate groundwater and municipal wastewater systems, and are prohibited from disposal in regular garbage under provincial environmental regulations.
Ontario: Household Special Waste Programs
Ontario municipalities run Household Special Waste (HSW) programs through municipal depots and periodic community collection events. Locations include transfer stations, landfills and community depots. The program is funded through municipal waste budgets and, for some product categories, through producer responsibility programs.
Paint Stewardship in Ontario
PaintCare Ontario operates a province-wide paint take-back program, with drop-off at participating hardware and paint retailers. Both latex and oil-based paints are accepted, as well as aerosol paint cans. The program runs year-round without requiring residents to attend specific events.
Used Oil and Automotive Fluids
Ontario's Used Oil Material program accepts used motor oil, filters, containers, antifreeze and oil-contaminated absorbents at registered sites including automotive retailers, service stations and municipal depots.
British Columbia: Return-It and Product Stewardship
BC operates one of the most developed product stewardship systems in Canada. The Product Stewardship branch of the BC Ministry of Environment oversees programs for paint, used oil, flammable products, pesticides, batteries, electronics and more.
Flammable and Solvents: HPRS
The Hazardous Products Recycling and Stewardship (HPRS) program manages the collection of flammable containers, solvents, and antifreeze. Consumers bring these materials to participating retailers, depots and some municipalities.
BC Paint Stewardship
The PaintCare program accepts paint and coatings at retail drop-off locations including hardware stores. No appointment is needed.
Quebec: Écocentres and RDD
Quebec uses a network of écocentres (eco-centres) operated by municipalities for the collection of résidus domestiques dangereux (RDD) — dangerous domestic waste. These facilities accept a broad range of materials in one location. Montreal operates numerous écocentres that residents can use without charge.
For items not accepted at écocentres, Quebec municipalities run periodic mobile collection events in neighbourhoods without fixed facilities. The RECYC-QUÉBEC website lists both fixed and mobile collection options by municipality.
Alberta: Residential Special Products
ARMA oversees programs for used oil, filters and containers, as well as paint and electronic waste. Alberta also runs the Agricultural Plastics Recycling program for farm-specific hazardous materials. For residential consumers, collection takes place at ARMA-registered depots and some municipal landfills.
Composting Programs by Province
Organic material — food scraps, yard waste, soiled paper — makes up a significant portion of residential waste. Diverting organics from landfill reduces methane generation (a potent greenhouse gas produced by decomposing organic material under anaerobic conditions) and produces compost for municipal or agricultural use.
Ontario: Green Bin Program
Ontario's Green Bin program is operated at the municipal level. Toronto's Green Bin accepts all food waste, including meat, dairy and bones — materials that cannot go into backyard composters. Collected organics are processed at anaerobic digestion or composting facilities. Peel Region, Ottawa and most other large Ontario municipalities operate similar curbside organics programs.
Accepted materials in most Ontario Green Bin programs:
- All food scraps (cooked and raw, including meat and fish)
- Soiled paper and cardboard (napkins, pizza boxes, paper towels)
- Yard waste (grass clippings, leaves, plant trimmings)
- Certified compostable bags and packaging
Nova Scotia: Four-Stream Diversion
Nova Scotia's residential collection system separates waste into four streams: recycling, compost, household special waste and residual garbage. The composting stream operates province-wide and is credited with significantly reducing the amount of material sent to landfill. Nova Scotia's approach is frequently cited as a model for high-diversion waste management in Canada.
British Columbia: Green Cart Programs
Metro Vancouver and other BC regional districts operate green cart (organics) collection for food scraps and yard waste. Metro Vancouver's organics are processed at regional composting facilities, with finished compost used in regional park and landscaping applications.
Quebec: Organic Waste Collection Expansion
Quebec's Act Respecting Sustainable Development targets zero organic waste going to landfill. Municipalities are required to implement curbside organics collection under provincial regulation. Many Quebec municipalities now operate weekly or biweekly organics pickup alongside recycling and garbage collection.
Backyard Composting
Many municipalities across Canada offer subsidized backyard composting bins to residents. Backyard composters are suited for fruit and vegetable scraps, yard waste and coffee grounds, but should not receive meat, dairy, cooked food or pet waste. Municipal websites typically list subsidy programs for composting bins and, in some cases, offer composting workshops.
| Province | HHW Collection | Organics Diversion |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Municipal depots + PaintCare, Used Oil program | Green Bin curbside in most major municipalities |
| British Columbia | HPRS, PaintCare, Return-It depots | Green Cart programs in Metro Vancouver and other districts |
| Quebec | Écocentres + mobile RDD collection events | Municipal organics collection under provincial regulation |
| Alberta | ARMA depots, municipal landfill sites | Municipal composting varies; Calgary Green Cart program |
| Nova Scotia | Municipal depots | Province-wide four-stream curbside with organics |
Last updated: May 25, 2026. Hazardous waste programs and organics collection schedules change — verify current details with your provincial or municipal waste authority.