Hazardous Waste and Special Items Disposal

Household hazardous waste (HHW) includes materials that are: 

• Corrosive
• Explosive
• Flammable
• Poisonous

If HHW is washed down the drain or thrown in the garbage it can contaminate drinking water, soil and air. Whenever possible, avoid HHW by choosing non-hazardous alternatives. If you do use a hazardous material, try to use it all or give any extras to someone who will use it.

Residential hazardous waste materials must be in well-labelled, sealed containers. Needles and syringes must be placed in puncture-proof containers.  Do not mix substances.

Limits

York Region residents may drop off: 

• 60 litres of household hazardous waste per vehicle per day
• 20 fluorescent tubes per day
   

All batteries are hazardous waste and should not go in the garbage or recycling. Batteries contain combustible, flammable materials. When crushed or overheated in garbage and recycling trucks or at waste depots, batteries can catch fire and put people at risk. Several fires have occurred at York Region waste depots due to batteries being thrown in the garbage or recycling. 

York Region residents can drop batteries off at a York Region waste depot, or other battery collection sites, like participating community centres and retailers.

For battery collection sites near you visit call2recycle.ca

Remember: Batteries are not garbage and should be handled carefully for safety reasons.

Costly sewage pipe repairs take place each year in York Region due to fat, oil, and grease washed down the drain. Liquid cooking oil like vegetable oil, canola oil, sunflower oil and olive oil can be recycled into biodiesel. York Region residents can drop off cooking oil at one of York Region's waste depots in a tightly sealed container.

NOTE: Animal fat (solid) and other food products can be placed in the green bin.

Limits

York Region residents may drop off:

• Used cooking oil (maximum 4L per day)

Electronics can contain hazardous substances and valuable resources that need to be recycled, reused or disposed of properly. 

York Region residents can drop off their electronic waste at a York Region waste depot. 

Note: Clear all personal information from all devices prior to drop-off

Disassembled electronics will not be accepted. 

Guidelines and Limits

• Remove all packaging and batteries
• Limit of two televisions per visit
• Maximum 50 kilograms per household per day

Why is foam packaging not accepted in York Region’s Blue Box program?

Foam packaging used for take-out foods for example, is a low-density, high volume material that quickly fills up collection vehicles resulting in higher shipping costs. Additionally, recycling foam packaging with other Blue Box recyclables can be challenging as it tends to get broken or can develop a static charge. This makes sorting difficult and can result in cross-contamination of other recyclables.

There are limited available end markets for recycling foam packaging at this time. York Region staff continues to monitor market conditions.

Are there any depots in York Region that accept foam packaging for recycling?

York Region waste depots do not accept foam packaging for recycling, but it can be dropped off as garbage at the following depots:

• Elgin Mills Community Environmental Centre
• Georgina Waste Transfer Station
• McCleary Court Community Environmental Centre

Why can we put hard plastics labelled with a #6 recycling symbol in the Blue Box but not foam packaging? It has the same #6 recycling symbol.

Foam packaging, or "foamed" polystyrene is a type of plastic (#6). Not all plastics are the same so processing and end market demand for materials vary. Non-foamed, #6 hard plastic such as clear clam shell food containers do have an end market demand. This is why it can be recycled in the curbside Blue Box program in York Region. 

Take back your waste pharmaceuticals and sharps to your local pharmacy for proper disposal. All pharmacies are required to take back unused/expired pharmaceuticals. Alternatively you can bring them to a York Region Waste Depot that accepts household hazardous waste.

Traces of pharmaceuticals are being detected in rivers, lakes, drinking water and soil. One of the ways they get into the environment is when medications and other personal care products are thrown in the garbage, flushed down the toilet or the sink. Taking preventative action by disposing of pharmaceuticals safely, helps protect our drinking water sources and our ecosystems. Visit york.ca/Idontflush for more information.

NOTE: Needles and syringes must be in puncture-proof containers. Do not mix substances.

Instead of throwing something in the garbage, consider donating items in good, gently used condition to charity groups so they can be reused by people who need them.

For residents looking to donate furniture:

1. Contact charities such as Furniture Bank
2. Post an ad on reuse websites such as Freecycle.org

If your furniture is not reuseable:

1. Contact your city or town to arrange for curbside collection 
2. Drop it off at McCleary Court or Elgin Mills CECs or Georgina Transfer Station as garbage (fees apply)

Other Reuse Programs

Eyeglasses
Eyeglasses can be donated for reuse. Contact your local ophthalmologist, optician or optometrist to see if they collect used eyeglasses.

Eyeglasses are also collected through a partnership between Goodwill of Greater Toronto and the Maple Lions Club. Eyeglasses are sorted by Lions Club volunteers and distributed to people in need in developing countries through the Lions Recycle for Sight program. Visit the Lion Clubs International website to learn more.

Used Computers
Older computers in working condition can be refurbished and either supplied to those in need or resold with the proceeds going to support your community. Please remove all personal data on electronics prior to dropping them off for recycling reuse or refurbishment.

Salvation Army Thrift Stores accept computers. Find a store on the Salvation Army website.

Liability

The Regional Municipality of York Assumes No Liability. In addition to the Region's limitation of liability provisions on this website, please note that the Region is not responsible for any loss related to the access and misuse of personal information on donated electronic materials for unintended purposes including identity theft, or any other personal injury or pecuniary loss. It is the donor's obligation to protect their personal information and it is highly recommended that all data from computers and laptops, SIM cards and other storage devices in cell phones, digital cameras or digital printers be removed and wiped clean prior to dropping same off for refurbishment or reuse.
 

For scrap metal items not collected at the curb York Region residents can recycle them at one of our Waste Depots.

Looking to donate clothing and other textiles? Check out the National Association for Charitable Textile Recycling's online directory for a donation site near you!

Textiles refer to items that include clothing, sheets, towels and drapes or anything made of fabric. Don’t throw clothing or fabrics in the garbage if it can be donated, reused or repurposed; even stained, worn or torn fabrics can be repurposed. 

Fabrics made from cotton, wool or other natural fibers will eventually break down but as they do, they can release harmful greenhouse gases. Fabrics made from synthetic fibers, like polyester or rayon will not break down and will last forever if sent to a landfill.

Textile collection bins, in partnership with Diabetes Canada and B’nai Brith, are located at select York Region waste depots. Items must be clean, dry and odourless.

Limits

York Region residents may drop off multiple bags of textiles, but they must fit in the bin.

You can drop off accepted clothing and fabric items at one of the following Waste Depots:

• East Gwillimbury Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling Depot
• Elgin Mills Community Environmental Centre
• Georgina Waste Transfer Station
• McCleary Court Community Environmental Centre

For other drop-off locations visit york.ca/bindicator
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York Region residents can drop off tires free of charge at three locations in York Region:

• Elgin Mills Community Environmental Centre
• Georgina Waste Transfer Station
• McCleary Court Community Environmental Centre

Limits

A limit of 10 residential tires can be dropped off per day, on or off the rim.

Businesses are encouraged to register as collectors with Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA).  Registered businesses can arrange for pick-up of used tires for recycling.  For more information, please visit the RPRA website or call 1-833-600-0530.