Hazardous household waste

Medications are also an example of hazardous household waste

Did you know amongst obvious household hazardous waste materials such as pesticides, batteries and motor oil there are others that can seriously hurt our environment? Are you aware that hazardous waste includes medications, even unused ones?

Pain killers, cough medication, birth control pills and other prescription medications are examples of the household hazardous wastes that should be kept out of your garbage and recycling, and never flushed down your toilet or poured down your drain.

Due to their nature, medications require special handling. It's very important to store them properly and dispose them properly as well. Old and unused medication, both prescription and over-the-counter, is toxic, and if it is not dispoed of safely, it could enter the environment and contaminate our lakes, rivers, groundwater and soil.

So how do you get rid of your unwanted medications? Simply gather the medications in their original containers and drop them off at a City Household Hazardous Waste Depot or a Community Environment Day event (see page for a complete event schedule). What about all the used syringes, needles and medical waste? Put them in a tightly sealed and labelled container.

Used medical supplies such as catheter lines/bags and dialysis tubes can go into your regular garbage, but make sure you flushem them of budy fluids and keep them out of your recycling! If you have more than 10 litres of household hazardous waste, you can call the Toxics Taxi at 416-392-4330 to book an appointment for free pick-up. Another option is to ask at your local phramacy if there is a medication take-back program.

Help take care of our environment by safely disposing of your medications. For more information on household hazardous waste visit www.toronto.ca/hhw/