Name: ______________
Hazardous Household Waste
Hazardous products are all around us, even though we
may not realize it. When we throw them out and they go
into our landfills, they can be hazardous to both the
environment as well as our health.
Hazardous household products have at least one of the
following properties:
Flammable
Toxic/Poisonous
Reactive/Explosive
Corrosive
Flammable - May catch on fire if heated or exposed to flame
Toxic/Poisonous - Can cause illness or death if consumed
Reactive/Explosive - May explode if heated or shaken
Corrosive - Can harm skin or tissue if it comes in contact
This includes products we may use every day. Some common
examples of hazardous waste includes:
● Paint that is solvent-based
● Batteries
● Motor oil
● Swimming pool chemicals
● Fluorescent light tubes
● Medicines
● Cleaning chemicals
● Pesticides
● Hair colour
©Teaching Fourth In The North
How to Safely HANDLE or STORE Hazardous Products:
1. Keep products in their original containers.
2. Don’t mix chemicals. Clean containers thoroughly before transferring
between containers.
3. Make sure all labels (including warning labels, hazardous symbols,
and manufacturer’s instructions) stay on the packaging.
4. Store goods upright with lids secured tightly.
5. Keep out of reach of young children.
5. Keep all ignition sources and heat far away from hazardous products.
6. Store goods in a cool and dry location.
©Teaching Fourth In The North
How to Safely DISPOSE of Hazardous Waste:
Most hazardous waste can be disposed of safely at an Eco Station. Eco
Stations accept household hazardous waste, electronics, recyclables,
yard waste, bulky items and more.
Eco Station Drop Off
● Computers – materials used to make computer equipment contain valuable
resources that can be reused. They also contain hazardous materials that
could pose a threat to the environment if they are not disposed of in a
responsible manner.
● Mobile phones and phone batteries – some mobile phones and accessories
contain heavy metals.
● Batteries ( including car batteries) – can leak toxic chemicals into the air,
soil and water. It is also possible for them to interact with other items in the
garbage and explode or catch fire.
● Used motor oils – these can be recycled!
● Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent globes (CFLs)
● Propane tanks
©Teaching Fourth In The North
Pharmacy Drop Off
● Unused medicines – take unused pharmaceuticals, including prescription
and non-prescription drugs, to a pharmacist for disposal
Home Hazardous Product Hunt Activity
What kinds of hazardous products do you have around your house?
Where should these household products go when you don’t need them
any longer? Not in the trash!
Fill in the following chart with 5 hazardous products you
find
around your home. The objective of this task is to get
you
thinking about where hazardous products can be
disposed of when you are finished using them. Most of
them will have a hazardous symbol on them (flammable, corrosive,
explosive, or toxic) but some may not, such as common electronic items.
©Teaching Fourth In The North
If you need help coming up with ideas or researching how to dispose of
certain items, you can use these links to help you.
Common Household Hazardous Items
Eco Station Info - City of Edmonton
What Goes Where - City of Edmonton
Disclaimer: Be very careful around chemicals and dangerous
products around your home. Always check with an adult before
touching, smelling, or moving these items around.
Item Found
Where I found it at home
How I can safely dispose of it
©Teaching Fourth In The North