For a heavy duty spring clean, collect all your household hazardous waste and make a trip to your local haz-mat depot to ensure corrosive, flammable, explosive, or poisonous waste is disposed of properly. When poured down the drain or thrown in the trash, toxic waste can wind up circling back into our food, water and land. Find a safe and cool out-of-the-way spot in your home or garage to stockpile these items until you can get to the depot. It’s better to store them yourself for a time where you can keep an eye on those nasty bits and bobs and then make one big trip - maybe plan a neighbourhood collection to cut down on gas and driving.

A list of things to take:

compact fluorescent bulbs!!!!
other fluorescent lighting
mercury thermometers and switches
car batteries
motor oil
waxes and grease
old paint, paint cans, brushes, rollers etc and nailpolish, ladies
cosmetics, hair dye etc
spray paint and all other aerosols containers
pesticides, bug killers
anything poisonous
batteries
lighter fluid
propane tanks
turpentine
gasoline
old medicine and syringes
cleaning fluids, bleach, drain and oven cleaners etc
pool chemicals
fire extinguishers

For a complete list check your local hazardous waste depot’s website or the Environmental Protection Agency.