Keep hazardous waste out of the landfill
Remember to safely dispose of and recycle hazardous household waste.
Planning a trip to the landfill this fall? Remember to safely dispose of and recycle hazardous household waste to avoid danger for staff and infrastructure.
Due to its dangerous and potentially explosive nature, hazardous waste cannot be placed in curbside bins, put in waste containers at construction sites, dropped directly at the Glenmore Landfill or left at other transfer stations and collection depots. This helps reduce the chance of fires and explosions and protects staff and the environment.
Hazardous waste is anything that is corrosive, flammable or poisonous. This includes e-cigarette batteries, small power tools, smoke alarms and even children’s toys with batteries left inside. Any items that are marked with a “do not dispose” note or logo should never be combined with your landfill load or disposed of in curbside-collection bins.
“Residents can do their part to help keep our workers safe by disposing of their waste properly,” said Scott Hoekstra, Landfill Operations Manager at the City of Kelowna. “Often times there are lithium-ion batteries hidden in a load or item being disposed of, which are a common cause of fires at the landfill.”
Electronics, batteries and other hazardous wastes can catch fire or explode during landfilling and recycling processes, turning a regular household item into a potential risk. These materials should be recycled through approved third-party facilities.
“Hazardous materials that are placed in recycling carts are extremely dangerous, not only for collection staff, but also for vehicles and sorting equipment,” said Cynthia Coates, Supervisor Solid Waste at the RDCO. “Plus, this raises our region’s contamination rates, resulting in significant surcharges. Items such as batteries, propane tanks and butane cannisters never belong in your curbside carts.”
For information on where to dispose of hazardous materials appropriately, please visit rdco.com/provincial-take-back-programs, rdco.com/hazwaste, or use the Recycle Coach app at rdco.com/recyclecoach.
Learn more about the Glenmore Landfill at kelowna.ca/landfill.
