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Waste wizard
Protect yourself, your property, and our environment
Hazardous materials and chemicals are one of the top threats to the quality of our drinking and tap water. When we pour chemicals down the drain, we threaten the quality of our drinking water. Even a small amount of a chemical, like your pool water or the run-off from washing your car in the driveway, can contribute to a toxic level of contamination in our drinking water. It’s important that residents and businesses dispose of hazardous materials and chemicals properly, to keep our water safe.
Safe disposal of cooking oil, cleaners, paints, batteries, and light bulbs helps protect you and your property.
Proper waste disposal helps protect Guelph’s water supply, prevents clogs and fires in our wastewater systems, ensures the safety of people working in the City’s waste processing facilities, and preserves our natural areas and wildlife habitat.
Free drop off
Guelph residents can drop off household hazardous waste at the Waste Resource Innovation Centre free of charge, and the City will recycle or dispose of them safely.
- If possible, please bring products in their original packages. Do not mix products together.
- Containers must be sealed and labeled. Leaking, unsealed or unknown materials may be refused.
- Gas/fuel must be in an Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) or Canadian Standards Association (CSA) approved container.
- Needles must be placed in a sealed glass or rigid plastic container.
When you arrive
- Tell the attendant you have household hazardous waste materials, and they will direct you to the household hazardous waste depot.
- Please wait until we ask you to unload your vehicle, and do not smoke or use your cell phone while unloading.
- Complete and sign the household hazardous waste ticket.
Daily drop off limits
- 10 long fluorescent light bulbs
- 80 litres or kilograms based on container size (maximum container size of 20 litres)
- four propane tanks (maximum container size of 20 pounds)
- single-use and rechargeable batteries that weigh up to 5 kg (11 pounds). Maximum disposal of batteries is 15 kg per person a day (33 pounds)
Pick up paint for free (spring to fall)
Guelph Paint+ reuse program
You can drop off unused paint, stain, cleaners etc. all year round.
The Paint+ reuse program opens April 15 and closes October 11, 2024. From spring to fall you can pick up paint, stain and other products for free. Available products vary, but you can often find things like:
- Paint/stains
- Aerosols
- Car care products (waxes, soaps, etc.)
- New motor oil
- New antifreeze
- Cleaning products
- Grout, drywall compound, cement
Items not accepted at Guelph’s household hazardous waste depot
Please use a contractor certified by the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks to collect and dispose of:
- Commercial, industrial or institutional waste
- Biohazardous waste
- Laboratory chemicals
- Radioactive materials
- Waste containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Please soak used or extinguished fireworks in water for 24 hours and dispose of them in the grey cart.
Do not put active or unused fireworks in any of your waste carts. Do not drop them off at the household hazardous waste depot. Contact the manufacturer for proper disposal instructions for active or unused sparklers and fireworks.
Please contact Guelph Police Services for help disposing of ammunition, explosives or marine flares
For more information
Solid Waste Resources
519-767-0598
TTY: 519-826-9771
[email protected]