Getting Ready for Thanksgiving? Don't Forget About Household Hazardous Waste Disposal

Thanksgiving is coming, which means meal planning, grocery shopping, decorating, cleaning, and getting the house ready for guests.

If you're doing a deeper-than-usual cleanup before the long weekend, don't just look at what needs dusting or organizing. Check the garage, basement, shed, and storage cabinets too.

You might find a few things that shouldn't go into your regular garbage.

From old cleaning chemicals and paint to propane cylinders, batteries, and other forgotten materials, Thanksgiving cleanup can be a good opportunity to deal with household hazardous waste that's been sitting around for months or even years.

A Few Things to Look Out for While You Prep

Getting ready for a holiday can mean using products you don't normally reach for or finally cleaning out areas you've been ignoring.

Here are a few things worth looking for.

1. Deep Cleaning Chemicals

Thanksgiving is a popular time for a serious kitchen clean.

Maybe you're scrubbing the oven, polishing surfaces, cleaning appliances, or getting the house ready for a full weekend of guests. That can also be when you discover old bottles and jugs of cleaning products tucked away under the sink or in the back of a cabinet.

Some household cleaning products contain chemicals that shouldn't be poured down the drain or placed in regular garbage.

If you come across old or unwanted products, keep them in their original containers where possible and separate them from your regular household waste.

You can also check the TakeMyHazWaste materials list to see whether the product is accepted.

2. Cooking Oil and Fats

Thanksgiving cooking can create more used cooking oil than usual, particularly for households preparing large meals or using deep fryers.

Never pour used cooking oil or fats down the drain. They can cause plumbing problems and create issues further down the line.

For larger quantities, use an appropriate cooking-oil recycling or disposal option rather than putting liquid oil into your garbage.

For more information about oil disposal in the region, see our guide to proper oil disposal in Metro Vancouver.

3. Propane Cylinders

If you're using a patio heater, outdoor burner, or other propane-powered equipment while getting ready for Thanksgiving, take a look at any old cylinders you have stored away too.

An empty propane cylinder isn't automatically harmless. Propane cylinders can pose a serious fire hazard if they're placed in regular garbage or recycling where they can be damaged during collection and processing.

Have an old or unwanted propane cylinder? See our cylinder and aerosol disposal options before deciding how to dispose of it.

4. Old Batteries and Electronics

Thanksgiving preparation can also be a good excuse to finally replace that old appliance, electronic device, or piece of equipment that's been sitting around.

Before putting anything in the garbage, separate batteries and other items that require a different disposal route.

The same goes for the collection of loose batteries that seems to appear in every household drawer.

If you're doing a pre-Thanksgiving garage purge, gather up old batteries, unwanted electronics, leftover paint, and other materials you've been meaning to deal with.

The TakeMyHazWaste materials list can help you identify materials that are accepted for hazardous waste disposal.

The Pre-Thanksgiving Garage Purge

Here's a simple checklist to add to your Thanksgiving preparation.

Garage

• Old paint and coatings

• Motor oil and automotive fluids

• Propane cylinders

• Aerosols

• Batteries

• Unwanted chemicals

  
  

Basement, shed or storage areas

• Old cleaning chemicals

• Fluorescent bulbs and tubes

• Forgotten chemical products

• Old batteries

• Other products labelled as hazardous

Kitchen

• Unwanted cleaning chemicals

• Used cooking oil

• Old or unknown products stored under the sink

  
  

You don't need to tackle the entire house at once. If you're already cleaning and organizing for Thanksgiving, simply keep an eye out for materials that need a different disposal option.

Why Can't You Just Throw It Out?

Household hazardous waste isn't ordinary garbage.

Certain chemicals, aerosols, batteries, propane cylinders, and other materials can create safety and environmental problems when they end up in municipal garbage or recycling streams.

Some materials can also react with other waste, leak, or create a fire hazard during collection and processing.

When you're unsure about a product, check the label and look up the appropriate disposal option before putting it in the garbage, recycling, or down a drain.

How TakeMyHazWaste Makes Holiday Cleanup Easier

Once you've sorted through the garage, basement, or storage areas, the next question is where everything should go.

For smaller quantities of accepted household hazardous waste, TakeMyHazWaste has hazardous waste drop-off locations across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

Transfer station locations include partner bottle depots in South Vancouver, Scott Road in Surrey, and Walnut Grove in Langley, along with the Main Facility in North Surrey.

These locations make it easier to deal with smaller household quantities without turning your Thanksgiving cleanup into a major project. Just check the accepted materials and any applicable quantity limits before heading out.

Have a Bigger Cleanup?

Sometimes a holiday cleanup turns into a much bigger project.

Maybe the garage hasn't been touched in years, the basement needs a serious clear-out, or you're finally getting rid of a collection of old chemicals, paint, batteries, and other materials.

In those cases, you don't necessarily need to load everything into your car.

TakeMyHazWaste also offers residential hazardous waste pickup for larger quantities or situations where transporting the material yourself isn't practical.

You can request a service to get started.

One More Thing to Cross Off the Thanksgiving List

Getting ready for Thanksgiving already comes with enough to-do lists.

But if you're cleaning out the garage, organizing the basement, or finally tackling that cabinet you've been avoiding, take a few extra minutes to identify any hazardous materials you've accumulated.

Old paint. Batteries. Propane cylinders. Chemicals. Oil.

Deal with them now, and you won't have to wonder what to do with them the next time you're cleaning up.

Accepted materials, quantity limits, and service requirements can vary by location and material. Check the applicable disposal requirements before transporting hazardous waste.