How to Properly Dispose Of Hazardous Chemicals Before Moving

When moving, you will likely have to get rid of many things from your old home.  

One thing you probably won’t be taking with you is hazardous chemicals. Travelling with chemicals can be dangerous as they can react and set on fire, corrode, or create a toxic gas, depending on the chemical.  

With this in mind, you will need to know how to properly get rid of your chemicals to ensure you don’t cause damage to yourself or the environment.  

We have created a handy guide on how to dispose of hazardous chemical products before you move so you can do so efficiently and safely.  

What Chemicals Are Hazardous?

Before starting the disposal process, you should first know what to look for.

To make your search a little easier, we have broken down the four main categories of hazardous chemicals, what makes them so dangerous, and some examples of the chemical in question:  

• Toxic Materials - Chemicals that can poison if consumed, inhaled, or contact the skin are toxic materials. Examples of this are antifreeze, bug repellant, paint, and motor oil.  

• Combustible and Flammable Materials - When a chemical can easily ignite or burn, they are known as combustible or flammable materials. Examples of this would be propane tanks, oxidizers, gas, or any liquid with a flashpoint of under 60 degrees celsius.

• Reactive Materials - Unstable substances or substances that are prone to exploding if stored above the recommended temperatures and pressures are known as reactive materials. Examples of this include expired or opened aerosol cans.

• Corrosive Materials - Chemicals that can corrode metal are known as corrosive materials.  Examples would be drain cleaners, industrial-strength cleaners, or items with sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid.

How to Properly Dispose of Hazardous Chemicals

While you may be tempted to just throw hazardous chemicals out with the rest of your garbage, doing so could cause a lot of damage to the environment.

Instead, you have to follow a set of steps to ensure you dispose of your hazardous chemicals safely.  

Learn the Local Laws Around Hazardous Chemical Disposal

Before you start the process, you should first do your research to find out the local legalities surrounding disposal where you live. Rule change based on region, so get to know them before throwing things in the trash.

Check the Labels

Most hazardous chemicals will have a label that provides general directions about how to store and handle them. Though these labels don’t provide information on how to dispose of them, they include what that hazardous chemical is and which category it falls into. Using your region’s guidelines, you can then know how best to dispose of the chemical.  

Give Them to a Neighbour

A great way to get rid of hazardous chemicals is to give them to a neighbour or friend who could use them.  

Save for Collection Day

Some communities have collection days for hazardous chemicals where you can drop off items at a specific location, and then the organizers sort them for proper disposal.

Schedule a Pick-Up

If you have hazardous chemicals you cant dispose of using traditional methods, contact a local waste management company, and they will either pick them up or tell you how to dispose of them on your own.

Find Drop-Off Location

While not all waste management companies provide pick up’s, all do offer drop-off services. Drop-ff services are usually restricted to particular days of the month and at certain times. Call your local waste management company to find out the specifics.  

Recycle

You can send some hazardous chemicals through the mail in a recycling kit if you live in an area without pick-up or drop-off services.  

This guide should provide more than enough information to dispose of all hazardous chemicals before you move confidently.  

To learn more about how best to move into your new home, check out our ‘Guide to Moving, Packing, and Storage’ article.

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