According to a recent survey, potentially hazardous materials such as household batteries and old prescription drugs continue to arrive at landfills across Canada.
For example, according to the Statistics Canada report, 60 per cent of surveyed households reported throwing dead batteries into the garbage, while 25 per cent recycled them.
• STORY: Dumps overstuffed with old drugs, batteries, computers: StatsCan
But in some municipalities, tossing your spent AAAs and 9-volts into the trash is perfectly acceptable, according to local standards.
A survey of some of Canada's largest cities finds that standards on whether household batteries, prescription drugs, electronics (such as computers) and liquid paint are accepted at the curb vary from municipality to municipality:
City Batteries Drugs Electronics Liquid paint Calgary Yes No No No Edmonton No Yes No No Halifax No No No No Ottawa Yes Yes Yes No Toronto No No No No Vancouver Yes No No No Winnipeg N/A No No No
• MORE: Detailed chart (PDF)
But even if items are accepted at landfill, recycling is always recommended, if possible. Many municipal, provincial and international programs are in place to encourage recycling of materials.
A few examples:
- Using the Take It Back! program, Ottawa residents can return automotive materials, garden supplies, medicines and electronics to more than 500 local retailers.
- Consumers across Canada and the U.S. can drop off old batteries and cellphones at participating retailers as part of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation's Call2Recycle program.
- Unused prescription drugs can be returned to participating pharmacies as part of the Medications Return Program.
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