Garbage that needs special handling
The items listed below need special handling.
Selecting one of the following links will scroll this page to the detailed disposal instructions below.
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Ammunition, explosives and guns
Due to the potential danger from explosions, these should not be placed out for regular garbage collection. Call your local Police Service Centre for information on proper disposal. If you find an item on your property that you think may be an explosive, do not move it - call 911.
Animal carcasses
Disposing of animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry, wildlife, insects, etc.) often requires that the carcasses be buried for health and safety reasons. If digging a hole is required, there may be an extra charge for disposal to recover this expense. Contact 311 for more information.
Animal waste
Put small amounts in tightly sealed double bags and put them out for regular garbage collection.
Asbestos
Asbestos requires careful removal. If you have questions about procedures or contractors, call the Province of Manitoba (Workplace Safety and Health Division) at 204-945-6848. The Brady Road Landfill is licensed to accept asbestos for disposal. Arrangements for disposal must be made in advance by contacting 311. Homeowners can also take small quantities of asbestos to the household hazardous waste collection depot for free disposal. Information on the depots is also available by calling the recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, Code 9811 or contacting 311.
Automotive batteries
Automotive batteries will not be picked up with regular garbage collection because of their lead and acid content. Homeowners can take them:
- to the household hazardous waste collection depot for free disposal. Information on the depot is also available by calling the recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, Code 9811 or contacting 311.
- to the collection area at the Brady Road Landfill. Information on the landfill is also available by calling the recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, Code 9814 or contacting 311.
- to a licensed receiver, such as CAA Manitoba
, who host the annual Great Battery Roundup . Contact 311 for more information on licensed receivers.
Businesses must make arrangements with a licensed hazardous waste disposal company for disposal.
Auto parts
Scrap metal will not be picked up with your regular garbage collection. Fenders, doors, radiators, mufflers, engine blocks, etc. can be taken to a scrap metal dealer for recycling. Look in the Yellow Pages under "Recycling" or "Scrap Metals". These items can also be taken to the Brady Road Landfill for disposal. Information on Brady Road Landfill is also available by calling the recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, Code 9814 or contacting 311.
Auto tires
Tires are not picked up with your regular garbage collection. Most stores that sell tires will accept your old tires and ensure they are properly recycled. Tires may also be dropped off at the Brady Road Landfill in the designated recycling area. There is a small fee per vehicle. Information on Brady Road Landfill is also available by calling the recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, Code 9814 or contacting 311.
Bulky waste
Bulky items such as mattresses, box springs, chairs, couches and other furniture, fridges, freezers, stoves, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air-conditioners and other large appliances will not be picked up with your regular garbage collection. Contact 311 to arrange for special collection. A fee may apply.
Carbon monoxide detectors
Carbon monoxide detectors are not radioactive so they can be put out for regular garbage collection.
Cell phones
Cell phones, chargers and wireless cards can be recycled free of charge at these drop-off sites.
Compressed gas cylinders / propane tanks
Compressed gas cylinders and propane tanks have the potential to explode and will not be picked up with regular garbage collection.
To recycle your tank:
- Contact the seller. Most retail outlets that refill propane cylinders will accept outdated tanks and have them re-certified.
- Look in the yellow pages under propane or visit tanktraders.com for locations where you can exchange your tank for a new one.
To dispose of your tank:
- Take it to the household hazardous waste collection depot for free disposal. For information on the depot locations and hours of operation, call the recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, Code 9811, or visit greenmanitoba.ca .
Computer equipment and electronics
Many of the household items listed below - especially televisions, computer monitors and some circuit boards and switches in electronics equipment - can contain heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium and will not be picked up with your regular garbage collection:
- televisions
- computer monitors (cathode ray tube (CRT) and flat panel display types)
- desktop computers (CPUs, hard drives, mice, keyboards and cables)
- laptops
- desktop printers
- DVD players
- VCRs
- stereos
- microwaves
- scanners, copiers and fax machines
- phones and cell phones
- rechargeable batteries
If the item still works, consider donating it to a person or group that can use it. Green Manitoba has a list of companies and groups that re-use or recycle acceptable waste computer equipment and electronics. These organizations either refurbish items, where possible, and then donate or resell them, or else they recycle the electronic components and safely dispose of the heavy metals. The only parts sent to the landfill are plastic components that cannot yet be recycled. Many of these groups only accept computer equipment and electronics from residential sources.
Contaminated soil
Contaminated soil (usually containing diesel fuel, gasoline or motor oil) will be accepted at the Brady Road Landfill only if approved by the City's Special Waste Technician. Information on the amount of soil, the type and level of contamination is required before approval to dispose will be given, so contact 311.
Fluorescent lights
You can take fluorescent lights to the household hazardous waste collection depot for free disposal. Information on the depot locations and hours of operation is also available by calling our recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, Code 9811 or contacting 311. Fluorescent lights will only be picked up with regular garbage collection if they are in a box that is securely taped shut.
Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)
Compact fluorescent lights contain small amounts of mercury. Just like batteries, thermostats and other household items containing mercury, you should dispose of used bulbs safely. The best way to dispose of used CFL bulbs is to recycle them at any Home Depot . You can also take used CFL bulbs to the household hazardous waste collection depot for free disposal. Information on the depot locations and hours of operation is also available by calling our recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, Code 9811 or contacting 311.
Household construction / renovation materials
The following items will not be picked up with your regular garbage collection:
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This waste should be taken to the Brady Road Landfill for disposal. There is a fee per vehicle. Information on Brady Road Landfill is also available by calling the recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, Code 9814 or contacting 311.
You can also contact the Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg ReStore , a building supply store that accepts and resells quality new and used building materials, about donating your reusable construction and renovation materials.
Household hazardous waste
Household hazardous waste products will not be picked up with your regular garbage collection. It should never be dumped in sewers or drains or disposed of in landfills. Household hazardous waste can be taken to the household hazardous waste collection depot for free disposal. Information on the depot locations and hours of operation is also available by calling the recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, Code 9811 or contacting 311.
Examples of household hazardous waste products include:
- aerosol cans
- cleaners (toilet, oven or drain)
- antifreeze (radiator / windshield)
- automotive batteries
- gasoline
- BBQ and camping fuel
- Compressed gas cylinders / propane tanks
- chemical lawn fertilizers
- herbicides (weed killers)
- pesticides / insecticides (insect and rodent killers)
- insect repellent
- oil-based paints (oil-based/alkyd). Latex paints can be put out for regular garbage collection if the lids are off the cans and the paint is dry and hard.
- paint brush cleaners / solvents
- varnish remover
- swimming pool chemicals
- detailed list
Large household appliances
There are a few ways that the metals in large household appliances (i.e., stoves, dishwashers, clothes washing machines and dryers) can be recovered and reused. If the appliance (i.e., refrigerators, freezers or air conditioners) contains ozone-depleting substances, follow these options to properly dispose of them.
Insecticides, pesticides, weed killer, etc.
These hazardous waste products should be taken to the household hazardous waste collection depot for free disposal. Information on the depot locations and hours of operation is also available by calling the recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, Code 9811 or contacting 311. Businesses must give these products to a licensed hazardous waste disposal firm for disposal.
Kitchen grease
Do not pour it down your drain because it can clog the sewer in your home and the City's sewer, and can cause sewer backup. Put your cooking oils and grease into a container, and once it hardens, put it out for regular garbage collection.
Large branches and trees, logs and stumps
Any piece of wood over 100 millimetres (4 inches) in diameter will not be picked up with your regular garbage collection. Contact a local tree removal service to arrange for collection. These items can also be taken to the Brady Road Landfill for disposal. Information on Brady Road Landfill is also available by calling the recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, Code 9814 or contacting 311.
Lawnmowers
Gas or electric lawnmowers will not be picked up with your regular garbage collection. They can be taken to a scrap metal dealer for recycling. Look in the Yellow Pages under “Recycling" or "Scrap Metals". These items can be taken to the Brady Road Landfill for disposal. Information on Brady Road Landfill is also available by calling the recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, Code 9814 or contacting 311.
Leaves, grass clippings, brush / tree trimmings and other yard waste
- Grasscycling / mulching – just leave the grass clippings on the lawn after mowing. The clippings quickly dry out, decompose, and recycle nutrients back into the soil and make your lawn healthy and green. Every time you throw away one bag of grass clippings, you are throwing away about 1/4 pound of lawn fertilizer!
- You can recycle your bagged yard waste free of charge by dropping it off at any seasonal leaf it with us yard waste depot. It will be composted into a reusable soil-like material and used to landscape finished landfill areas.
- Brush or tree trimmings can be put out for regular garbage collection as long as branches are less than 100 millimetres (4 inches) in diameter, cut and tied together into lengths no longer than one metre (39 inches) and weigh no more than 34 kilograms (75 pounds).
- In areas with Autobin collection, only items placed in the bin will be collected.
- In the Northwest area with automated cart collection, only items placed in the cart will be collected.
- In the Northwest area with automated cart collection, yard waste can be set out during the leaf it with us bi-weekly curbside collection program in May and October.
- Loose or bagged yard waste, including leaves and branches less than 100 millimetres (4 inches) in diameter, can be dropped off year-round at Brady Road Landfill. Tipping fees will not apply. However, should any load contain other materials, then fees will be applied on the entire load. Use lane one when entering the landfill and staff will direct you to the leaf it with us yard waste compost drop-off area across the road from the scale.
- Information on what you can do with your yard waste is also available by calling the recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, code 9813 or contacting 311.
- For information on composting, contact Green Action Centre .
Loose, fly-away items
Put materials such as ashes, sawdust, vacuum contents, cat litter, etc, into tightly sealed bags and put them out for regular garbage collection.
Lumber - both treated and untreated
Lumber will not be picked up with your regular garbage collection and must be taken to the Brady Road Landfill for disposal. There is a small fee per vehicle. Information on Brady Road Landfill is also available by calling the recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, Code 9814 or contacting 311.
You can also contact the Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg ReStore , a building supply store that accepts and resells quality new and used building materials, about donating your reusable construction and renovation materials.
Mercury switches and thermostats
Mercury switches and thermostats all contain mercury. Disposal with regular garbage is prohibited. Homeowners should take these items to the household hazardous waste collection depot for free disposal. Information on the depot locations and hours of operation is also available by calling the recycling and garbage information line at
204-986-8888, Code 9811 or contacting 311. Businesses must give their mercury switches and thermostats to a licensed hazardous waste disposal company for disposal. The light switches that contain mercury operate smoothly and silently. New light switches snap to the "on" or "off" position and do not contain mercury.
Motor oil, oil filters and plastic oil containers
You can take your used motor oil, filters and plastic oil containers to any used oil recycling depot location for free disposal. For more information on depot hours and locations for the Manitoba used oil recycling program, visit www.usedoilrecycling.com or call 1-888-410-1440 or 204-632-5255.
Needles and syringes
Check with your clinic, doctor's office, and pharmacy (i.e. Shoppers Drug Mart, PharmaPlus, etc.), to see if they will accept needles and syringes and how you can participate in their collection program. If you cannot dispose of your needles and syringes at your clinic, doctor's office or pharmacy, package them in puncture-proof containers with lids and put them out for regular garbage collection. If you are unsure about proper disposal, contact 311 for more information. With the exception of homeowners, all other generators of bio-medical waste sharps must comply with the bio-medical waste sharps by-law 6001/92.
Paint
Leftover paint should never be dumped into sewers or drains. Latex paints can be placed out for regular garbage collection if the lids are off the paint containers and the paint is dry and hard. Homeowners should take their leftover oil-based (alkyd) paint to the household hazardous waste collection depot for free disposal. Information on the depot locations and hours of operation is also available by calling the recycling and garbage information line at 204-986-8888, Code 9811 or contacting 311.
Businesses must contact a licensed hazardous waste disposal company to dispose of their paint. They can also contact the Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg ReStore , a building supply store that accepts and resells quality new and used building materials, about donating new, full cans of mis-tinted or over-stock paint directly from suppliers and manufacturers. They do not accept paint from the general public.
Railroad ties and landscape timbers
These items contain creosote, a preservative, which makes them hazardous. Consider using lumber composites made of plastic and wood. See if someone is interested in reusing your railroad ties in a landscaping project. Railroad ties can be taken to the Brady Road Landfill for disposal if they are dry (i.e. not wet with creosote). Contact 311 for more information on the disposal of railroad ties.
Rechargeable batteries
Don't throw these types of batteries away since they contain heavy metals such as nickel-cadmium and lithium. Instead, recycle them free of charge at these drop-off sites.
Sharp objects
Items such as broken glass, knives, nails, etc., need to be packaged in puncture-proof containers with lids. They can then be put out for regular garbage collection.
Smoke detectors
Up to 10 residential smoke detectors can be put out for regular garbage collection. More than 10 residential or any commercial smoke detectors require special arrangements and approval for disposal at the City's landfill because of the radioactive material in them, so contact 311.
Other materials
To find out how to get rid of items that aren't listed here, or if you can recycle any of the above items, contact 311.
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Last updated: April 26, 2012 |
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