How to dispose of hazardous materials before you move?

There are many things you need to do when moving to Toronto. Sometimes, all of it can seem like such a big burden. You need to think about way too many things – the papers, your family members, your furniture and the moving company. So, when finally that moving day arrives, you are ready to just jump in your car, start the engine and drive far, far away. However, there is one final thing that you need to take care of before leaving. This is to think about the stuff you leave behind. And whether you are planning a summer or a winter move to Toronto, you should always dispose of hazardous materials before you move. If you are unsure about how to do it, you will find important information about it in this article.

What is hazardous waste?

Throughout the years of living in a home, you gather many things. Some of these can be trinkets from all your travels. The others might be different cleaning supplies that you have. Doesn’t really matter how you got something – you probably have a million things in your house that you do not plan on taking with you to Toronto. Some of these items, however, can be quite dangerous. They might be dangerous to the animals, the environment, but also to other humans too. This is why you need to dispose of them very carefully. And since the moving trucks do not transport hazardous materials, you need to get rid of them before the time for you to move arrives.

Is there hazardous waste in your home?

A match.
Watch out for the flammable materials.

So, the first step in this process is actually figuring out what is hazardous, as well as locating it in your home. Once you do that it will be easy to get rid of them. This is how the Environmental Protection Agency classifies hazardous waste:

  • Flammable and combustible materials. These are the items that are easy to ignite or burn. Think about anything that helps you start a fire in your home and it’s probably here. Cans of gasoline, oxidizers, propane tanks or any liquid with a flashpoint of fewer than 140 degrees Fahrenheit falls into this category.
  • Corrosive materials. These are the substances that can corrode metal. They are pretty strong, acidic items – like cleaners. Hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid are common substances you can find in these. You should be very careful when you want to dispose of hazardous materials before you move – but especially take care when working with these. They can burn your skin easily, as you already probably know.
  • Reactive materials are substances that can cause an explosion. You need to store them at the normal temperature and pressure. When thinking about these, think aerosol cans.
  • Toxic materials are substances that can be harmful or deadly. It doesn’t matter if they can hurt you on contact, consumption or if you inhale them. Pain, antifreeze, motor oil and weed killers are all a part of this category. Even certain cleaning products have these attributes. You should use professionals that can help you when planning an overseas move, as well as dealing with these.

Do some research on how to dispose of hazardous materials before you move

A gavel.
Always work within the law.

Now that you have succeeded in locating the hazardous waste, it’s time to separate it and throw it out. First, as you are setting up for your move, designate a place in your home for these items. You will want them all in one spot so nothing gets mixed with other items, and put in the truck. Remember, movers usually aren’t allowed to carry hazardous waste, so it would be a bad idea to sneak some onto a moving truck. The same applies whether you are moving your home or moving your business to Toronto – you do not want to carry items you are not allowed to.
Once you gather all items up, it’s time to do some research. The laws on how to dispose of hazardous materials before you move will differ from country to county, and even from state to state. So go online and research these. You need to be well aware of your obligations as well as your rights. The last thing you need is to break a law and add the stress of that to the stress of moving.
Another great way in which you can learn about the topic is by simply reading the labels on the products. Go through each item and note down how they are kept and what they should never mix with. Even though most of the labels won’t give you detailed information on how to dispose of hazardous materials before you move, they will give you the basics. This way, you will know what not to put together, and if there are services you can call to get rid of a substance.

Dispose of hazardous materials before you move

A trashcan - you can't use this to dispose of hazardous materials before you move.
You can’t dispose of hazardous materials the same way you would regular trash.

Once your research is done, it’s time to actually dispose of the substances. There are a couple of ways you can go about doing this. You can even talk to professional movers, like tendertouchmoving.com, about what they suggest you do before your moving day arrives.
First, you can set up a home pick up with the waste disposal agency in your home city. Ask them about how you can sort the items, and what they are willing to take. Keep in mind that they might charge you a fee for their services. The second way to dispose of hazardous materials before you move is by finding a drop-off location. Call the local waste management facility and ask what their schedule is like. They usually have certain dates set up for this type of disposal. Again, get as much information about the type of the substances they will take. This way, you are helping not only your environment but the animals and people around you.