Address: Rodick Road just south of Miller Avenue

Regular Hours of Operation

*Summer Hours: From April 1st to October 31st the Markham Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Recycling Depot will be open until 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays.

Household Hazardous Waste Recycling

What is Accepted as Household Hazardous Waste?

Hazardous waste constitutes a danger to people and the environment and should never be placed in with household waste or poured down the drain. Hazardous materials from your home require special disposal and should be dropped off at the Hazardous Waste Depot.

Household hazardous waste is any product that is poisonous, corrosive, flammable or explosive and includes items such as:

• Aerosol containers: including those that contain paint, cleaners, food, hair spray, air fresheners and insecticide
• Antifreeze and its containers: Antifreeze used or intended for use as a vehicle engine coolant
• Batteries: Single-use dry cell, rechargeable batteries, industrial stationary and non-lead acid batteries such as car batteries
• Corrosives and their containers (including irritants): drain cleaner, oven cleaner, bleach, cleaning products, detergents
• Fertilizers and their containers: Fertilizers supplements and micro-nutrients including any substance manufactured, sold or represented as a plant nutrient
• Fire Extinguishers (portable): Portable fire extinguishers, including rechargeable and non-rechargeable fire extinguishers, ABC, halon and carbon dioxide extinguishers
• Flammables and their containers: Flammables including solvents, gasoline, brake fluid, hair colour, nail polish, nail polish remover, BBQ starter, automotive additives, and other assorted flammables
• Fluorescent tubes and bulbs: Fluorescent tubes and bulbs including for indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures and appliances. Cold-cathode fluorescent lamps such as those from a scanner or LCD TV.
• Mercury devices: Mercury containing measuring devices such as thermometers and barometers. Mercury switches and electric thermostats. 
• Empty oil containers for products that hold lubricating oil: Oil containers with volume 30 litres or less used for containment of lubricating oil
• Used oil filters: Includes filters for sale, or used directly or as part of a product or piece of equipment
• Paints and solvents: Latex paint and coatings, oil and solvent based coatings.
• Pesticides, fungicides and herbicides and their containers: Including insect repellents, weed killers, rat poison, pest control products, flea/tick collars for pets
• Pharmaceuticals: Including prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and natural health products
• Pressurized Containers: Including propane, oxygen and helium tanks and other compressed gases
• Reactive materials: Including cream hardeners used in auto body repair
• Sharps: Including needles, syringes, lancets and pens

Here is a list of Acceptable Hazardous Waste Materials  (66 kb/1p) that you can print for reference.

These items contain ingredients which may be toxic and should be used and disposed of with caution.

What is Not Acceptable Household Hazardous Waste?

• Ammunition and Explosives - please contact your local York Regional Police Branch
• Hazardous waste generated by Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) business sources.
• PCB's, asbestos, lighting ballast's for neon lights, medical and radioactive waste - please contact York Region at 905.830.4444 ext. 5702 for further disposal information.

Helpful Tips

• Keep materials in their original containers, or ensure that the containers are clearly labelled.
• Do not mix different products together.
• Tightly cap all containers.
• There is no cost to Markham residents to drop off hazardous materials.
• For additional Hazardous Waste drop off locations visit Stewardship Ontario's Orange Drop website.

What Happens to my Household Hazardous Waste?

The Region of York processes Markham's Hazardous Waste. Find out what happens to your hazardous waste once you drop it off.

Electronics Recycling

NEW - Starting in 2013, unwanted electronics and batteries will no longer be accepted at the curb or in the garbage for disposal.  Just like our plastic cans and newspapers do not belong in the garbage, neither do our unwanted electronics. Most components of electronics – steel, glass, copper, aluminum, plastics and precious metals – can be recovered and reused to make new products.

Many electronics and especially older electronics contain heavy metals that, if not handled properly, can have health concerns and negative environmental impacts. Markham waste is processed for energy recovery, not landfilled and batteries and electronic waste should never be incinerated! You can help the environment by first trying to sell it or donate it. If the item is not re-useable, you can recycle it at the Electronics Recycling Depot.

Materials Accepted

• Televisions (limit of 2)
• Computers and computer accessories (limit of 4)
• Scanners
• Telephones (mobile/cellular & "Hardwire")
• CDs & DVDs
• Radios and Stereos (without speakers)
• Digital Cameras
• Printers
• Modems
• Electronic Pagers
• Video Game Consoles
• Fax Machines
• VCR's
• Electronic Games

Quantities Accepted

York Region limits the amount of electronic equipment accepted for recycling. At each visit you can drop-off up to:

• 4 units of computer equipment, which can be comprised of any combination of hard drives, monitors and computer accessories such as keyboards, mouse and software
• 2 televisions
• 6 other units of electronic equipment 

Household Battery Recycling Drop Off Locations

Household batteries can be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Depot or any of the following locations to be recycled.  

• Markham Recycling Depots
• Markham Library
• Unionville Library
• Centennial Community Centre
• Thornhill Fitness Centre/Community Center 
• Angus Glen Library and Community Center
• Thornhill Old Library

Other Places to Recycle Electronics

To see what's recyclable in your area and places you can drop off unwanted items, check out Do What You Can .