Think Twice Before You Toss: 7 Spring Cleaning Items Canadians Should Never Trash

Toronto, ON – Spring has sprung across Canada, and with it comes the annual urge to declutter and deep-clean our homes. Many common products lurking in basements, garages, and medicine cabinets don’t belong in the trash – and throwing them out with regular waste can do more harm than good. In fact, a recent survey found that over one in five Canadian households admitted to chucking used batteries in the garbage​, just one example of how we’re still learning to dispose of things responsibly. From old electronics to leftover paint, here are seven items you should never throw in the trash (and what to do with them instead) as you refresh your home this spring.

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1. Batteries (Single-Use and Rechargeable)

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Those small AA and AAA batteries powering our gadgets may seem harmless once drained, but dead batteries are far from benign. They’re loaded with metals like mercury, cadmium, and lead that can leach into the environment if sent to landfill​. Remarkably, household batteries make up only about 1% of landfill waste by volume yet are responsible for 50–70% of the heavy metals found in landfills– a stark reminder of their outsized environmental impact. Tossing batteries in the trash or recycling bin can even cause dangerous fires; waste facilities across Canada have seen a surge in battery-related fires (over 50 incidents in Calgary’s facilities in 2024 alone) due to batteries sparking or being crushed​.

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Better alternative: Store used batteries in a cool, dry place and take them to a proper drop-off when you accumulate a bunch. Never throw them in your regular bins.​

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Most communities have free battery recycling programs – often at electronics retailers, hardware stores or municipal depots. In fact, provincial programs (such as Call2Recycle) allow Canadians to drop off batteries at many local stores or recycling centers​. By recycling, the batteries’ metals can be recovered and reused, and you’ll prevent potential fires and pollution. Consider keeping a jar for spent batteries as you spring clean, then bringing it to a depot or participating store on your next errand. It’s a small extra step that makes a big difference in keeping toxins out of landfills.

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2. Electronics and E-Waste

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That old smartphone, the cracked tablet, or the outdated laptop in your closet should never just be tossed in the trash. Electronic waste (or e-waste) is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world, and for good reason: our devices contain plastics and metals that do not biodegrade – once in a landfill, they’ll sit there essentially forever​. Worse, many electronics contain hazardous elements like lead, mercury, and other heavy metals that can leach into soil and groundwater if sent to landfill​. In short, throwing an old computer or TV in the garbage is both a waste of valuable materials and a potential environmental hazard. “Metals and plastics don’t biodegrade, so once they end up in landfill they stay there forever,” notes a WWF Canada report, which also warns that toxins from e-waste can spread if not handled properly​.

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Better alternative: Take advantage of Canada’s robust e-recycling and reuse programs. Many provinces have an Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA) program with depots for safe recycling. Big-name retailers also step up – you can drop off unwanted electronics at stores like Best Buy, Staples or other electronic outlets for free, where they’ll be sent for proper recycling​. In one year, Canadian households turned in over 13 million pounds of electronics through such retailer take-back programs instead of curbing them – a massive win for recycling. If your gadget still works, consider donating it or selling it second-hand; many charities and community groups repair used electronics and give them to those in need​. Whether recycled or donated, keeping electronics out of the trash conserves resources and prevents pollution. As you upgrade devices this spring or unearth old tech in a drawer, remember: “don’t toss that tech!” – recycle or rehome it.

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3. Light Bulbs (Especially CFLs and Fluorescent Tubes)

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When a light bulb burns out, think twice before tossing it in the kitchen trash can – certain bulbs contain materials that should never be in the garbage. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and other fluorescent tubes, for example, have a small amount of mercury sealed inside. It’s only about 4–5 milligrams (for comparison, a thermometer contains about 500 mg), but that tiny amount of mercury can cause outsized harm if the bulb breaks in a landfill. Mercury is a toxic metal that can pollute water supplies and harm fish and wildlife when released​. “If the bulbs are thrown in the trash and sent to landfill, [mercury] can harm marine life [and] water supplies,”​explains Product Care Recycling, which runs light bulb recycling programs across Canada. Even newer LED bulbs, while mercury-free, contain electronic components and valuable materials that can be recycled instead of wasted. Simply put, no light bulb with anything more complex than a filament should go in your regular garbage.

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Better alternative: Recycle your bulbs safely. Many municipalities classify CFLs and fluorescent tubes as household hazardous waste, with dedicated drop-off points at waste depots or special collection events (often held in spring). Retailers like Home Depot, RONA, and Canadian Tire also offer free in-store recycling for used light bulbs and tubes – check for a collection box next time you visit the hardware store. Thanks to these programs, Canadians are getting the message: in 2022 alone, one stewardship program kept over 10.8 million light bulbs out of Canadian landfills​. That’s equivalent to about two bulbs for every household in some provinces – all safely recycled. By bringing burned-out bulbs to a drop-off location, the glass, metals and phosphors can be recovered, and any toxic mercury is handled in controlled facilities​. This spring, as you swap out old lighting in your home, gather up those spent CFLs and fluorescents for proper recycling. It keeps harmful substances out of the environment – and it’s usually free and easy.

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4. Leftover Paint and Household Chemicals

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Found a half-used paint can in the garage from last summer’s renovation? Don’t put it in the trash cart. Old paint, stains, varnishes, and many cleaning chemicals should never go out with regular garbage. These products are flammable, contain chemicals that can leak, and simply don’t belong in a landfill or down the drain (never pour them out!). Even latex paint, which is water-based, can cause problems if dumped in large quantities. It’s not just about preventing mess or hazards – it’s also about opportunity. Believe it or not, leftover paint is one of the largest components of household hazardous waste by volume, but it also has one of the highest potentials for recycling and reuse​. In other words, throwing away paint is both environmentally risky and a missed chance to save resources. The coatings industry notes that in 2017 Canadians managed to recover and recycle 28 million kilograms of leftover paint – enough to repaint 560,000 homes​ – through take-back programs instead of landfilling it. Clearly, Canadians are increasingly keeping paint out of the trash, and for good reason. (Even so, a 2021 survey found about 3% of households still tossed paint in the garbage​, a number to whittle down further.)

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Better alternative: Take it to a paint recycling program or hazardous waste depot. Every province in Canada has a stewardship program for paint, with thousands of drop-off sites – over 3,000 locations nationwide accept leftover paint for safe disposal or recycling​. Many communities hold free Household Hazardous Waste drop-off events in the spring, perfect for clearing out old paint cans, solvents, pesticides, and more from your shed or basement. At these depots, usable paint might be blended into new recycled paint, while other paints are treated and disposed of properly​. Some paint stores will also take back leftover product – check with your local hardware store. Another option if the paint is still good: donate it. Schools, theater groups, or charities might welcome unopened or usable paint for their projects. The key is never mix paint with regular trash or pour it down the drain. As you tidy up storage rooms this spring, set aside a corner for all those old cans and chemical bottles, and plan a trip to your local hazardous waste center. You’ll be keeping toxic substances out of landfills and giving that old paint a chance at a second life.

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5. Expired or Unused Medications

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Clearing out the medicine cabinet is a classic spring cleaning task – but when you come across expired prescriptions or vitamins you no longer take, do not throw them in the garbage (and never flush them down the toilet). Medicines might not seem like “waste” in the same way as batteries or paint, but they can cause serious environmental issues if discarded improperly. Wastewater tests have found traces of pharmaceuticals in our waterways, in part because people toss pills or flush liquids that then seep out of landfills or survive water treatment​. Throwing medication in household trash is also risky because pills can be scavenged by children or pets. Even in a landfill, those chemicals can eventually leach out. For these reasons, health and environmental authorities emphasize that “expired or unused medication must not be thrown out with household garbage or down the drain”​. It’s all about protecting the environment (and preventing misuse).

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Better alternative: Bring old meds to your pharmacy – it’s free and easy. Across Canada, pharmacies have take-back programs that will safely dispose of pharmaceuticals. In fact, you can return unused and expired medications to any pharmacy in Canada, any day of the year​– just drop them off at the counter, no questions asked. Most pharmacies participate in the Health Products Stewardship Association’s return program, ensuring drugs are incinerated or disposed of in a way that neutralizes their environmental impact. The City of Calgary, as one example, explicitly advises residents: “Do not dispose of medicine in the garbage, compost or down the sink or toilet as it can be harmful to the environment.”​  Instead, they note that most pharmacies will accept unused medications for safe disposal​. The message is the same coast to coast. And Canadians are catching on – nearly 70% of households with expired medication reported returning it to a pharmacy​. If you’re doing a bathroom clean-out this spring, gather all those old pill bottles and cough syrups and set them aside for your next pharmacy visit. It keeps pharmaceuticals out of our soil and water, and helps ensure they won’t fall into the wrong hands.

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6. Used Motor Oil (and Other Automotive Fluids)

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After an oil change in the driveway or cleaning out the garage, you might be left with old motor oil, antifreeze, or other auto fluids. Whatever you do, don’t dump these in the trash (and absolutely never down a storm drain!). Used motor oil is one of the most toxic common liquids in a household – just one litre of oil can contaminate up to one million litres of water if it leaches into the environment​. That’s about an Olympic-sized swimming pool’s worth of water ruined by a single oil change’s waste. Oil doesn’t dilute or dissipate easily; it can coat waterways and soil, suffocating wildlife. Even in a sealed container in a landfill, oil can eventually find a way out. It’s no surprise that Environment Canada classifies waste oils as toxic and that almost no Canadian household would dream of putting motor oil in the garbage​. The same goes for old gasoline, antifreeze, brake fluid, and other car chemicals – they are hazardous waste, plain and simple. “Used motor oil is a major contaminant of waterways, so never dump [it] down the drain or in the trash,” one recycling guide emphasizes​.

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Better alternative: Take used oil and fluids to a recycling center or hazardous waste depot. All across Canada, there are programs to collect and recycle used automotive oils. Many municipal waste facilities have special tanks for used motor oil, often free of charge. Some auto service centers or quick-lube shops will accept used oil and oil filters for recycling as well – they can re-refine the oil into new lubricants or other products. In provinces like Alberta and Ontario, used oil material recycling programs have drop-off points at garages and landfills. Oil filters and empty oil bottles can usually be recycled too through these programs. The good news is Canadians are doing well on this front: in 2021, almost three-quarters (74%) of households with used engine oil took it to a depot or drop-off center​, and virtually none put it in the trash. So join the majority – store your used oil safely (in a plastic jug with a lid) and bring it to a proper collection site. Many cities coordinate spring drop-off events specifically for car fluids and other hazardous wastes, making it convenient during your spring cleaning purge. By recycling your motor oil, you prevent pollution and allow this resource to be cleaned and used again. It’s a no-brainer for any car owner.

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7. Old Clothing and Textiles

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That pile of old clothes and linens destined for a garbage bag? Think again before sending it to the curb. Textile waste is a massive (and growing) problem, and throwing old clothes in the trash contributes to both landfill overload and lost opportunities to help others. Canadians on average throw away a staggering 37 kilograms of textiles per person each year – collectively about 500 million kilograms of fabric items end up in Canada’s landfills annually​. From fast-fashion T-shirts to worn-out towels, these materials mostly do not biodegrade (synthetics can sit for centuries), and decomposing natural fibers can produce methane gas. The scale is sobering: one university study equates Canada’s yearly textile waste to a billion pounds of clothes, of which less than 1% is currently recycled. Yet, an enormous portion of what we toss is actually still usable. In that same study, researchers found over half of textile items thrown out could have been reused, and nearly a quarter could have been recycled into new textiles​. Every old sweater in your spring clean-out might still have life left in it for someone else or some other purpose. Plus, clothing in landfills is truly a lost opportunity – there are always people in need of warm clothes or organizations that can raise funds by reselling textiles. Simply put, clothing should rarely be “trash.”

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Better alternative: Donate, resale, or textile-recycle – just don’t dump it. If your garments are in decent condition, donating them is one of the best things you can do during spring cleaning. Charities like Goodwill, the Salvation Army, diabetes associations, and local shelters will happily take used clothes, shoes, and household textiles. “Don’t dump it, donate it,” as one Ontario waste management campaign puts it – your outgrown or out-of-fashion clothes can find a new home​. Many communities have drop-off bins for clothing donation, and some cities even offer curbside textile recycling programs for torn or unwearable fabrics. You can also consider consignment or online resale for pieces that might have value. For completely worn-out textiles that can’t be donated (say, ripped sheets or lone socks), check if there’s a textile recycling initiative nearby – some retailers and non-profits collect scrap fabric to be recycled into things like insulation or rags. The key is to keep textiles out of the landfill. By cleaning out your closet responsibly, you’re reducing waste and possibly helping someone in need. As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another’s treasure – and in this case, your “trash” could literally become someone else’s outfit. This spring, bag up those unwanted clothes with the intention of donating or recycling, not discarding. Your closet cleanup can do a world of good beyond your home.

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Spring is a season of renewal – a perfect time not just to refresh our living spaces, but to adopt cleaner, greener habits. By keeping these seven items out of the trash, Canadians can significantly reduce pollution and waste, all while conserving valuable resources. From preventing toxic leaks and fires to giving usable goods a second life, the benefits are clear. “Start your spring cleaning with the Earth in mind,” as one community campaign wisely suggests​​. Each battery recycled, each gadget repurposed, each paint can or pill bottle turned in, and each sweater donated adds up to cleaner land, water, and skies. So as you declutter this season, remember: responsible disposal is just as important as the tidy closet or garage you gain. With a few extra steps, we can all spring clean in a way that tidies our homes and protects our environment – a win-win way to welcome the warmer days ahead.

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