Quick answer: Keep hazardous household waste out of the ordinary load: paint, cleaning products, solvents, batteries, oil and antifreeze, propane tanks, aerosols and fluorescent bulbs containing mercury, as well as refrigerant appliances. Residents take hazardous waste to an ecocentre under the City's instructions; medications go back to a pharmacy, and asbestos is not accepted.
A clearout load holds furniture, boxes and bags. It should not hold products that can leak, catch fire or release gases. Spotting them before the crew arrives protects everyone and avoids refusals on the day.
Direct answer: spot, separate, route
Spot hazardous household waste, refrigerant appliances, medications and any material that could contain asbestos. Separate them from the rest, in a safe place. Then route each to its channel: the ecocentre or a partner drop-off for hazardous waste, a pharmacy for medications, qualified people for refrigerants and asbestos.
Key terms
- Hazardous household waste: dangerous household products such as paint, solvents, batteries and propane.
- Refrigerant: the gas in cooling appliances, governed by the Regulation respecting halocarbons.
- Partner drop-off point: an organization the City lists for specific items, such as paint or electronics.
Material by material
| Material | Why it is kept apart | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Paint and paint aerosols | Chemicals | Ecocentre or paint drop-off |
| Solvents and thinners | Flammable | Ecocentre |
| Batteries | Fire risk | Ecocentre or collection point |
| Oil, oil filters, antifreeze | Contaminants | Ecocentre |
| Propane tanks | Pressurized gas | Ecocentre |
| Fluorescent and mercury bulbs | Mercury | Ecocentre or partner drop-off |
| Refrigerant appliances | Regulated gas | Recovery by qualified people |
| Medications | Health | Pharmacy |
| Asbestos | Health | Not accepted at ecocentres; specialists |
The City's instructions
The City of Montréal says hazardous household waste must never go in the household garbage, outdoors or down the sewer. Products must be in watertight containers of 20 litres or less to be accepted at an ecocentre. Check fees and instructions before you go.
Why not mix them
A leaking product can damage the rest of the load; a crushed battery or tank can start a fire; a released refrigerant is a regulated gas. See what to remove, donate, recycle or refer, where appliances and electronics should go and preparing a garage or basement.
Next step
Browse the services to prepare, then request a clearout quote for the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Can the clearout crew take paint?
Generally not in an ordinary load; keep it apart.
Where do expired medications go?
Back to a pharmacy.
What about a material that might contain asbestos?
Do not touch it and call specialists; ecocentres do not accept it.
Are empty propane tanks dangerous?
Treat them as hazardous waste and follow the City's instructions.
Sources
Sources checked on November 12, 2026.