Batteries, toner & glassware

Batteries

Alkaline and rechargeable batteries

If you live in Montreal, you can dispose of them for free at your local Eco Center

Or send your used alkaline batteries to McGill's Hazardous Waste Management department where they will be subsequently sent for treatment.

For small quantities, you can drop your batteries in one of our red battery recycling bins located in the lobby of all major buildings:

  • Education
  • Macdonald Stewart at the Macdonald Campus
  • Leacock
  • 688 Sherbrooke
  • McLennan Library
  • Bronfman
  • Otto Maass
  • Burnside Hall
  • Rutherford
  • New Chancellor Day Hall
  • Stewart Biology
  • McIntyre
  • M.H. Wong
  • Strathcona Music
  • Strathcona Anatomy & Dentistry
  • Upper residences
  • Royal Victoria College
  • Frank Dawson Adams
  • Macdonald Engineering
  • Macdonald-Harrington
  • McConnell Engineering

 

You can also place your batteries in a padded envelope or a well-sealed small box, and send them by internal mail to:
Recycling of materials
Hazardous Waste Management
McIntyre Medical Building, Room 129

For large quantities, call us at 514-398-5066.

Lead acid batteries

For a pickup of batteries used in cars, motorcycles and forklifts, call HWM at 514-398-5066.


Toner cartridges

If you have more than two cartridges to recycle you need to fill out the online form in order for us to go pick it up. If you have one or two cartridges you can send them by internal mail to our office. Make sure that you seal it properly and that you pack it in the original box (or equivalent), properly taped. This will avoid spillage of toner during transport.


Empty glass bottles

Bottles and glass containers which were used to contain or hold chemicals must not be submitted for recycling.

Used, empty chemical bottles can be disposed of as regular garbage. However, the bottle needs to be clean. Please make sure to:

  • Triple rinse your bottles
  • Obliterate labels or write "rinsed bottle on the label" — preferably using a big felt tip marker so it is more visible
  • Remove the cap
  • Place the bottle next to the garbage container so the janitors know the right procedure has been followed

Broken glass, pipettes and tips

Broken glass and tips present a danger and must be packaged carefully.

  • Find a regular but sturdy cardboard box or plastic pail
  • First place an absorbent pad on the bottom if the glass material is wet
  • Place your broken glass and pipettes inside
  • Seal box / bag / pail using tape

If contaminated

Either autoclave the container, write "broken glass / garbage" on the cover and place the container next to the garbage bin.

Or, place the container inside a biohazard box for incineration

If not contaminated

Write "broken glass / garbage" on the cover and place next to garbage container.


Sharps (blades and needles only)

Non-contaminated sharps

  • Place sharps in a plastic puncture-proof container. Make sure there is no biohazard label on it.
  • Label the container as "sharps".
  • Place the containers in an "autoclaved waste box" and bring it to your hazardous waste room. If your building does not have a waste room, call 514-398-5066 for a pickup.

McGill's waste disposal service provider uses the same procedure to dispose of autoclaved waste and non-contaminated sharps waste, hence the reason why we are using that box for both waste streams.

Contaminated sharps

If the sharps have been in contact with any form of biological contaminant (blood, serum, cultures, vaccines, organs, or any other biomedical contaminant):

  • Place sharps in a plastic puncture-proof container
  • Label as "sharps"
  • Either
    • Autoclave container and use the "non-contaminated sharps" procedure above, or
    • Place container inside a biohazard box for incineration
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