Clean up your house and yard
Managing your residual materials following a disaster
Subsequent to a disaster, dispose of all waste materials in the appropriate manner, depending on their type.
Non-hazardous waste materials
Non-salvageable food must be thrown out or put in the compost bin.
Ask your municipality for instructions on what to do with the following waste:
- non-salvageable demolition waste;
- haphazard waste materials found on the property, whether they are recyclable or not;
- furniture and household items that cannot be salvaged;
- appliances and electronic devices that are not reusable.
Sandbags
If the sandbags you used to protect your home during a flood were contaminated, for example, if they emanate a strong odour, return them to your municipality.
If they are not contaminated, you can choose to:
- leave them as is, and store them for future use;
- return them as is to the municipality, which will do with them as it sees fit.
As for bags in a paltry condition and which cannot be reused yet are not contaminated, certain municipalities may have designated one-off pick-ups or special temporary drop-off sites.
You can also keep the sand no longer in its bags, saving it for your personal use, or contact your municipality for instructions on how to dispose of it.
In all cases, any sand kept may not be used to build play areas for children, such as sand boxes, as it would then need to be certified as being devoid of organic, toxic or hazardous materials.
Hazardous waste materials
Return all medication that is expired or was touched by water to the pharmacy from which it was purchased.
Contact your municipality for information on how to dispose of hazardous household waste (e.g., gas, fuel oil, pesticides destined for household use, aerosols, solvents, paint and paint cans, oils, batteries, mercury lamps).
Carefully handle all hazardous waste materials, making sure to wear the necessary protective equipment. In case of doubt, reach out to your municipality’s fire safety department.
Pay particular attention to pool products that may have come into contact with flood waters. These products can react and emit harmful and even toxic gases or vapours.
Report any event of concern to your municipality’s fire safety department.
Also report any spill or accidental emission in the air to Urgence-Environnement, by calling 1 866 694-5454.
See also
Last update: July 9, 2025