Hazardous household items and the moving truck

Plenty of what sits under the sink and in the garage is a hazardous material in transport. Hazmat can be a serious safety risk on the road, so the mover needs to know about it before the truck is loaded.

Common household hazmat

• FuelsThese include gasoline, diesel, propane and kerosene, and the fuel left in fuel-powered equipment.
• Aerosol cansThese include household cleaners, disinfectants, hairspray and spray paint.
• Paints, thinners and removersSo are wood sealants, stains and varnishes.
• Pool chemicals, bleach and insecticidesSo are fertilizers, including ammonium nitrate fertilizers.
• BatteriesThat means car batteries, lithium batteries and portable chargers, and electronics such as phones and laptops that carry them.
• Cylinders and tanksThese include carbon dioxide cylinders, scuba tanks, and medical or recreational oxygen tanks.
• Camping gearThat means camping stoves and kerosene lanterns.
• Other items on the listThese include lighters and matches, fireworks, ammunition and gunpowder, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors.
• Smaller flammablesThese include rubbing alcohol and high-proof spirits, perfumes and colognes, flammable essential oils, nail polish and remover, hand sanitizer and mercury.

Before moving day

• Check anything you're not sure aboutA product's Safety Data Sheet, from the maker's website, gives its hazard class in the transportation section.
• Tell the mover what's in the shipmentName any hazardous item before it's loaded rather than packing it in a box.
• Keep products in their original containersLeave the labels on, and never store a hazardous product in a food container.
• Don't mix leftoversProducts that don't go together can react, ignite or explode.
• Take the leftovers to a collectionMany communities run household hazardous waste collections, year-round or on set days. The local environmental, health or solid waste agency has the details. Don't pour leftovers down the drain, onto the ground or into a storm drain.
• Handle the empties carefully tooAn empty container can still hold enough residue to be a hazard.