Pollution Prevention at Home

Regular cleaning of carpets and upholstery is a good way to extend the life of our carpets and furniture, as well as ensuring that our offices and homes are clean and hygienic.

Wastewater from carpet cleaning may contain detergents, potentially hazardous chemicals and suspended carpet fibres. Detergents used in carpet cleaning may contain phosphorus. Phosphorus is a nutrient that can promote excessive algal growth in our rivers, lakes and ocean, which will degrade water quality. Some carpet cleaning agents are directly toxic to aquatic life. The suspended carpet fibres can clog fish gills, reduce growth rates, decrease resistance to disease and impair reproduction. The deposition of these solids can also damage habitat by filling spaces between rocks that provide shelter to aquatic organisms, as well as covering and smothering the eggs of fish and aquatic insects.

If you clean your own carpets, rugs or upholstery, please dispose of your waste down a sink or toilet. This even applies to carpet cleaning products labelled “non-toxic” or “biodegradable”. Carpet cleaning wastewater should be filtered before discharging it to the sanitary sewer to prevent carpet fibres in the wastewater from clogging pipes. The filtered material can be disposed of in the garbage.

It is important to know that wastewater may not be disposed of into your driveway, street or storm sewer. Any wastewater that ends up into our streets or stormwater drains may make its way into surface water bodies that support aquatic plants and animals, including our harbour.

If you have your carpets, rugs or upholstery cleaned by a carpet cleaning business, please make sure your carpet cleaner both knows and follows appropriate practices. Ask your cleaner how he or she intends to dispose of the waste. In sewered areas, the waste should be discharged to a sanitary sewer through a sink or toilet. In non-sewered areas, wastewater and residues should be retained in collection tanks and transported to an appropriate sanitary sewer discharge point.

If you have any questions or want to report illegal dumping, please contact the Pollution Prevention Office.