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Improper disposal of pool chemicals has caused big problems at Victoria's Hartland Landfill.

Three recent fires at Victoria's Hartland Landfill have sparked concern over the improper disposal of residential pool and hot tub chemicals—including chlorine, acids, bases and neutralizers—as part of household garbage.

Even if in a sealed container, discarded water treatment products in a landfill are compacted and pushed by heavy equipment, causing containers to rupture. Liquid, granular and solid chemicals then spill into surrounding waste, causing a reaction that can start fires under the surface. In one instance at Hartland, chlorine gas was released, causing a worker to suffer temporary breathing problems.

A press release issued by the provincial government urges residents to bring chemicals to the landfill's hazardous waste disposal area in the original sealed containers, which will prevent chemicals from mixing or leaking.

"Residents can bring in unused pool chemicals, as well as a variety of other household cleaners, and drop them off at no charge at our recycling area," says Hartland operations manager, Tom Watkins. "It costs residents nothing and protects the health and safety of our employees, contractors, members of the public and the environment."

Hartland Landfill's diversion programs recycle, reuse and properly dispose of many common items; hazardous household wastes are shipped off Vancouver Island for safe disposal.