Household Hazardous Waste
Household hazardous waste (HHW) is the
unused or leftover portion of any hazardous chemicals or materials.
Any leftover household product that is labeled with DANGER, WARNING,
TOXIC, CAUTION, POISON, FLAMMABLE, CORROSIVE, or REACTIVE is
considered a household hazardous waste.
Additional information for Universal Waste, Pharmaceutical Waste and Safe Disposal of Home Sharps is available.
Examples of HHW are listed below:
- Aerosol Cans
- Automotive Fluids
- Batteries (auto, household, & rechargeable)
- Computer, Monitors and Televisions
- Fertilizers
- Fluorescent Lamps - including tubes and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)
- Household Cleaners
- Mercury Items (including thermometers & thermostats)
- Motor Oil & Oil Filters
- Paint & Stains (latex & oil)
- Pesticides
- Pool Chemicals
- Propane
- Solvent
HHW Disposal Locations or Contacts:
- Unincorporated Area Residents (Such as: Alpine, Fallbrook, Julian, Ramona, etc.)
- City Residents (Such as: San Diego, Poway, Escondido, El Cajon, Chula Vista, etc.)
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Best Practices
Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
Reduce the amount of hazardous products that you purchase. Reuse the materials that you have on hand. Recycle your waste and dispose properly at collection sites.
Read product labels to learn about product uses and dangers before you purchase a product.
- Choose safer, less toxic alternative products.
- If you must purchase hazardous products, buy only the amount you need for the task and use it all so you can help eliminate HHW.
- Always store all your household chemicals in a protected and secure area away from children, pets, and appliance pilot lights to prevent poisonings and home fires.
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Paint Stewardship Program: "PaintCare"
Recycle your leftover paint with PaintCare, an industry sponsored paint stewardship non-profit program established to manage the reuse, recycling and proper disposal of unused architectural paint. PaintCare has established hundreds of drop-off sites at paint retail stores, government-run household hazardous waste facilities, and other locations across California. These sites accept program products (primarily latex and oil based paint) in containers of 5 gallons or less from all residents and certain businesses.
Click here to search for participating retail take back centers in San Diego County
For more information on PaintCare: http://www.paintcare.org
- Additional Resources
Have a recycling question? Email Recycle@sdcounty.ca.gov or call:
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