New article author Hyun-Soo Hong shares his experience learning about household hazardous waste disposal.
I did not know where to dispose of my unwanted household hazardous waste until last month. My previous employer offered a service to employees, but after moving to California more than 10 years ago I was unaware of any facilities near my home.
I had stored old paint in my garage for years along with a few other items such as batteries, fluorescent bulbs, etc. I knew I should not place hazardous waste in my garbage bins. I did a quick search and discovered the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. Its well-designed website was a wealth of information, including hours, eligible communities, information on what they accept and don’t accept, and more.
I was pleasantly surprised when I went. Residents can use the drop-off facility's easy drive-through system. I was expecting a not-so-clean place but everything was well organized and sanitary. The guys handled my hazardous waste with clean gloves and were always professional and courteous.
Here are five categories and a few examples of the types of hazardous waste the facility will accept:
- Home, Garden, & Miscellaneous Products: e.g. grout, caulking, pesticides, fluorescent lamps (all types), and cooking oil.
- Automotive Products: e.g. motor oil, car batteries, transmission fluid, antifreeze, and car cleaners.
- Paint & Paint-Related Products: e.g. paints, thinners, adhesives, and wallpaper/paint removers.
- Household Cleaning Products: e.g. liquid cleaners, oven cleaners, furniture polish, and tub & tile cleaners.
- Personal Care Products: e.g. shampoo, hair spray, lotion, and perfume/cologne.
There’s even a room of free leftover paint and other materials you can take home and re-use for your own projects, such as a small paint job.
Check out a more comprehensive list of what they accept HERE
Here's a page about what is NOT accepted. For example, they don’t accept e-waste (e.g. phones, computers), medical waste (e.g. sharps), radioactive waste, or appliances (e.g. old dishwashers, televisions). To dispose of those items, you’ll need to go to Rapid Recycle which is just a few minutes away. Please note that in some cases, you may be charged a fee for the disposal service.
These facilities provide a wonderful service to our community and allow you to dispose of hazardous waste safely and efficiently!
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