Hazardous Waste & Disposal
Recycling oil is easy!
Average household stores 3-10 gallons of hazardous waste
Household hazardous waste should NEVER be placed in garbage, recycling, or yard waste carts. U.S. households generate more than 2 million tons of hazardous waste each year. The average household stores from 3 to 10 gallons of hazardous waste.
Although most of the products' labels listed here do not usually contain the word "hazardous", they are just as hazardous as any industrial waste. Potential hazardous chemicals in these products can be:
Toxic: poisonous or lethal when ingested, touched or inhaled even in small quantities (rat poison, cleaning fluids, pesticides, bleach)
Flammable: easily ignites (lighter fluid, spot and paint removers)
Corrosive: eats away materials and living tissue by chemical action (oven and toilet bowl cleaners)
Reactive: creates an explosion or produces deadly vapors (bleach mixed with ammonia cleaners)
Careless use and disposal of these substances contaminate our food, soil, water, and air; and seriously threaten the ecosystems on which we depend.
Household hazardous wastes (HHW) should never be thrown into the trash or washed down the household or storm drains. Hazardous chemicals can "pass through" treatment processes or storm drains and get discharged into the environment. This occurs because wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove hazardous chemicals from wastewater, and storm drains flow directly to the Bay without any treatment at all. HHW thrown into the garbage can injure workers during collection or mix with other chemicals when landfilled. Groundwater used for drinking or irrigation can be contaminated when waste products are poured onto or seep into the ground.
Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility for Central Contra Costa County
All hazardous wastes, including solvents, cleaners and pesticides, should be taken to the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District's facility at 4797 Imhoff Place, Martinez. Call 1-800-646-1431 for information and hours or visit the district's website at www.centralsan.org.
Motor oil is a household hazardous waste that can be recycled using your curbside recycling collection:
- Request a used motor oil disposal container by calling Republic Services at (925) 685-4711.
- Pour used motor oil into the supplied disposal container and carefully seal the container.
- Place the sealed container next to your blue recycling cart.
- 2 gallons maximum of oil per pickup.
- Place used filters in the bag provided by Republic Services and attach to the oil container.
Many auto service stations, auto parts stores and oil changers accept used motor oil and oil filters for recycling. Call Contra Costa County's recycling hotline at 1-800-750-4096 for your nearest location.
E-Waste (televisions, monitors, & electronics)
State law prohibits putting CRT-containing devices (computer monitors and TVs) in the garbage.
CRT devices are accepted free of charge as reuse items during either of your area's two annual Reuse & Cleanup collections. You may set out up to five (5) electronic waste items (computer processor, keyboard, mouse, printers, etc.) for this collection.
If you cannot wait for a reuse collection, a curbside pickup of electronic waste is available for a fee through Republic Services. Call (925) 685-4711 to arrange a pickup. The fee covers disassembly, removal and recycling of hazardous materials.
Cell phones now can be recycled curbside. Put it in a sealed bag and place on top of your blue recycling cart.
Batteries can also be recycled curbside. Place in a sealed bag and place on top of your blue recycling cart. For other ways to recycle batteries, click here! Rechargeable batteries can be returned to stores that sell rechargeable batteries.
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD) operates the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Facility. The facility is located adjacent to the CCCSD's wastewater treatment plant at 4797 Imhoff Place in Martinez. All Central Contra Costa County residents are eligible to use the facility at no charge.
HHW Hotline - 800-646-1431
The HHW Collection Facility accepts HHW from residents free, Tuesday through Saturday 9am to 4pm with no appointment required. Small businesses can use the facility by appointment on Wednesdays for a nominal fee, which is based on the type and quantity of waste they need to dispose.
Most of the hazardous waste collected at the facility such as latex paint, antifreeze, and used motor oil is recycled or reused. Collected products that can be reused are given away at no charge to residents and businesses through an innovative waste exchange program. The remaining HHW is disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.