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Residential Hazardous Waste (Household Hazardous Waste)
Don’t throw hazardous waste in the trash!!  Municipal landfills cannot accept hazardous waste.  Bring your household hazardous waste (HHW) to a FREE collection facility or event.

What is HHW?

Acceptable/Unacceptable Material for HHW Facilities and Events

HHW Collection Locations and Schedule

Used Oil and Filter Recycling Information

Medication and Sharps

What is HHW?
According to the California Health and Safety Code, “Household hazardous waste means any hazardous waste generated incidental to owning or maintaining a place of residence.  Household hazardous waste does not include any waste generated in the course of operating a business at a residence.”  Some jobs around the home may require the use of products containing hazardous components.  Such products may include certain paints, cleaners, stains and varnishes, car batteries, motor oil, and pesticides.  The unused or leftover contents of such consumer products are known as “household hazardous waste” or HHW.

Americans generate 1.6 million tons of household hazardous waste per year.  The average home can accumulate as much as 100 pounds of household hazardous waste in basements or garages or storage closets.  When improperly disposed, household hazardous waste can create a potential risk to people and the environment.  The best option is to use all of the product so there is no residual waste to dispose of.  These items include many common garden care, cleaning and automobile products.  They are illegal to dispose of in the trash because they can contaminate ground water and emit toxic gases into the atmosphere at county landfills.  They can also be hazardous to trash collection and landfill workers’ health.  Because of these threats, they must be disposed of in the proper way by bringing them to collection events.  The Riverside County Waste Management Department’s HHW Collection Program provides an opportunity for residents of the county to dispose of these materials at no charge.

Acceptable/Unacceptable Material for HHW Facilities and Events

Acceptable Material

Adhesives, Drain Openers, Antifreeze, Paints (Oil and Latex), Batteries (auto, single use, rechargeable), Solvents, Pesticides, Household Cleaners, Used Oil and Filters, Swimming Pool Chemicals, Nail Polish, Fuels, Propane Cylinders/Tanks, Cosmetics, Fertilizers, Fluorescent Bulbs, Ballasts, Fire Extinguishers, Used Oil Filters and Electronic Wastes are some examples of household hazardous waste (HHW).  HHW are products marked with the words, “Toxic” or “Poison”, “Flammable” or “Combustible”, or “Danger”, “Caution” or “Warning”. However, anything else that is labeled with the following is also considered HHW:
 

Toxic—Poisonous or causes long-term illness (such as cancer).  Pesticides, cleaners, antifreeze and many other products are toxic. 

Flammable—Burns easily.  Paint, thinners and other solvents, and auto products are the most common flammable home products. 

Corrosive—Dissolves metal or human tissue (acid, for example).  Oven cleaner, drain cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner and auto batteries are common corrosive products.

Oxidizer—Common oxidizers contain chlorine or bromine and are good sanitizers (i.e. swimming pool chlorine).

 

The following materials are examples of HHW typically found in homes:

Unacceptable Material

HHW locations are for RESIDENTIAL use only.  Photo documentation will be made of excessive or suspected non-residential loads.

The following waste CANNOT be accepted at ANY Riverside County HHW Collection Facility:

• Business, non-profit, or out-of county hazardous waste
   
• Explosives and Ammunition
   
• Radioactive or Remediation Materials
   
• Medical/Infections Waste (except Sharps)
   
• Asbestos
   
• Appliances
   
• Tires
   
• 55 or 30 gallon drums
   
• Compressed gas cylinders greater than 40 pounds
   

If you have any of these wastes, please call (951) 486-3200 for assistance.

Transporting HHW to a HHW Collection Facility or Event
Before transporting waste to a regional facility or collection event, please use this checklist to make sure you have done the following:

		Use up all hazardous waste when possible.
		Offer good, usable products to neighbors, family, or organizations.
		Remove all valuables from trunk, as well as, all other items that can be mistaken as hazardous and universal waste discards.  Note: The program is not responsible for lost or missing items from your vehicle.
		Limit total chemical load to less than 5 gallons or 50 pounds for transportation. (California State Law maximum transportation limitation.)
		Secure leaky containers and loose loads.  If they are leaky, place them in a secondary container or material that will not allow the leak to spread. Place securely in the vehicle for safe transportation.
		Mark containers to identify contents or keep in original container.  The contents of the container must be the same as stated on the label. If not, cover up the label and write the name of its contents.  Containers with flammable liquid will not be returned (gas cans).
		Transport waste in a box placed in the trunk of your car or in the bed of your pickup truck and secure to prevent movement and breakage. (Keep items away from passengers.)
		Follow directions once you reach the event site.  You will be asked to turn off your motor and stay in your vehicle.  The site staff will unload the material from your vehicle.

Used Oil and Filter Recycling Information
Changing Oil Too Often?  You may be wasting time and money by changing your oil more frequently than necessary.   Review your owners manual for manufacturer’s suggested oil change frequency.  CalRecycle has a website that shows manufacturers suggested frequency:  http://www.checkyournumber.org

Recycle used oil at Certified Collection Centers in your neighborhood.  Most locations are automotive centers or retail stores with convenient hours.  Please limit the amount of used oil you are recycling to no more than 5 gallons per trip.  You may be able to get some money for recycling your oil at a Certified Collection Center. 

For a list of participating centers please call 1-800-CLEANUP or log on to http://www.Earth911.com or the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) website:  http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/UsedOil/Recycle.htm

Funded by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). 

Medication & Sharps
SHARPS and NEEDLES are always accepted at FREE HHW collection facilities or events.
Some medications can be easily disposed of with regular trash.  Most medications are not considered Hazardous Waste!  Do not bring unused or unwanted medication to the HHW collection locations.

Avoid flushing unused medications down the toilet and into the waste water treatment system.  This makes water treatment more difficult for the processing plants.  Always remove personal identification from medication bottles and containers. For additional information, please see the Pharmaceutical Waste Fact Sheet Fact Sheet.

Before you dispose of the medications, there are a few necessary steps that will prevent medication from being retrieved from the trash.  This applies to both prescription and over-the-counter medications.

The Federal Drug Enforcement Agency has developed a National Take Back Initiative with scheduled Take Back Days.  The next event is scheduled for April 28, 2012.  For details please, CLICK HERE.  (Check back often for updated date and location information.) 

For additional information on proper drug disposal, please view the following website http://www.smarxtdisposal.net. 

	Liquid medication:  Empty liquid medication onto absorbent paper towels or rags and dispose with regular trash.
	Pills:  Crush pills and dispose of powdered medication with regular trash.  The following website contains additional information that might be useful.  http://www.smarxtdisposal.net.
	Propellant inhaler:  Empty container by expelling all propellant.  Dispose of small empty aerosol container in trash.
	Sharps/needles:  Must be placed and secured in an approved sharps disposal container and brought to any HHW collection facility or event. FREE Labels can be printed HERE and are available at the HHW collections or by calling (951) 486-3200.  Riverside County residents can also place sharps in a hard sided PLASTIC container like a bleach or laundry detergent bottle with a secure lid.  Do not use any container that held a food product.  Place a label on the container that identifies "Biohazard", secure the lid, and tape the container closed. Then bring container to any HHW collection facility or event.  Contact your local City Hall for additional Sharps collection programs. PLEASE DO NOT dispose of sharps in any curbside recycling or waste container. Beginning on September 1, 2008, state law (Section 118286 of the California Health and Safety Code) makes it illegal to dispose of home-generated sharps waste in the trash or recycling containers, and requires that all sharps waste be transported to a collection center in a sharps container approved by the local enforcement agency.