Household Hazardous Waste

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Information for Local Agencies and Contractors

What is Household Hazardous Waste?

Household hazardous waste (HHW) is a waste generated by you as a resident and household. You may generate this waste while performing tasks in and around your home. These tasks may include, but are not limited to:

Cleaning

Home Improvement

Car Maintenance

Household hazardous waste DOES NOT include waste generated while operating a business at your home. [Health and Safety Code § 25218.1(d)]

It is illegal to dispose of household hazardous waste in the trash, down the drain, or by abandonment. 

You may not realize that many common household products are hazardous. When you dispose of these products, they become “household hazardous waste,” or HHW. These wastes may cause harm to human health and the environment if you handle or dispose of these products incorrectly. You must bring your HHW to a household hazardous waste facility (HHWF).

Hazardous Wastes in Your Home

Common household hazardous wastes include but are not limited to:

  • Antifreeze
  • Batteries
  • Drain cleaners
  • Electronic wastes (e.g., TVs, computer monitors, cell phones)
  • Glue and adhesives
  • Household cleaners
  • Oven cleaners
  • Paints
  • Pesticides
  • Pool cleaners
  • Solvents
  • Used oil
  • Waste containing asbestos
  • Wastes containing mercury (e.g., thermometers, fluorescent lights)
Picture of HHW

Identifying Household Hazardous Waste

In addition to those wastes listed above, household products that are hazardous waste can be identified from warnings on the product label.

The household product is likely hazardous if the label information reads:

  • Danger
  • Poison/Toxic → even a little bit can be poisonous when ingested (i.e., eaten, drank), absorbed through skin, or inhaled
  • Corrosive/Acid → “eats” or wears away at many materials including living tissue (e.g., skin)
  • Reactive/Explosive → could be explosive or produce deadly gas
  • Ignitable/Flammable → can easily catch fire
  • Environmental Hazard
  • Caution/Warning

Possible Hazard Symbols

Check with your local household hazardous waste program if you are unsure if a product is a household hazardous waste when disposed—DO NOT just put it in the trash, pour it down the drain, or abandon it elsewhere.

For more information on household hazardous waste and your local program(s), contact your local Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHWF).

Who Collects Household Hazardous Waste?

Many cities and counties have developed programs to collect, recycle, or properly dispose of household hazardous waste. They may also collect hazardous waste generated by small businesses that are exempt from regular hazardous waste management requirements.

Types of Household Hazardous Waste Facilities

There are six different types of household hazardous waste collection facilities (HHWCFs). Click on the facility types below to learn more about each type of HHWCF.

  1. Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (PHHWCF)
  2. Temporary Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (THHWCF)
  3. Recycle-Only Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facilities (ROHHWCFs)
  4. Curbside Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program
  5. Door-to-Door/Residential Collections
  6. Mobile Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (MHHWCF)

Household Hazardous Waste Facilities in California

Tips

  • Use the search bar at the top to search for your location of interest. You may need to zoom out to find the nearest HHW(s).
  • Select the expand arrow to the right of each result in the results panel to view more details about each location.
  • Select a point on the map to highlight it and get more information in the results panel.
Full-screen Map - Click Here

Notes

  • Many HHW facilities have set days and hours where they will accept HHW from the public, and some may have daily limits they can accept before closing their drop-offs.
  • Some HHW facilities only hold events once or twice a year. Many facilities require an appointment to drop-off your HHW, and an appointment is required for door-to-door and curbside HHW pickup services.
  • HHW facility locations may vary depending on facility type and handling activities.

If you have any questions about your local HHW facilities and programs, contact your local HHW or waste pickup providers.

Additional Resources – Finding Household Hazardous Waste Facilities

In addition to the list of household hazardous waste (HHW) facilities, these resources may also provide helpful information regarding household hazardous waste and its disposal at facilities near you. 

Pollution Prevention (P2) 

What is Pollution Prevention (P2)?

Source: US EPA

“Pollution prevention (P2) is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source before it is created.”

  • If feasible, P2 is preferable over recycling, treatment, or disposal.
  • It is often more cost effective to prevent pollution from being created than it is to pay for control, treatment, and disposal of waste products.
  • Less pollution = fewer impacts to human and environmental health

Source: US EPA

Pollution Prevention in the Garden

Pollution Prevention in the House

Pollution Prevention in the Office

Pollution Prevention on the Road

National Pollution Prevention (P2) Week

To learn more about pollution prevention (P2) and the various ways that you can contribute to P2, visit the EPA’s Pollution Prevention (P2) website.

DTSC and Pollution Prevention

DTSC’s Pollution Prevention Program was ended in 2013, and DTSC’s Safer Consumer Products Program was established. To learn more about the Safer Consumer Products Program, visit DTSC’s Safer Consumer Products Program webpage(s).

Choosing Safer Alternative Household ProductsEPA Safer Choice label

You can prevent the generation of household hazardous waste by choosing to use safer alternative household products.

The US EPA’s Safer Choice Program aims to help “consumers, businesses, and purchasers find products that perform and contain ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment.” Their resources will help you in finding and using “Safer Choice” products around the house. Products in the program can be identified by the Safer Choice label.

Information for Local Agencies and Contractors

Collecting Very Small Quantity Generator Waste at Household Hazardous Waste Facilities

Household hazardous waste collection facilities (HHWCFs) may be authorized to receive waste from very small quantity generators (VSQGs); however, HHWCFs are not required to accept VSQG waste and may limit the types and amounts of household hazardous waste (HHW) that are accepted.

Note Since the very small quantity generator (VSQG) exemption in Federal Law (40 CFR § 262.14) limits a VSQG’s hazardous waste accumulation to 1000 kg of non-acute hazardous waste (or 1 kg acute hazardous waste) at any time, an HHWCF may not accept over 1000 kg/month of non-acute hazardous waste (or 1 kg acute hazardous waste) from a VSQG.

Transporting VSQG Waste to an HHW Facility

  1. Self-transporting hazardous waste to an HHWCF
    • A VSQG may self-transport up to 100 kg of hazardous waste to an HHWCF during any month without registration as a hazardous waste transporter or using a hazardous waste manifest.
  2. Using a transporter to transport hazardous waste to an HHWCF
    • An HHWCF may also receive waste from a VSQG via a registered transporter using a hazardous waste manifest.

Collecting Electronic Waste at Household Hazardous Waste Facilities

A public agency that plans to collect electronic waste (e-waste) at an household hazardous waste collection facility (HHWCF) or temporary event must:

  1. Notify the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) at least 30 days in advance (22 CCR § 66273.32)
  2. Submit an Annual Report to DTSC detailing the e-waste handling activities performed during the calendar year (22 CCR § 66273.32)
  3. Complete and submit Form 303 (A or B based on your jurisdiction) to CalRecycle, annually

Notifications and annual reporting for DTSC may be done through DTSC’s Universal Waste Electronic Devices (UWED) online system. For more information regarding e-waste and its handling requirements, refer to DTSC’s Electronic Hazardous Waste (E-Waste) webpage.

Who Enforces HHW Laws and Regulations?

The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is the state agency responsible for ensuring the safe and responsible management of household hazardous waste. At a local level, the management of household hazardous waste is overseen by Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPAs).

Additional Resources

For Additional Questions, Contact the Regulatory Assistance Office

Toll-Free in CA: 800-728-6942 or 800 72-TOXIC
Outside CA: 916-324-2439
Email: RAO@dtsc.ca.gov

Last updated: May 8, 2024

Hazardous Waste Links

Hazardous Waste Related Links