MEET Hazel
Haz-Waste

What’s the problem?

Improper disposal of Household Hazardous Waste

Household Hazardous Waste does not belong in Curbside Carts

If products in your home have a caution or warning label, they likely contain hazardous chemicals on their own or when mixed. Often, these items contain toxic ingredients that can contaminate the environment and threaten human health or may catch fire or explode if placed in the Garbage, Organics or Recycling carts for curbside collection. These items include:

Automotive fluids – oil, antifreeze, brake & transmission fluid
Household and car/truck batteries
Cleaners
Paint
Fluorescent bulbs/tubes
Pesticides/herbicides
Full or partially full aerosol cans

Local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off facilities provide residents a free and environmentally safe place to dispose of unwanted or leftover HHW products.

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What can I do?

RESIDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF UNUSED HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS ITEMS BY BRINGING THEM TO A LOCAL HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DROP-OFF FACILITY FOR PROPER HANDLING! IT’S EASY AND FREE!

Like Hazel Haz-Waste,go through your cabinets, shed, or garage to gather up old paint, automotive fluids pool chemicals, cleaners, pesticides/herbicides, aerosol cans, batteries, mercury thermometers, fluorescent tubes, CFL light bulbs, and even unused medications. Residents can drop off up to 15 gallons or 125 pounds of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) per month at the North Area Recovery Station HHW Facility for free.

The Kiefer Landfill Special Waste facility also accepts up to 15 gallons or 125 pounds of antifreeze, batteries, oils, paint and limited other wastes per month from residents for free drop-off.

Please check with any of the five of the local HHW Drop-off Facilities before you go to make sure it accepts your items.

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accepted items

HHW Items Accepted at North Area Recovery Station (NARS) HHW Facility

(Check out Oscar Oil for curbside pickup option)

(in sealed hard plastic or metal containers)

Check out Oscar Oil for curbside pickup option

(barbecue style, limit two, maximum 5-7 gallons)

not accepted

HHW Items Not Accepted at North Area Recovery Station (NARS) HHW Facility

(road flares are acceptable)

a banned chemical compound previously used in coolants and plasticizers

accepted at Kiefer landfill

the Following Items Are Accepted at Kiefer Landfill Special Waste Facility

(See Oscar Oil for curbside pickup option)

(in sealed hard plastic or metal containers)

Check out Oscar Oil for curbside pickup option

(barbecue style, limit two, maximum 5-7 gallons)

Safety Procedures

for Packaging and Transporting Items to an HHW Drop-off Facility

For safety, be sure to read and follow the product labels when handling household hazardous waste products.
Keep products in their original containers, if possible. Label materials that are not in their original containers. (NOTE: Do not put motor oil in any container that was used for bleach, acid, or flammable liquid.)
Do not mix products or allow products to accidentally mix.
Place leaking containers in a larger, plastic container with a tight-fitting lid.
Put all products upright in a cardboard box so they do not tip over in transport.

Make sure all lids are tightly sealed to prevent any spills.
Transport products in the back of a pickup truck or in a car trunk. Ensure adequate ventilation if transported inside a passenger vehicle.
Transport products in the back of a pickup truck or in a car trunk. Ensure adequate ventilation if transported inside a passenger vehicle.
Remain in your vehicle upon arrival at the facility, prepare to show your driver’s license, and allow staff to offload your household hazardous waste.

faq

If you still have questions, please email: SacGreenTeam@SacCounty.gov.

The NARS HHW Drop-off Facility has a Reuse Program. Any available items for reuse are placed out at the beginning of the hour from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It is first come, first served and the facility cannot guarantee products will be available.

Yes, for no additional charge, local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off facilities provide residents with an environmentally safe place to dispose of unwanted or leftover HHW items.

NORTH: North Area Recovery Station (NARS) – Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Facility – Includes Reuse Program
SOUTHEAST: Kiefer Landfill – Special Waste Drop-off Facility accepts antifreeze, batteries, oils, paints (ABOP), and limited other wastes.
CENTRAL: City of Sacramento Recycling and Transfer Station (SRTS)
SOUTH: Elk Grove Special Waste Collection Center – Includes Reuse Program
ROSEVILLE: Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA)

Electronic waste, or “e-waste” refers to any unwanted electronic device or Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), which is considered a hazardous universal waste due to toxic metal materials content. E-waste, such as TV, computers/monitors, tablets/cell phones and other electronic devices are accepted for proper disposal at Kiefer Landfill and the North Area Recovery Station for free.

All hazardous material waste must be properly disposed of at appropriate facilities. Businesses who qualify as Very Small Quantity Generators (VSQGs) must make an appointment to bring hazardous waste materials and must pay fees for VSQG depending on material type. For more information regarding commercial hazardous waste, visit the SacGreenTeam.com Business and Commercial web page.

HHW Tips

Batteries – household and vehicle — are household hazardous waste and when improperly disposed batteries can cause fires in our collection equipment and facilities. Keep all batteries out of curbside collection carts. To reduce fire risk, SAFELY get rid of your batteries with these steps:

Use Them
Save Them
Drop Them for free disposal at Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-Off locations and designated battery collection stations.

It’s just a light bulb – why shouldn’t I just throw it in the trash? More than likely it’s a Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulb, fluorescent tube, or another bulb that when broken releases a dust that contains toxic mercury. For the safety of our SacGreenTeam employees, you, and the environment, bring mercury containing light bulbs and all other household hazardous waste (HHW) for no charge to a local HHW drop-off location for proper recycling/disposal. HHW should never be put in any of your curbside carts. Do you know what to do if a CFL breaks? Read the EPA steps to limit mercury exposure.

During barbeque and camping season, please remember, all used propane tanks, big, and the small canister-style, are considered hazardous waste and do not belong in any curbside cart. Have the big ones refilled and bring damaged and small canister propane tanks that are empty to your nearest Household Hazardous Waste facility for free drop-off. Note for drop-off: residents are limited to two 5-7 gallon tanks.

Imagine what would happen to your household hazardous waste, such as pesticides and other chemicals, if you experienced even a minor flood or fire! Prepare now by bringing unwanted household hazardous waste to your local Household Hazardous Waste facility. #BeReady

Consider alternative methods or purchasing products without hazardous ingredients for common household needs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency HHW webpage has alternatives for drain cleaner, glass cleaners, furniture polish, rug deodorizer, silver polish and mothballs, along with the EPA Safer Choice program – check it out!

resources

Explore the resources in this section to learn more about Hazardous Waste.

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Contact us!

Have a question about recycling? We’ve got answers! Email us at sacgreenteam@saccounty.gov and we’ll get back to you within three business days.

MEET Hazel Haz-Waste