Household Hazardous Waste

MCSD SERVICES

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers

Household Hazardous Waste Progrm The County operates four Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers for Orange County residents to dispose of hazardous materials. These collection centers accept used motor oil, paint, solvents, pesticides, used automotive batteries, household cleaning products, and pool chemicals. Products must be packaged in their original containers.
The Center also accepts television sets, computer monitors & equipment, and Sharps in sealed contaiers.

Sharps Announcement

Click on the logo below for more information on Sharps needle disposal.

Proff of Orange County residency is required at all Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Centers. The Centers are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and closed on rainy days. Collection centers do not accept ammunition or asbestos products. More information on household hazardous waste disposal is available by calling (714) 834-6752.

State law prohibits the transporting of more than 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous material per vehicle. Please honor this limitation. Remember not to mix hazardous materials!

Free Electronic Waste Collection Event
Friday & Saturday, February 22nd & 23rd, 2008

For more information about this wonderful event
Double Click

Or visit http://ewaste.com

Local Orange County
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers.

Hot Line (714) 834-6752
Center Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Closed on rainy days.

Rainbow Disposal Service 17121 Nichols St. Gate # 6 Huntington Beach

1071 Blue Gum Avenue, Anaheim

6411 Oak Canyon, Irvine

Local Used Motor Oils Drop Off Spots

Also see below Used Motor Oil Program

Midway City Sanitary District 14451 Cedarwood Ave., Westminster (714) 893-3553

Westminster City Maintenance Yard 14381 Olive Street, Westminster (714) 895-2876

Put Household Hazardous Waste
in Its Place

What Are Household Hazardous Wastes?

Many products found in your home are potentially hazardous substances. Because of their chemical nature, they can poison, corrode, explode, or ignite easily when handled improperly. When discarded, they are considered household hazardous waste. Since they may threaten human health or the environment when inappropriately disposed of, household hazardous wastes are not exempt from California hazardous waste laws. It is illegal to dispose of household hazardous waste in the trash, down storm drains, or onto the ground.

What Are Examples of Potential Household Hazardous Wastes?
Many common household products are considered household hazardous waste when they are discarded. The following are examples of these products:

• Adhesives

• All Items Containing Circuit Boards

• Antifreeze

• Batteries (All Types)

• Boom boxes

• Cathode Ray Tubes

• CD players

• Cell and Cordless Phones

• Clear Solvents

• Computers and all computer equipment
• Cosmetics

• Copiers

• Drain openers

• DVD players

• Engine Batteries
• Fax machines

• Fluorescent light bulbs

• Fuel injection and carburetor cleaners

• Fungicides and wood preservatives

• Game Consoles

• Grease and rust solvents

• Household polishes and cleaners

• Insecticides, herbicides, rat poisons and pesticides

• Latex and oil-based paints

• Lighter fluids

• Mercury Thermometers

• Microwaves

• Monitors

• Nail polish and removers

• Novelty items that contain batteries
(singing greetings, flashing athletic shoes, jewelry etc.)

• Oven cleaners

• Paint thinners and strippers
• Printers

• Radios

• Stereos and all stereo type equipment

• Televisions

• Tires

• Used motor oil and oil filters

• Wood and metal cleaners

Why Are They Hazardous?
Household hazardous wastes are considered hazardous because they fit into one or more of the following categories:
• Toxic: Poisonous or lethal when ingested, touched, or inhaled—even in small quantities.
• Flammable: Ignites easily.
• Corrosive: Eats away materials and living tissue by chemical action.
• Reactive: Creates an explosion or produces deadly vapors (e.g., bleach mixed with ammonia-based cleaners).
Before buying a product, read the label. Signal words can serve as a guide to the purchases you make. With pesticides, DANGER means highly toxic, WARNING means moderately toxic, and CAUTION means slightly toxic. With household products, POISON means highly toxic, DANGER means extremely flammable or corrosive or highly toxic, WARNING or CAUTION means less toxic.

What Problems Can Occur?
Improper handling or disposal of products containing hazardous ingredients can result in serious accidents to people and animals, who can be seriously harmed by drinking, eating, touching, or breathing household hazardous wastes.
• Refuse workers and landfill workers can be injured by chemical splashes or poisonous fumes caused by mixed or concentrated household hazardous wastes.
• Firefighters can be injured by these household hazardous wastes when responding to a fire.
• The environment can be seriously damaged when groundwater used for drinking or irrigation is contaminated with household hazardous waste products that have been poured onto or have seeped into the ground.
• Bacteria needed to break down sewer and septic tank wastes can be destroyed by untreated household hazardous wastes.

How Do I Avoid Accidents?
Never leave household hazardous products or wastes within reach of children or pets. When possible, buy products with less harmful ingredients (read the labels). When using a product, read and follow the label directions, never mix it with other products, and use it up entirely. Do not dispose of household hazardous wastes in the trash, on the ground, or in storm or sewer drains. Do not remove product labels, and do not remove products from their original containers.

How Do I Properly Manage Household Hazardous Waste?
Reduce by purchasing only the amount you need.
Reuse the products by donating unused portions to friends or community organizations.
Recycle leftover household hazardous products that are recyclable and dispose of the others safely by participating in your local household hazardous waste collection program. Contact your city or county’s environmental health, solid waste, or public works department for information regarding which wastes can be recycled in your area.

How Do I Get More Information?
Contact your local environmental health program/agency to learn about household hazardous waste collection programs in your area.
For additional copies of this fact sheet, contact the Integrated Waste Management Board’s Publications Clearinghouse at (800) CA-WASTE (in California), or our Public Affairs Office at (916) 341-6308.

Reclaimed Motor Oil Program

The City of Westminster accepts used motor oil at the Public Works Yard, located at 14381 Olive Street, Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Used oil is also accepted at our District’s office, located at 14451 Cedarwood Ave., Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Oil must be stored in sturdy, non-leaking, lid-fitted containers which can be left at the office. Oil brought to the District must not be mixed with antifreeze or other contaminants. Please telephone (800) 553-2962 for details and additional information on recycled oil and oil filter programs and services in Orange County, or call the District office at (714) 803-3553.

California’s Used Oil
Recycling Program
What Is the Law?

What Is the Law?
Since 1987 it has been illegal to dispose of used oil in sewers, drainage systems, surface or ground waters, water courses, or marine waters, by domestic incineration, or onto the land or in the trash.
In 1991 the California State Legislature passed the Oil Recycling Enhancement Act to address the significant threat to California’s environment from illegally dumped used oil. The California Integrated Waste Management Board (IWMB) was charged with overseeing the implementation of the act. The mission of the IWMB’s Used Oil Recycling Program is to discourage the illegal disposal of used oil and promote used oil recycling statewide.

What Are the Hazards of Used Oil?
Used oil can contain such contaminants as lead, magnesium, copper, zinc, chromium, arsenic, chlorides, cadmium, and chlorinated compounds. Oil poured down drains or onto the ground can work its way into our ground and surface waters and cause serious pollution. One gallon of used oil can foul a million gallons of drinking water. Federal reports indicate that used motor oil accounts for more than 40 percent of the total oil pollution of our nation’s harbors and waterways.

Can Used Oil Be Recycled?
Yes, used oil is very recyclable. Used oil can be re-refined or processed into fuel oil. Unfortunately, not enough is being recycled. In fiscal year 2000/01, 160 million gallons of lubricating oil were sold in California. Approximately 40 percent—or 64 million gallons—leaked out of engines or was burned. Yet, of the remaining 96 million gallons, just 83 million gallons were recycled, leaving approximately 13 million gallons unaccounted for and possibly improperly disposed of down storm drains, into lakes or streams, or thrown in the garbage.

How Can You Help?
You can participate in oil recycling by following these tips:
• Drain your used oil into a clean container.
• Do not mix any other materials, including water, with used oil.
• Take your used oil to a household hazardous waste collection facility or a used oil collection site.

How Can You Help?
You can participate in oil recycling by following these tips:
• Drain your used oil into a clean container.
• Do not mix any other materials, including water, with used oil.
• Take your used oil to a household hazardous waste collection facility or a used oil collection site.

To find the Certified Used Oil Collection Center
nearest you:
Call 1-800-CLEANUP
or
Go on line at
www.1800cleanup.org/
For more information about California’s Used Oil Recycling Program, call (916) 341-6445

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Household Hazardous Waste