Hazardous Waste

While our used oil/e-waste/tire/paint collection events continue to be suspended due to the pandemic, we have reopened our SAFE Centers.

Please do not throw household hazardous waste in the trash.  SAFE Centers are available for LA City and LA County residents to properly dispose of household hazardous waste and electronic waste. You can also schedule free curbside collection of your electronic waste by calling our 24-hour Customer Care Center at 1-800-773-2489 or using the MyLA311 app.

We remain committed to our mission of protecting public health and the environment. Thank you for your continued understanding and support. 



Everyday household products found under your kitchen sink or in your garage are household hazardous waste (HHW).  

 

This includes items such as:  

  • Paint
  • Paint thinners
  • Cleaners and solvents
  • Used oil
  • Furniture polish
  • Unwanted electronic equipment

NOT IN YOUR BLACK BIN!

HHW that you wish to discard should NOT be placed in your regular trash. Such waste can be corrosive, toxic, ignitable, flammable, or reactive and co-mingling them with your refuse could create a dangerous situation. In addition to the dangers this can cause at home, much of your regular refuse goes to landfills where HHW can contaminate soil and seep into ground water.

Used paint and wood stain Image

WHAT IS NOT HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE?

The following items are NOT household hazardous waste:

 

  • Explosives
  • Ammunition
  • Bio-medical and pathological wastes
  • Radioactive materials
  • Tires
  • Yard waste
  • Ordinary household refuse

HOW CAN YOU SAFELY DISPOSE OF HHW?

LA Sanitation (LASAN) has established a number of permanent collection sites throughout the City, known as S.A.F.E. Centers. These S.A.F.E. Centers are open every weekend and provide a convenient way to dispose of your HHW.  In addition to S.A.F.E. Centers, LASAN sponsors periodic Mobile Collection Events throughout the City where residents can drop off their HHW to be disposed of properly.

WARNING: Disposing of household chemicals in your refuse bin, storm drains or sewers damages the environment, and it is AGAINST THE LAW. Illegal dumping carries a minimum fine of $5,000 per day per violation up to $100,000 per day per violation or imprisonment (Section 25189.5 Health and Safety Code).

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?


LA Sanitation, in cooperation with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, operates a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Program that provides a means for private residents to safely and legally dispose of their own unwanted household chemicals.

 

All Los Angeles County residents can bring their HHW, free of charge, to the City's Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Mobile Collection Events.

 

HHW MOBILE COLLECTION EVENTS:


LA Sanitation hosts HHW Mobile Collection Events in areas not served by S.A.F.E. Centers.

 

  •  Each event is scheduled for one day (Saturday) or two days (Saturday and Sunday) from 9:00am-3:00pm.
  • A flyer is mailed to neighboring communities informing them of the event and the event is posted on LASAN's website. 
  • No reservation or appointment is required.

 

THE PROCESS FOR DISPOSING OF HHW:


Residents may bring the following items to HHW Mobile Collection Events: 

 

  • Electronic waste such as computers, monitors, televisions, printers, network equipment, cables, telephones, microwaves, video games, cell phones, radios, stereos, VCRs, and electronic toys
  • Household cleaning products
  • Paint and paint-related substances (solvents)
  • Automotive products such as oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, transmission fluid, oil filters
  • Pool chemicals
  • Garden chemicals including fertilizers, weed killers, pesticides
  • Car batteries and household batteries (A, AA, AAA, nickel cadmium, alkaline, lithium)
  • Fluorescent light bulbs
  • Aerosol cans
  • Medicine

 

The following items are not accepted at HHW Mobile Collection Events: 

 

  • Bulky Items such as furniture, refrigerators, washing machines/dryers, conventional ovens
  • Paper
  • Computer software
  • Ammunition
  • Explosives
  • Marine flares/firecrackers
  • Radioactive materials
  • Tires
  • Medical/biological waste
  • Business/commercial waste

 

TRANSPORTATION TO HHW MOBILE COLLECTION EVENTS:

 

  • It is illegal to transport more than 15 gallons or 125 pounds (total volume) of hazardous waste to a collection site.
  • Keep products in their original containers.
  • Make sure the containers are leak-proof.
  • Keep all materials away from passengers during transportation.

 

WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT A HHW MOBILE COLLECTION EVENT:

 

  • Extinguish all smoking materials before entering the collection site.
  • Remain in your vehicle when you arrive at the HHW Mobile Collection Event.
  • To ensure the safety of collection site personnel, you will be asked to turn off your engine and set your parking brake before materials can be unloaded from your vehicle.

 

WHO CAN YOU CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION?  


LA Sanitation Customer Service Center
1-800-773-2489
 


Customer Service Representatives are available 24/7.


Mailing address:  
LA Sanitation
Solid Resources Citywide Recycling Division
HHW Section
1149 South Broadway Street, Los Angeles 90015-2213


For information on the Los Angeles County HHW Collection Program, contact the County Sanitation District's HHW Hotline at 1-888-CLEANLA / 1-888-253-2652
 

 

ADDITIONAL TYPES OF HHW INCLUDE:

Batteries Image

WHAT IS UNIVERSAL WASTE?  

 

The following items are considered universal waste:

 

  • Batteries
  • Light bulbs
  • Electronic devices
  • Items containing mercury

In the state of California these items are not allowed to go in the trash.  Chemicals from universal waste can eventually find their way into the environment, contaminating our air, water and food.  

 

EXAMPLES OF UNIVERSAL WASTE:

 

*Batteries

  • AA, AAA, C cells, D cells and button batteries (e.g. hearing aid batteries). These may contain a corrosive chemical that can cause burns as well as toxic heavy metals like cadmium.
  • For proper disposal visit participating Jiffy Lube locations, City libraries and B & B Hardware.


*IMPORTANT: Tape battery terminals before drop-off.

 

Light Bulbs

  • Fluorescent tubes and bulbs, high intensity discharge (HID), metal halide, sodium, and neon bulbs all contain mercury vapor that may release into the environment if the bulb is broken.

 

Mercury is a toxic metal that can cause harm to people and animals including nerve damage and birth defects. When mercury is released into the environment, it can contaminate the air we breathe. If mercury enters local streams, rivers, and the ocean, it can contaminate the fish that people eat. For proper disposal visit B & B Hardware.


Electronics

  • Televisions and computer monitors, computers, printers, VCRs, cell phones, telephones, radios, and microwave ovens often contain heavy metals like lead, cadmium, copper, and chromium.

 

Mercury

  • Thermostats contain mercury inside the sealed glass “tilt switch” of the old style thermostats but not the newer electronic kind.
  • Switches and relays contain mercury and can be found in some chest freezers, pre-1972 washing machines, sump pumps, electric space heaters, clothes irons, light switches and relays, automobile lights, and ABS brakes. They also can be found in some gas appliances such as stoves, ovens, clothes dryers, water heaters, furnaces and space heaters.
  • Gauges such as barometers, manometers, blood pressure, and vacuum gauges contain mercury.
  • Mercury Added Novelties including greeting cards that play music when opened; athletic shoes (made before 1997) with flashing lights in soles; and mercury maze games.
  • Mercury thermometers contain about a half-gram of mercury.

 

HOW CAN YOU SAFELY DISPOSE OF UNIVERSAL WASTE?  

  • LA Sanitation has established a number of permanent collection sites throughout the City, known as S.A.F.E. Centers. These S.A.F.E. Centers are open every weekend and provide a convenient way to dispose of your universal waste. 
  • You can also take universal waste to a Los Angeles County HHW Roundup event.
Downloads
Jiffy Lube locations for battery disposal
S.A.F.E. Center Flyer