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Household Hazardous Materials Disposal
Where can I Properly Dispose of my Household Hazardous Materials?
Homeowners in the City of Huntington Beach can dispose of obsolete household hazardous materials through the Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center at:
Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center (at Rainbow Environmental Services)
17121 Nichols Street, Gate 6
Huntington Beach, CA.
Information Line: (714) 834-6752
The facility is located off of Warner Avenue between Gothard Street and Beach Blvd. Hours are 9 AM - 3 PM, Tuesday through Saturday, closed on rainy days and major holidays. There's no charge to Orange County residents, but proof of county residency may be required when you drop off items.
What are Household Hazardous Materials?
Household hazardous materials are all the chemical products you have around your home that you no longer use. Some of the more common items include:
- Fuels: Gasoline, diesel fuel, camp stove fuel, alcohol-based fuels, kerosene, propane cylinders.
- Automotive Fluids: Antifreeze, used oils, greases, brake fluid, hydraulic fluid, car waxes & polishing compounds, touch-up paints, tire & wheel treatments, etc.
- Pool & Spa Chemicals: Pool acids & chlorines (both liquid and dry types), tile cleaners, "shock" treatments, pH adjustment chemicals, etc.
- Personal Care Products: Hair dyes, aerosol sprays, sharps, etc. Most cosmetic and personal care items are not considered househld hazardous materials.
- Batteries: Auto & motorcycle batteries, dry cell 'flashlight' batteries, cell phone batteries, power tool batteries, etc.
- Gardening Chemicals: Fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, soil amendments (soil acidifiers), rodent and snail pellets.
- Lighting: Fluorescent bulbs, HID lamps, compact fluorescent bulbs, LED bulbs, etc.
- Paint & Coatings: Oil & latex-based paints, stains, primers, varnishes, resins, thinners, paint strippers, mineral spirits, epoxy coatings, etc.
- Cleaning Products & Solvents: Cleaners for windows, kitchens, countertops, floors, furniture, laundry soaps, bleaching agents, fabric softeners, spotting agents, acetone, alcohols, mineral spirits, etc.
- Adhesives & Glues: Contact cements, caulk, silicone sealers, roof sealants, glues.
- Electronic Products: Computers & computer screens, TVs, DVD & CD players, radios, telephones, other household electronic products.
- Building Materials: Asphalt & creosote coatings, uncured dry concrete mix, concrete additives, construction adhesives, uncured joint compound or patching compounds (wet or dry), resins & catalysts, sealants, roofing adhesive. Pressure treated lumber can be taken to Prima landfill in San Juan Capistrano.
Why Can't I Dispose of Household Hazardous Materials with my Regular Trash?
There are four major reasons for this.
- It is illegal. Disposal of hazardous materials with your regular trash can result in penalties just as severe as those imposed on businesses that illegally dispose of their hazardous materials.
- California is running out of landfill space. Since no one wants a landfill next to their neighborhood, all municipalities are required to set up recycling programs to divert and recycle as much of this waste as possible. This helps extend the life of current landfills, and reduces the need to develop new landfill space.
- Hazardous materials will contaminate the regular trash. This can render the entire load of a trash truck unrecyclable, and the entire load might have to be disposed as hazardous waste. Even if the contamination is not detected, improperly disposed hazardous materials will pass through the trash transfer process to a local landfill, where they eventually leach out of the landfill into the surrounding environment. This results in contaminated soils, groundwater, or degredation in air quality.
- Hazardous materials disposed into regular trash can react with other materials in the trash to create fires, release toxic or flammable gases, or create corrosive compounds that'll damage trash cans or trash processing equipment.
Tips for Transporting your Household Hazardous Materials:
- DO NOT consolidate or mix different wastes to 'save space'. Mixed hazardous materials are harder to recycle and can sometimes cause reactions that release toxic gases, explode, or cause fires.
- Try to keep all hazardous materials in their original containers. If you do have to use a new container, make sure its been rinsed, you clearly label it with the material's brand name and (if possible) chemical contents, and the container is compatible with the hazardous material.
- Put all materials in boxes or other containers that are lined with garbage bags to reduce spills. Boxes will be removed by the HHW center staff.
- Keep original product labels of the containers, or label all containers so you and the Household Hazardous Materials center staff know what's in them. If you need to add a new label clearly write the contents on the outside of the container with a permanent marker. For example, write "Used Oil" on a container of waste oil, or "Round-Up Weed Killer" on a container of waste Round-Up ©. If you don't know the brand but know the material's function, simply writing a common name like "Weed Killer" or "Paint Thinner" or "Car Polish" will help the HHW center staff immensely.
- Collect all materials until you have enough to make a trip to the Household Hazardous Materials Center worthwhile. You don't need to take waste items up to the center immediately. Accumulate them in a cool, shaded area away from people and take it all to the Household Hazardous Waste Center once or twice per year.
- Try and visit the Center midweek (Tuesday through Thursday). Â The busiest day is Saturday, when drop-off waiting times can be over one hour. Remember that the Center is closed Sunday, Monday, major holidays, and rainy days.
How Can I Reduce the Hazardous Materials Around My Home?
- Try to use the product for multiple uses. As an example, use one cleaner for general kitchen and bathroom cleaning.
- Purchase only the quantity you expect to use in the near future. Example: purchase only enough fertilizer or pesticide for current use; any extra will probably sit on a shelf and end up as waste.
- Look for a similar product that uses less harmful chemicals. Example: Try using insecticides containing pyrethrum (a natural pesticide) or insecticidal "soaps".
- Recycle any excess meterials through the local Household Hazardous Materials Center. Waste motor oil, antifreeze, bateries, and paints can be recycled into reusable products.
Did you know?
Submitting for Plan Check? View your
Permit Status online as well as view comments and plan checker contact information.
Contact Information
City of Huntington Beach
Fire Department
2000 Main Street
Huntington Beach, CA
Phone: (714) 536-5411
Fax: (714) 374-1551
Email: