Household Hazardous Waste

What is Household Hazardous Waste?

Hazardous waste is unused or leftover portions of products containing toxic chemicals used around the home. Products labeled Caution, Warning, Danger, Poison, Toxic, Flammable or Corrosive are considered hazardous.

Household Hazardous Waste Includes Leftover:

Properly dispose of toxic household products at one of Orange County’s regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers. For drop-off site locations, directions and hours of operation call (714) 834-6752.

Paint

Paint may not be placed out for curbside collection or disposed of in a bin/container meant for solid waste. FREE paint recycling is available at drop-off sites throughout California. Most of these sites are at paint retailers (paint, hardware, and home improvement stores) that have volunteered to take back paint, and they are available to any resident and business in California. These stores accept paint whenever they are open for business. Below is a link where you can find a drop-off site near you and view hours and restrictions.

Find a PaintCare drop-off location

Lithium Ion Batteries and Electronic Waste

Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) batteries are commonly found in cell phones, laptops, cordless phones, household electronics or power tools and are considered hazardous waste when they are discarded. Unfortunately, more and more dangerous incidents are being reported involving explosions or fires caused by improperly disposed cell phones or Li-Ion batteries.

All batteries and electronic waste must be properly recycled or taken to a household hazardous waste disposal facility or event, and NEVER placed in trash or recycling carts!

Batteries and most electronic waste are considered hazardous because of the metals and/or other toxic or corrosive materials contained within. Even when batteries have reached their end-life, they still hold a small charge. If batteries are not discarded properly, they can potentially explode and cause a fire in a collection cart, truck or in a disposal facility when crushed.

Watch a Short Animated Video on Battery Safety from the Avoid the Spark Campaign

Additional HHW Disposal Options

Properly dispose of toxic household products at one of Orange County’s regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers. For drop-off site locations, directions and hours of operation call (714) 834-6752.

Residents of Buena Park can properly dispose of toxic household items at no cost at one of the regional drop-off sites:

• In Anaheim at 1131 North Blue Gum St.
• In Huntington Beach at 17121 Nichols St.