Household Hazardous Waste

Household Hazardous Waste (or HHW) is any waste that contains ingredients that are flammable, explosive, corrosive, or present a health or pollution hazard. 

HHW is used or leftover products from our homes, garages, or businesses that contain hazardous substances.  We use HHW products every day to clean our homes, improve our gardens, car maintenance, personal hygiene, and other uses.

If these products are not properly used, stored, and disposed of, they can present a hazard to our health and our environment.  Packaging will always provide warning for HHW items and the warning must be observed.  The following symbols may also be found on HHW products:

Nine Hazardous Waste Symbols

Common Household Examples

Adhesives, Antifreeze, Batteries, Bleach, Cosmetics, Fluorescent Lights, Furniture Polish, Insecticides & Herbicides, Lighter Fluids, Gas & Diesel, Mercury Thermostats,  Paint (Latex & Oil Based). Pool Chemicals, Solvents & Cleaners, Used Motor Oil, Wood Stains & Varnishes. 

None of these items can be thrown into regular household trash nor can they be burned, poured down a storm-drain, or dumped on the ground.

Where Can I Get Rid of Household Hazardous Waste?

Some materials are too difficult or dangerous to dispose of on a regular basis.  Those items should be safely stored and wait for a temporary collection event to be announced.   There are a few items that can safely be disposed of, and these items and their disposal sites are listed below.

Batteries

All Siskiyou County Transfer Stations accept batteries during normal business hours.  These stations charge $2.00 each for car batteries and $1.00 each for household batteries. There are other locations throughout the County that collect used batteries for free, but please call specific entities to see if they are currently accepting used batteries and if so, what types of batteries they accept:

  • Dorris City Hall:                    530-397-3511
  • Dunsmuir City Hall               530-235-4822
  • Etna City Hall                       530-467-5256
  • Fort Jones City Hall             530-468-2281
  • McCloud Admin Office        530-964-2017
  • Montague City Hall              530-459-5204
  • Mt Shasta Solanos               530-926-2635
  • Tulelake City Hall                 530-667-5522
  • Yreka City Hall                     530-841-2386
  • Yreka Dollar General           530-572-1480

Step 1 - Separate your batteries by Chemistry--Alkaline, Button Cell, Ni-Cd, Lithium, Li-Ion, Sealed Lead and Acid.

Step 2 - Lithium and rechargeable batteries need to be individually bagged or have terminals taped to prevent short circuits or fire.

Please Note:  If your battery is damaged, defective or part of a recall, please DO NOT drop it off at participating collection locations.  Contact: customerservice@call2recycle.org

CalRecyle Batteries - Information on battery types and disposal

Fluorescent Lights

All Siskiyou County Transfer Stations accept fluorescent light tubes and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) for $2.00 each.  These bulbs should not be broken because hazardous gases can escape.

California DTSC Lamps with Mercury

Paint

Paint can be disposed of at alternative locations such as Fort Jones Lumber, and Solano stores in Mount Shasta and Weed.  For a full list of alternative drop-off locations visit the Paintcare site. Some drop-off sites have either a minimum or maximum quantity.  Paint must be in original containers and labeled. 

Both the Black Butte and Oberlin Road Transfer stations can accept up to 100 gallons of paint.

CalRecycle Paint Management

Used Motor Oil

Used motor oil and filters can be dropped off at any of the Transfer Stations during normal business hours.  There are also numerous other locations throughout the County that accept used motor oil.  The best place to find Certified Collection Centers is on CalRecycle where you can locate centers by zip code.  No motor oil or filter can be contaminated by other substances.

CalRecycle Used Oil Recycling Program

 

 

 

 

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