Hazardous Waste - Recology Butte Colusa: Chico

Hazardous waste accounts for significant amounts of toxic waste in landfills. Items such as fluorescent bulbs and tubes, paints, pesticides, cleaning products, old medications, and other chemicals are illegal to put in the landfill container or pour down a drain or gutter because they contaminate our soil, drinking water, and air.

What is Considered HHW?

Flammables include paints, dry or wet, petroleum-based products, and polishes.
Corrosives include acids, bases, batteries, and drain clog remover.
Toxics include poisons, pesticides, gardening chemicals, ammonia, and solvents.
Oxidizers include pool chemicals, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, and perchlorates.
Miscellaneous Propane, helium, small oxygen tanks, and smoke detectors.
Medications prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
Sharps needles, lancets, syringes, etc.

DROP OFF LOCATIONS

Recology Butte Colusa Counties Transfer Station

For Residents:

Up to 15 gallons or 125 lbs. of materials
No appointment necessary
Free, must show proof of residency (by presenting a garbage or utility bill such as water, phone, cable or electricity)
1st Friday of each month: 9 AM – 2 PM
3rd Friday of each month: 9 AM – 2 PM

For Businesses:

By appointment only
Fees do apply
Contact Recology Butte Colusa to schedule an appointment

Butte Regional Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility

For Residents:

Up to 15 gallons or 50 lbs. of materials
No appointment necessary
Free, must show proof of residency (by presenting a garbage or utility bill such as water, phone, cable or electricity)
Fridays from 9 AM – 1 PM
Saturdays from 9 AM – 4 PM

For Businesses:

By appointment only
Fees do apply
Call 530.343.5488 to schedule an appointment

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Butte Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility – 1.866.HAZCATT (1.866.429.2288)
Butte County Hazardous Waste Page
CA Integrated Waste Management Board Information Line – 800.553.2962
Department of Toxic Substances Control – 800.698.6942
(to report hazardous waste violations only)

MEDICATIONS

When medications are disposed of in the trash or down the drain, they can end up in the wrong hands, or in our soils and waterways. Wastewater treatment facilities are not properly equipped to remove medicinal substances from the water. The result? A wide range of pharmaceuticals have been found in our rivers and lakes.

Drop Off
Confidential drop-off containers are available at many police stations and pharmacies. Call before you go. You may also drop them off at the Butte Regional Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility.

SHARPS

Residents with medical conditions requiring the use of hypodermic needles are required to arrange for proper disposal. California law prohibits the disposal of “sharps waste” in trash or recycling containers.

Drop Off
Before drop-off at the Butte Regional Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility or the Recology Butte Colusa Counties Transfer Station, place home-generated sharps waste in biohazard containers. Biohazard containers are available for purchase at local pharmacies and some office supply stores.

Mail-Back Service:
Check out CalRecycle’s sharps waste mail-back services.
Home-generated sharps waste includes: hypodermic needles, pen needles, syringes, lancets, and other devices that are used to penetrate the skin for medical purposes.