Household hazardous waste (HHW) accounts for significant amounts of toxic waste in landfills. Items such as electronics, fluorescent bulbs and tubes, paints, pesticides, cleaning products, medications, and other chemicals are illegal to put in the garbage or pour down a drain or gutter.

HHW EXAMPLES

• Flammables: dry or wet paint, petroleum-based products, and polishes.
• Corrosives: acids, bases, batteries, and drain clog remover.
• Toxics: poisons, pesticides, gardening chemicals, ammonia, and solvents.
• Oxidizers: pool chemicals, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, and perchlorates.
• Miscellaneous: propane, helium, small oxygen tanks, and smoke detectors.

DROP OFF LOCATIONS

MEDICATIONS

When medications are disposed of in the trash or down the drain, they can contaminate our environment or fall into the wrong hands. Most wastewater treatment facilities are not equipped to remove medicinal substances from the water, leading to traces 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” (hypodermic needles, pen needles, syringes, lancets and other devices that are used to penetrate the skin for medical purposes) in trash or recycling containers. Check out CalRecycle’s pharmaceutical and sharps waste page for more disposal information.

Drop Off
Before drop-off, place home-generated sharps waste in biohazard containers. Biohazard containers are available for purchase at local pharmacies and some office supply stores.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Butte County Hazardous Waste Page
• Department of Toxic Substances Control (to report hazardous waste violations only) – 800.698.6942
• CA Integrated Waste Management Board Information Line – 800.553.2962