Household Hazardous Waste

You may drop off hazardous waste material at the Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Facility located in Livermore. The facility will take and safely dispose of hazardous materials for residents and small businesses. Home generated pharmaceuticals and sharps must be packaged in an approved container available at local drug stores and pharmacies. All businesses that generate sharps are required by the Medical Waste Management Act to have their biohazardous waste picked up by a registered biohazardous waste hauler. No appointment is necessary for residents, but the facility is only open during certain hours each month. Please call 1-800-606-6606 or visit the website for more information. The facility is located at 5584 La Ribera Street in Livermore.

What you CAN drop off:

• Paint, stain, varnish, thinner and adhesives
  
• Auto products such as old fuel, motor oil, oil filters and batteries
  
• Household batteries, flourescent bulbs, cleaners and sprays
  
• Garden products, including pesticides and fertilizers

• Home generated pharmaceuticals and sharps packaged in an approved container

• Prescription and over the counter medicienes, except for controlled substances

What you CANNOT drop off:

• Asbestos
  
• Explosives
  
• Railroad ties
  
• Radioactive materials
  
• Medical waste (except pharmaceuticals and sharps)
  
• Most compressed gasses
  
• Computer Monitors
  
• CRTs and TVs
  
• Computers & Electronic Equipment

• Microwave ovens

For information on the proper disposal of these materials, contact the Alameda County Recycling Hotline toll-free at 1-877-STOPWASTE or the stopwaste.org web site.

Syringes and Hypodermic needles

Beginning on September 1, 2008, State law (Section 118286 of the California Health and Safety Code) makes it illegal to dispose of sharps waste in the trash or recycling containers, and requires that all sharps waste be transported to a collection center in an approved sharps container.

Section 117671 of the California Health and Safety Code defines "home-generated sharps waste" as hypodermic needles, pen needles, intravenous needles, lancets, and other devices that are used to penetrate the skin for the delivery of medications derived from a household, including a multifamily residence or household. This information and more can be found on the California Integrated Waste Management Board website.

Needles or syringes could seriously injure or contaminate anyone who comes into contact with the recyclable materials. Residents may safely dispose of home-generated medical needles and syringes by obtaining a sharps container at your local drugstore or pharmacy where you purchased your injectable supplies or check with your health provider at the time your prescritpion is written. You may also request a mail-back Sharps DisposalTM container by visiting www.wm.com and click on Our Services, then click on Needle Disposal. You may also email a request to support@sharpsinc.com or call 1-877-927-8363.

All businesses that generate sharps are required by the Medical Waste Management Act to have their biohazardous waste picked up by a registered biohazardous waste hauler. If you have a business that generates biohazardous or medical waste, or you are a traveling nurse, call StopWaste.org at 510-567-6756 for details on proper disposal.