What is Household Hazardous Waste?
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is any product labeled: toxic, poison, corrosive, flammable, combustible or irritant. The health and safety of our community is endangered when these products are discarded in household garbage, sinks or storm drains. The amount of products from a single home may seem insignificant. However, when millions of homes across Los Angeles County use similar products, the combined effect becomes a major problem. The following are examples of HHW products that may be found in and around your home:
HHW Air fresheners Antifreeze Asbestos Batteries (car and household) Bug spray Disinfectants Drain cleaners Drugs, medicines Engine cleaners/degreasers Fertilizers Flea collars Floor furniture and shoe polish Fluorescent lights Furniture and paint strippers Gasoline and diesel fuel Glass/window cleaners | HHW (con’t.) Hair spray Light switches Mercury thermometers Nail polish and remover Oven cleaners Paints, oil and water based Pesticides Pharmaceuticals Pool chemicals Propane tanks (small) Rat, mouse and snail poisons Roach and ant killers Rug and upholstery cleaners Solvents Stains and vanishes
| HHW (con’t.) Thinners and turpentine’s Transmissions and brake fluid Tub, tile and toilet bowl cleaners Used motor oil and filters
Electronic Waste Cell phones Computers Electronic games Fax machines Printers Stereos Televisions VCR’s DVD players |
HHW WE CANNOT ACCEPT
- Ammunition, Explosives and Radioactive Materials.
Transportation limit for chemical related items: It is against the law to transport more than 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste to collection sites. Please pack your waste properly to prevent tipping or spilling of the waste during transportation.
How to Dispose of HHW Properly
FOR RESIDENTS:
Pack the items for safe transportation and head over to one of the City of Los Angeles, Permanent Collection Centers. The Hyperion Treatment Plant is open every Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at 7660 West Imperial Hwy., Gate B, Playa Del Rey; and the San Pedro S.A.F.E. Collection Center is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at 1400 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro, CA 90021. For more information, please call Public Works at (310) 318-0686, ext. 4193.
Los Angeles County sponsors HHW Collections Events aka Roundups. A Roundup is a one -day, drive-through event where residents are invited to drive in to a specific location to drop off their hazardous waste. The City of Redondo Beach is planning a Roundup to take place in April, 2008.
FOR BUSINESSES:
Take hazardous waste to a City of Los Angeles, Permanent Collection Center. To make an appointment please call 213-485-2260 and visit www.lacity.org/SAN/hhw.htm for more information.
To locate an e-waste recycler visit eRecycle.org
Preparing HHW for a Collection Event
· Pack HHW in a cardboard box so that it does not spill during transport. Be prepared to leave your containers.
· Put like chemicals together. Separate unlike chemicals.
· Label materials that are not in their original containers.
· Make sure containers are not leaking and lids are tightly sealed.
· Put your box of household hazardous waste in the trunk of your car or away from passengers during transport.
· At the collection site, trained personnel will ask you to remain in your car while they remove the HHW from your trunk.
What is E-Waste (Electronic Waste)
The term "E-waste" is applied to consumer electronic equipment that is no longer wanted. E-waste can include computers, printers, televisions, VCRs, cell phones, fax machines, stereos, electronic games or basically any item with a plug or that uses batteries is considered E-waste. Electronics may contain lead, copper and other heavy metals or potentially toxic substances.
The CRT Issue
Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT's) are the picture tubes in computer monitors and TV's. They are found in virtually every household and office throughout the nation. With the rapid evolution of technology, computers become obsolete in a short period of time. With the coming advent of High Definition (HD) digital TV's, current analog TV's will become obsolete. Each year, an estimated six million CRT's are discarded in California. A typical 17-inch CRT contains approximately two pounds of lead. Larger CRT's may contain up to ten pounds of lead. Lead is a known toxic substance and disposal of CRT's in landfills can cause the pollution of soil and groundwater. California's Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has declared that CRT's are banned from disposal in landfills.
What You Can Do
Residents:
Take e-waste to one of the City of Los Angeles, Permanent Collection Centers. The Hyperion Treatment Plant is open every Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at 7660 West Imperial Hwy., Gate B, Playa Del Rey; and the San Pedro S.A.F.E. Collection Center is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at 1400 N. Gaffey St. San Pedro, CA 90021. For more information, please call Public Works at (310) 318-0686, ext. 4193.
Residents are limited to a total of six pieces per visit to a S.A.F.E. Center. Of the six pieces, no more than two pieces can be CRT-related. Small items (mouses, cables, modems, cell phones, etc.) can be packed in a carton box and that carton will be considered as one item.
Businesses:
Take e-waste to a City of Los Angeles, Permanent Collection Center. To make an appointment please call 213-485-2260 and visit www.lacity.org/SAN/hhw.htm for more information.
YOUR TRASH CAN BE SOMEONE’S TREASURE!
LIST UNWANTED ITEMS AT THE FOLLOWING SITES:
- Craiglist.com - List items for "free" under the “For Sale” posting.
- LACoMAX - The Los Angeles County Materials Exchange, is a free Countywide materials reuse service that can help you find markets for your surplus materials and other usable discards.
- CalMAX ... a free service designed to help businesses find markets for non-hazardous materials they have traditionally discarded. CalMAX helps businesses, industries, and institutions save resources and money.
For more information call Public Works at (310) 318-0686, ext. 4193.
