What is Household Hazardous Waste?

Hazardous waste is unused or leftover portions of products containing toxic chemicals used around the home. Products labeled Caution, Warning, Danger, Poison, Toxic, Flammable, or Corrosive are considered hazardous.

Household Hazardous Waste Includes Leftover:

Residents can properly dispose of toxic household items at no cost at the Environmental Collection Center located At EDCO Recycling & Transfer in Signal Hill.

Open the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (closed on January 14, 2023, March 25, 2023, April 8, 2023, May 27, 2023, November 11, 2023, November 25, 2023, and December 23, 2023).

2755 California Avenue
Signal Hill, CA 90755

COVID-19 Drop-off Requirements:

Household Hazardous and Electronic Waste (HHW/E-Waste) collection event participants will continue to be asked to wear a face covering (even if being vaccinated) and remain in their vehicles with windows closed, if possible. Please stay home if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, have been asked to quarantine, or have recently traveled internationally.

Convenient Collection of:

• Household Hazardous Waste
• E-Waste
• Universal Waste
• Sharps & Medicine
• Pesticides & Fertilizers
• …and more

For information about how to properly dispose of household hazardous materials call the County Household Hazardous Waste Hotline at 888-253-2652, or 1-800-238-0172.

Or utilize the Earth 911 recycling hotline to locate drop-off programs for hazardous and non-hazardous materials: 1-800-CLEANUP (800-253-2687) or www.earth911.org

Paint

Paint may not be placed out for curbside collection or disposed of in a bin/container meant for solid waste. FREE paint recycling is available at drop-off sites throughout California. Most of these sites are at paint retailers (paint, hardware, and home improvement stores) that have volunteered to take back paint, and they are available to any resident and business in California. These stores accept paint whenever they are open for business. Below is a link where you can find a drop-off site near you and view hours and restrictions.

Find a PaintCare drop-off location

Lithium-Ion Batteries and Electronic Waste

Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) batteries are commonly found in cell phones, laptops, cordless phones, household electronics, or power tools and are considered hazardous waste when they are discarded. Unfortunately, more and more dangerous incidents are being reported involving explosions or fires caused by improperly disposed cell phones or Li-Ion batteries.

All batteries and electronic waste must be properly recycled or taken to a household hazardous waste disposal facility or event, and NEVER placed in trash or recycling carts!

Batteries and most electronic waste are considered hazardous because of the metals and/or other toxic or corrosive materials contained within. Even when batteries have reached their end-life, they still hold a small charge. If batteries are not discarded properly, they can potentially explode and cause a fire in a collection cart, truck, or in a disposal facility when crushed.

Residents can bring unwanted Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and E-Waste items, including batteries, for safe and proper disposal at no cost at the Environmental Collection Center located at EDCO Recycling & Transfer in Signal Hill. See details above.

Watch a Short Animated Video on Battery Safety from the Avoid the Spark Campaign