Household Hazardous Waste

• Ignitable: paints, dry or wet, petroleum based products, polishes, gasoline
• Corrosives: acids, bases, batteries, drain clog remover
• Toxics: poisons, pesticides, gardening chemicals, ammonia, solvents, electronic waste
• Reactive: pool chemicals, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, perchlorates
• Misc: propane, helium, small oxygen tanks, smoke detectors, fluorescent lamps, medications, sharps

Electronic Waste (also known as e-waste) requires special disposal due to various toxic and hazardous chemicals that can be harmful if not properly disposed.

It is against the law to place e-waste in your garbage or recycling containers. Common household electronics include, but are not limited to:

• Cell phones or landline telephones
• Computers, laptops, tablets, or computer accessories
• Copiers, printers, or fax machines
• DVD or VCR players
• Stereos
• Televisions
• Video game consoles
• Camera

Repair, Reuse, or Donate

Help reduce waste by repairing or upgrading your device to extend its life. If you no longer wish to keep it, consider selling it, using trade-in opportunities, or donating to an organization that accepts e-waste.

Some electronics and e-waste components can be recovered for reuse or recycling.

Free Take Back Locations

If your e-waste is no longer functional, it can be recycled at no cost at quarterly Shredding and Environmental Recycling Days or visit a drop-off location in Santa Clara County with approved electronics recyclers and collectors. E-waste must be given to approved disposal companies that provide a safe way to dispose and recycle household electronics.

Free On-Call Collection

Another option for proper e-waste disposal is the City's On Call Collection at your residence by calling Recology 408.725.4020 or email recologysouthbay@recology.com to schedule. Learn more about acceptable items for On-Call Collection.

Some common household items, collectively referred to as “universal waste,” are toxic or environmentally harmful. It is illegal to dispose of universal waste items in the trash. Safely dispose of universal waste with these tips:

Batteries

For AAA, AA, C, D button cell, 9-volt and rechargeable batteries:

• Place them into a clear plastic bag on top of you blue recycling cart
• Drop-off your batteries at:
  • Batteries N' Bulbs - 111 W El Camino Real, Sunnyvale
  • Santa Clara County's HHW program
  • Some hardware stores such as Home Depot

Fluorescent Lights

For compact bulbs (CFLs) and linear, circular, spiral and U-bent tubes:

• Place them in a sealed plastic bag on top of their blue recycling cart
• Drop-off at:
  • County's Hazardous Waste Program- Appointments required, visit Santa Clara County HHW
  • Home Depot (CFLs only, no tubes) - 975 S De Anza Blvd, San Jose
  • Batteries Plus Bulbs (limit on quantity, call to confirm 408.538.3333 - 3410 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose, CA, 95117

Mercury Thermometers

Drop-off thermometers at:

• West Valley College Student Health Services - 14000 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga
• De Anza College Student Health Services - 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd

Learn more about thermostat recycling

Paint is one of the leading toxic materials in our landfill. Help us keep our landfill clean by disposing of unwanted paint properly.

Paint Care is one of California's Extended Producer Responsibility take back programs. You can return unwanted paint at any location that sells new paint. Additionally, old paint may be brought to the SCC HHW program for disposal.

Acceptable Types of Paint

• Interior & exterior architectural paints: latex, acrylic, water-based, alkyd, oilbased, enamel (all types of finishes and sheens, including textured coatings)
• Primers, sealers & undercoaters
• Stains, shellacs, lacquers, varnishes, urethanes (single component)
• Waterproofing concrete/masonry/wood sealers & repellents (not tar or bitumen-based)
• Metal coatings & rust preventatives
• Field, lawn & swimming pool paints (single component)

Unacceptable Types of Paint

• NO Leaking, Unlabeled or Empty Containers
• NO Containers larger than 5-gallon size
• NO Business generated paints
• Paint thinners, mineral spirits, solvents
• Aerosol paints (spray cans)
• Auto paints, marine paints, arts & crafts paints
• Caulking compounds, epoxies, glues, adhesives
• Paint additives, colorants, tints, resins
• Wood preservatives, roof patch & repair, deck cleaners

Read more about the take back guidelines.

Please visit our Medications & Sharps page to learn more about disposal options.

Treated wood waste (TWW) is not accepted at the County household hazardous waste disposal program and cannot be picked up by Recology.

Find local disposal information at RecycleStuff.org.

Treated wood waste should not be put in any of the curbside carts or bins. It needs to be disposed of with proper care.

Used Motor Oil and Oil Filters are illegal to dispose of in the landfill or drain.

Cupertino residents can put used motor oil in a sealed container and labeled on the curb for pickup on their regularly scheduled service day at no additional cost.

Used motor oil and filters can also be brought back to many auto part shops (such as Jiffy Lube) for proper disposal or disposed of through the SCC HHW program. See a complete list of authorized oil take back centers in Santa Clara County.

Used cooking oil doesnt just clog drains, it can be harmful in the landfill too. Learn more about how to recycle your cooking oil in Cupertino.

Accepted Items

• Kitchen grease, fat, and lard
• Cooking Oils – vegetable, corn, peanut, sunflower, canola, olive, soybean, flaxseed, or any combination of edible cooking oils
• Oils and Fats can be mixed in a single container

Containers to Use

• Something you do not want back
• 5-gallon size or smaller | No more than 15-gallons
• Original container, thick plastic, or glass jar with lid