Put Toxic Waste In Its Place

For information call 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

Or, view the collection services for your area for residential hazardous waste disposal information.

Universal Waste

The following universal wastes may not be placed out for curbside collection or disposed of in a bin/container meant for solid waste:

• Common Batteries – AA, AAA, D cells, C cells and button batteries (e.g. hearing aid batteries)
• Fluorescent tubes and bulbs including mercury containing lamps
• Electronic Devices – televisions, computers and computer monitors, printers, VCR’s, cell phones, telephones, radios and microwave ovens
• Pilot Light Sensors – Mercury containing switches are found in some gas appliances such as stoves, ovens, clothes dryers, water heaters, furnaces and space heaters
• Items containing Mercury – Gauges, thermometers, thermostats and switches Non-Empty aerosol cans that contain hazardous materials – cans that are labeled with TOXIC or FLAMMABLE that are not completely empty

For information on the nearest Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility available to you call 760-745-3203.

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, and power tools. When discarded, they are considered hazardous waste. Unfortunately, more dangerous incidents involving explosions or fires caused by improperly disposed cell phones or Li-ion batteries are reported.

All batteries and electronic waste must be appropriately 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 they contain metals and/or other toxic or corrosive materials. Even when batteries have reached their end-life, they still hold a small charge. If batteries are not discarded properly, they can explode and cause a fire when crushed in a collection cart, truck, or disposal facility.

Escondido residents may drop off batteries free of charge at our Customer Service office or a household hazardous waste collection event at the Escondido HHW Facility by appointment only.

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

Escondido Disposal, Inc.
1021 W. Misson Ave.
Escondido, CA 92025
(760) 745-3203

Residential Customers Can Now Dispose of Your Home-Generated Sharps at EDI

New State Regulations

In September 2008, State law (Section 118286 of the California Health and Safety Code) made it illegal to dispose of sharps waste in the trash or recycling containers, and required 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.

In addition to prohibiting the disposal of sharps waste in the trash, the Medical Waste Management Act requires home-generated sharps to be placed in approved containers for transport and disposal. Users should store the sharps waste in red bio-hazardous containers for easy identification or other approved containers.

Bio-hazard containers are available for purchase by consumers. Additionally, some jurisdictions have containers available at no cost. Information can be found at county health websites.

Bio-hazard containers can be disposed of in one of four ways:

• Taken to a local household hazardous waste facility;
• Taken to a medical waste generator facility (hospitals, clinics, or doctors’ offices);
• Shipped through a mail-back program;
• Taken to an approved home-generated sharps waste collection location.

Residential customers can now conveniently dispose of sharps FREE at an EDCO facility near you (during operating hours only). LOOSE SHARPS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. Store sharps in approved sharps containers or in a rigid, puncture resistant, tightly sealed container, including: bleach bottles, liquid detergent bottles or coffee cans with lids. DO NOT STORE IN: paper or plastic bags, glass containers, cardboard or coated paper containers, plastic bottles that have a CRV (CA Redemption Value) or milk jugs.

Escondido Disposal, Inc.
1044 W. Washington Ave.
Escondido, CA 92025
(760) 745-3203

To find additional locations to properly dispose of home-generated sharps, go to the CalRecycle’s Medical Waste Disposal Directory.

For more information, visit CalRecycle’s Sharps web page.

Click here for detailed information about the new state regulations.