Hazardous Waste Disposal San Francisco

Every household has hazardous products. Old containers of household chemicals can deteriorate and leak, causing dangerous fumes and fires when stored inside your house, or polluting rainwater runoff when stored outside.

When disposed improperly, these products end up in the landfill or down the drain. They can leach toxic chemicals and heavy metals into the soil and groundwater. Workers can be injured when these products are crushed in garbage and recycling trucks.

Safe Disposal Options

• ACCEPTED: You can dispose of your oil-based paints, solvents, cleaning products, pesticides, fertilizers, automotive products, photo chemicals, mercury thermometers and non-empty aerosols with the free home pick up service.
• Call Recology at (415) 330-1405 to schedule a Free Home Pick-up from your San Francisco residence. Appointments are available on Saturdays. You must be present at the time of pick-up.
• NOT ACCEPTED: Old and expired Medicines and Needles cannot be collected by the home pick up service. Click here for information on safe medicine disposal. Unknown or unlabeled toxic and other hazardous substances cannot be collected by the home pick up service. They must be taken to the household hazardous waste facility.

Depending on where you live, you might have neighborhood stores like hardware stores, pharmacies, auto shops or paint stores that take back one or more of the following toxic products. Ask at the store where you bought it or use RecycleWhere to find convenient drop off locations near you for the following items:

ATTENTION: Quantity limits apply. No store takes back all items. Containers must have a label. No leaking or damaged containers.

Household Hazardous Waste Facility

You can take your toxic products to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility:

San Francisco Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility
501 Tunnel Rd. (at The Dump)
8 A.M. - 4 P.M. - Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays ONLY

Requirements

• Only San Francisco residents can use this Facility. You must bring proof of residence (driver’s license or utility bill).
• Limit of 15 gallons or 125 pounds per visit
• No drums, compressed gas cylinders (except propane) or containers larger than five (5) gallons
• No medicines

Instructions

• Pack household chemicals in a sturdy box and transport them in your trunk or truck bed outside of your breathing zone.
• Put each leaking or damaged container in a separate box, plastic tub, or zip-lock bag.

What about empty containers?

Household chemical containers which are empty, dry, and 5 gallons or smaller can be safely and legally recycled.

• Recycle: Empty cans of aerosol paint and latex paint (acrylic or water-based) may be placed in your blue recycling bin. All nozzles, caps and lids must be removed and placed separately into the blue recycling bin.
• Landfill: Put all other types of empty hazardous waste containers into your black bin for disposal - do not try to recycle these containers.

Even Better Than Recycling: Reduce, Reuse

To avoid the worry of how to store and dispose of household hazardous waste:

• Buy only what you need.
• Share unused products or half full containers with your friends or neighbors.