Twitter
instagram
youtube
linkedin
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
HHW contains hazardous ingredients and must be handled with care in order to avoid environmental pollution and possible health hazards. Never dispose of HHW items in the trash, sink, toilet or storm drain. Illegally disposing of HHW can contaminate the air, water and potentially the food we eat. Some items, such as batteries, can ignite or explode. Federal, state and local laws are in place regulating the disposal of HHW to protect both human and environmental health. Please do not place HHW in standard collection containers.
- Recycle your used batteries with Monterey Disposal Service!
- Recycle your paint, deck coating, primers, sealers, stains, varnishes and more at local Paintcare locations.
- For more information on medical waste, please contact the Monterey County Health Department at (831) 755-4505.
- When in doubt about how to dispose of an item, consult What Goes Where.
electronic waste
Electronic Waste (E-Waste) is a hazardous material that is banned from landfills. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled. Unfortunately, electronic discards are one of the fastest growing segments of our nation's waste stream. E-Waste consists of items such as computers, monitors, copiers, fax machines, stereos, cell phones, printers, and televisions.
Large items, such as appliances and furniture, can be picked up upon request for Monterey City Disposal Service standard residential customers. Many items are collected at no additional charge, with some items (e.g. refrigerators and TVs) charged at the landfill's special handling rates. Up to four large items can be picked up per appointment, and four appointments are allotted per year. Large item collection is available to multifamily properties for a fee. To schedule an appointment, call (831) 372-7977, and place items on the curb by 8am on the scheduled collection day.
Electronic waste includes (but is not limited to) the following items:
- Alarm Clocks
- Blood Glucose Monitors
- Camcorders
- CD players
- Cell Phones
- Computers/CPUs / laptops
- Computer Monitors (CRTs & flat screens)
- Copiers (home use, desktop)
- Digital camera
- Digital Thermometer
- DVD Players
- iPods & MP3 Players
- Microwave Ovens (home use)
- Home Use Medical (sterilized) Monitors
- Pagers
- PDAs
- Printer/Scanner/Fax (home use)
- Radios - all types (car & home)
- Telephones & Answering Machines
- Copiers (home use, desktop)
- Televisions (CRTs & flat screens) & VCRs
- Video Game Consoles & Accessories Walkie Talkies
Electronic waste recycling locations:
ReGen Monterey
14201 Del Monte Boulevard, Marina
(831) 384-5313
regenmonterey.org
Materials accepted:
- Latex and other paints
- Paint thinners
- Cleaners (bleach, drain openers, toilet cleaners, etc.)
- Pesticides
- Fertilizer and other garden chemicals
- Motor oil & filters
- Antifreeze and other auto products
- Household batteries
- Auto batteries
- Aerosol (spray) cans - not empty Sharps -needles, razors and syringes (in a proper container)
- Fluorescent light bulbs and CFLs
- Electronic waste - TVs, computers, cell phones, etc.
- Thermometers, thermostats and other mercury containing items
Best Buy
101 General Stillwell Drive, Marina
(831) 884-2556
bestbuy.com
Materials accepted:
- Electronic waste
- Appliances
- Printer cartridges
- Pedometers and heart monitors
- See the Best Buy website for the complete list and restrictions.
Staples
1550 Canyon Del Rey Boulevard, Seaside
(831) 393-2102
www.staples.com
Materials accepted:
- Electronic waste
- Rechargeable batteries
- Printer cartridges
- See the Staples website for the complete list and restrictions.
Hope Services
1580 Del Monte Boulevard, Seaside
(831) 393-1575
hopeservices.org
Also accepts donations of reusable goods, including electronics in good working order, household goods and clothing.
Some manufacturers also offer drop off or mail back recycling programs. Contact the manufacturer to inquire whether this service is offered.
For information on HHW disposal in the Salinas Valley, visit svswa.org.
bulbs & batteries
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) are banned from landfills and should not be thrown the trash due to their mercury content. Various businesses and organizations throughout the County of Monterey will accept these used items and dispose of them in an environmentally friendly manner. Currently accepting unbroken CFL light bulbs free of charge:
- ReGen Monterey HHW Drop-Off
- Home Depot
Household batteries are banned from landfills and considered hazardous because of the toxic metals and other corrosive materials contained within. Batteries are also a valuable source of recyclable metal. Millions of batteries are sold in California each year, with less than 1% of these batteries being recycled. To reduce waste, switch to rechargeable batteries. Multi-family properties and businesses can dispose of batteries at the ReGen Monterey HHW Collection Facility.
Single-Family Household Battery Recycling Program
Monterey City Disposal Service can now collect household batteries for recycling! Single-family households in Monterey may recycle batteries by placing them on top of their recycling carts.
Program Guidelines
- Accepted Batteries - 9V, AA, AAA, C and D
- Place in a clear zipper bag, 1-quart or less
- Tape the tops of all square-base batteries (bags with untaped terminals will not be collected)
- Place bag on top of the blue recycling cart lid - do not place inside cart
- Only one 1-quart bag will be collected per week
- Bags containing items other than what is specified above will not be collected
- Liquid-acid and car batteries will not be collected
- Single-family residences only. This service is not available to multi-family or commercial customers.
The Monterey Library collects household batteries.
This receptacle is available for public use inside the library:
treated wood waste (TWW)
Treated wood waste (TWW) is considered hazardous waste. Wood products used in outdoor applications where they are subjected to the elements are often treated to protect the wood against deterioration from insects and decay. TWW contains hazardous chemicals that pose a risk to human health and the environment. Arsenic, chromium, copper, creosote and pentachlorophenol and among the chemicals used to preserve wood and are known to be toxic or carcinogenic. Harmful exposure to these chemicals can result from touching, inhaling or ingesting TWW particulate (e.g. leaching liquids, sawdust and smoke). When outdoor structures built with treated wood are demolished, the wood is considered TWW. Do not place TWW in the green curbside organic waste container!
How to identify TWW:
construction & demolition (C&D) waste
Monterey City Disposal Service offers debris box services (e.g. drop boxes). Please visit the MCDS website for rates and guidelines.
Per Monterey City Code Section 14-6, it is unlawful to hire any other person to haul solid waste besides the City's franchisee except in certain circumstances. A commercial business may self-haul as an ancillary service to the primary work provided by the business, including construction and demolition companies.
used motor oil & filters
A single quart of motor oil, improperly disposed of, can contaminate up to 2 million gallons of fresh water.
Single-family households can recycle used motor oil and filters through curbside service! Please use only the special used motor oil container and filter bag, available free from a participating used motor oil collection center or MCDS (if available, call 831-372-7977). Place the full container and filter bag at the curb next to your blue cart by 6:00 a.m. on your regular collection day. Use a funnel to transfer the oil into the recycling container. Drain the filter over night to capture as much oil as possible. Place the used filter into the bag and seal. DO NOT mix oil with any other substances (e.g. antifreeze, brake fluid, fuel or water).
Residents and businesses can also take these materials to Regen Monterey's HHW Collection Facility for safe disposal or recycling. Free for residents. Charges apply for businesses.
pharmaceuticals & sharps
Recent reports of pharmaceutical compounds in drinking water supplies have raised awareness for the need to properly dispose of expired and unused pharmaceutical medications. Medications should never be flushed down the drain. The best solution is to return them to a pharmacy with a take-back program. Please check with your local pharmacy to see if they offer a take-back program. The Monterey Police Department, located on Madison Street, also accepts all pharmaceuticals.
Do you use lancets or syringes with needles? Prevent accidental needle sticks and exposure to blood borne pathogens in your home and your community. ALWAYS use a sharps container for collecting sharps. NEVER place exposed or used sharps in the trash can or recycle bin. ReGen Monterey at 14201 Del Monte Blvd in Marina is an approved drop-off location (fees may apply). For more information, call (831) 384-5313.
For additional disposal options, contact the Monterey County Health Department at (831) 755-4505 or visit their website.
treated wood waste (TWW)
Treated wood waste (TWW) is considered hazardous waste. Wood products used in outdoor applications where they are subjected to the elements are often treated to protect the wood against deterioration from insects and decay. TWW contains hazardous chemicals that pose a risk to human health and the environment. Arsenic, chromium, copper, creosote and pentachlorophenol and among the chemicals used to preserve wood and are known to be toxic or carcinogenic. Harmful exposure to these chemicals can result from touching, inhaling or ingesting TWW particulate (e.g. leaching liquids, sawdust and smoke). When outdoor structures built with treated wood are demolished, the wood is considered TWW. Do not place TWW in the green curbside organic waste container!
How to identify TWW:
- End tags: All chemically-treated wood products sold in retail stores have a tag on the end detailing use conditions and chemicals used.
- Incising marks: Treated wood used for ground contact applications often has small slits in the wood to allow chemicals to penetrate deeper into the fiber.
- Outdoor use: Treated wood is designed specifically for outdoor applications, so any wood used outdoors is possibly treated. Fence posts, sill plates, landscape timbers, pilings, guardrails and decking are all examples of treated wood applications.
- Color: Treated wood can be identified by a greenish exterior color, interior rot with a solid outer shell or visible color penetration just under the edge surface of the wood where it's cut.
construction & demolition (C&D) waste
Monterey City Disposal Service offers debris box services (e.g. drop boxes). Please visit the MCDS website for rates and guidelines.
Per Monterey City Code Section 14-6, it is unlawful to hire any other person to haul solid waste besides the City's franchisee except in certain circumstances. A commercial business may self-haul as an ancillary service to the primary work provided by the business, including construction and demolition companies.
used motor oil & filters
A single quart of motor oil, improperly disposed of, can contaminate up to 2 million gallons of fresh water.
Single-family households can recycle used motor oil and filters through curbside service! Please use only the special used motor oil container and filter bag, available free from a participating used motor oil collection center or MCDS (if available, call 831-372-7977). Place the full container and filter bag at the curb next to your blue cart by 6:00 a.m. on your regular collection day. Use a funnel to transfer the oil into the recycling container. Drain the filter over night to capture as much oil as possible. Place the used filter into the bag and seal. DO NOT mix oil with any other substances (e.g. antifreeze, brake fluid, fuel or water).
Residents and businesses can also take these materials to Regen Monterey's HHW Collection Facility for safe disposal or recycling. Free for residents. Charges apply for businesses.
pharmaceuticals & sharps
Recent reports of pharmaceutical compounds in drinking water supplies have raised awareness for the need to properly dispose of expired and unused pharmaceutical medications. Medications should never be flushed down the drain. The best solution is to return them to a pharmacy with a take-back program. Please check with your local pharmacy to see if they offer a take-back program. The Monterey Police Department, located on Madison Street, also accepts all pharmaceuticals.
Do you use lancets or syringes with needles? Prevent accidental needle sticks and exposure to blood borne pathogens in your home and your community. ALWAYS use a sharps container for collecting sharps. NEVER place exposed or used sharps in the trash can or recycle bin. ReGen Monterey at 14201 Del Monte Blvd in Marina is an approved drop-off location (fees may apply). For more information, call (831) 384-5313.
For additional disposal options, contact the Monterey County Health Department at (831) 755-4505 or visit their website.
