Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Program

Department of Public Works
Director:  Ron Fuchiwaki

Household Hazardous Waste Program

For Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off service, by appointment, please call (805) 583-6321.

The City provides a household hazardous waste drop-off service for all City residents. The service is by appointment, for residential customers only – businesses may not use this program. The service is free and safe. Six events are offered each year, on the third Saturday.  Those dates are:

· September 18, 2010 - (Closed)
· November 20, 2010 
· January 15, 2011
· March 19, 2011
· May 21, 2011
· July 16, 2011

Some businesses in Ventura County will accept some household hazardous wastes. Click here for a list of those businesses. G.I. Rubbish/Waste Management accepts electronic waste disposal at their Simi Valley facility, at 195 West Los Angles Ave.  Call (805) 955-4346 for information. Electronic waste is not accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events.

It is ILLEGAL to dispose of Hazardous Waste in a trash collection bin.

Household Hazardous Waste Appointments:
Call (805) 583-6321 to make an appointment or obtain information. Appointments are available at 15-minute intervals between 8:00 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. (January, March, November) or 7:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. (May, July, September). There are a limited number of appointments available for each collection event.

Transportation and collections limits are: 15 gallons liquid or 125 lbs solid materials. It is illegal to transport more than these quantities without a hazardous materials transportation permit, and the collection site will not accept anything in excess. Multiple appointments may be made if necessary.

ITEMS ACCEPTED

• Aerosols
• Automotive products (vehicle batteries, antifreeze, motor oil, motor oil filters, gasoline)
• Flammable liquids and solvents
• Fluorescent Lamps
• Home generated medical sharps
• Household cleaning products 
• Household batteries (ni-cad, alkaline)
• Mercury containing devices (thermometers, greeting cards, gauges, switches, and counterweights)
• Paint and paint products (oil based, latex)
• Pesticides and fertilizers
• Prescription and over-the-counter medications (no controlled substances)
• Swimming pool chemicals
• Photo processing chemicals

ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED

• Ammunition - call the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department at (805) 654-9511
• Bio-medical waste
• Controlled substances
• Business waste - contact County of Ventura (805) 654-2813
• Electronic waste - contact G.I. Rubbish (805) 955-4346
• Explosives - call the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department at (805) 654-9511
• Fireworks - call the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department at (805) 654-9511
• Gas cylinders - contact G.I. Rubbish (805) 955-4346
• Medical waste - contact County of Ventura (805) 654-2813
• Propane tanks - contact G.I. Rubbish (805) 955-4346 
• Radioactive waste - contact County of Ventura (805) 654-2813
• Smoke Alarms (return to supplier listed on device label)
• Tires – contact Simi Valley Landfill (805) 579-7267

DISPOSING OF UNUSED, UNWANTED, AND EXPIRED MEDICATIONS

Take medications to a Household Hazardous Waste collection event

DO NOT FLUSH MEDICATIONS DOWN THE TOILET!

Medications may be disposed of in the trash by following these procedures:

• Medications should be kept in the original container with childproof lids.
• If patient's name, drug name, or prescription number are present, they should be marked out or have the label removed.
• When possible, all medications put in the trash should be "treated" in some way to prevent people and animals from eating them. You can do this by simply adding water and then salt, ashes from the fireplace or barbeque pit, or dirt from the yard to pills or capsules in a bottle or by adding salt, ashes, or dirt to liquid medications.
• It is a good idea to use a plastic container when disposing of liquid in a glass bottle to contain the spill if the bottle breaks.
• Wrap several layers of masking tape or duct tape to cover and hide blister packs (pills on a card).
• Hide all medications in an outer container such as a paper bag, box, or plastic tub and wrap in several layers of newspaper to prevent discovery and removal from the trash.
• Place the medications in the trash as close to the pick-up time as possible so there is less chance that the medicine can fall into the wrong hands.

For more information regarding the proper disposal of medications please go to www.nodrugsdownthedrain.com

This program is funded in part by a grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board: ZeroWaste – “Make it Happen!”