There are many products that we use in our homes that are hazardous and cannot be disposed of in the trash. How we get rid of unused portions of these products impacts the safety of our streets, neighborhoods and natural environment. It is illegal to put hazardous products into the City’s refuse or recycling carts, so understanding disposal options is important. Hazardous waste generally falls into five categories:

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) ... the less we use, the healthier our homes and environment will be.

Examples of Household Hazardous Waste:

The safest way to discard unwanted HHW is to take it to a free collection event or facility near you:

• Permanent HHW Collection Centers (listed at right)
• Local weekend HHW Collection Events
• Used Motor Oil and Filter Recycling Centers

Note: It is against the law to transport more than 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste to a collection site. Residents are limited to a total of 6 pieces of electronic waste per visit to a S.A.F.E.Center.

Use safe alternatives. They are easy to make and cost much less than their hazardous counterparts.

Electronic waste (E-waste) — unwanted computers, televisions, printers and other electronics — may contain lead, copper, other heavy metals or toxic substances that are harmful in a landfill. That is why it is illegal to put these items in your trash or recycling carts.

E-waste includes items like:

Long Beach residents can dispose of their e-waste properly, for free, using one of the following options:

• Permanent E-waste Collection Centers (listed at right)
• Local weekend E-Waste Collection Events
• Regional City Sponsored E-waste Collection Event (Environmental Services Bureau)
• Cell Phone Recycling Centers

Note: It is against the law to transport more than 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste to a collection site. Residents are limited to a total of 6 pieces of electronic waste per visit to a S.A.F.E. Center.

Items that are NOT considered e-waste: Refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers or other "bulky" items. For these items, arrange a SPECIAL REFUSE COLLECTION.

Goodwill is a state authorized collector of electronic-waste. PLEASE NOTE: Goodwill will accept TVs and computer monitors, keyboards and towers ONLY. For more information call 562-435-7741 or go to goodwillsolac.org

• Goodwill sites in Long Beach

Batteries, light bulbs, electronic devices and any other item containing mercury are known as universal waste. By California law, these items may not be placed in your trash or recycling carts. If not disposed of properly, chemicals from universal waste can contaminate our air, our water, and even the food we eat.

• Examples of Universal Waste

Long Beach residents can dispose of their universal waste for free using one of the following options:

• Permanent Universal Waste Collection Centers (listed at right)
• Local weekend Universal Waste Collection Events
• Battery Recycling Centers

Note: It is against the law to transport more than 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste to a collection site. Residents are limited to a total of 6 pieces of electronic waste per visit to a S.A.F.E. Center.

Additional Universal Waste Resources:

• Zero Waste (CalRecycle)
• Earth 911

Broken fluorescent light bulbs are considered hazardous to the environment and should be taken to a one of these free collection centers or events available to the public:

• Permanent Universal Waste Collection Centers (listed at right)
• Local weekend Universal Waste Collection Events

Expired, unbroken fluorescent light bulbs can be recycled at the following retail locations:

• Home Depot STORE FINDER
  Note: Home Depot accepts compact fluorescent bulbs, but not long fluorescent bulbs
  
  
• Lowe's STORE FINDER
  Note: Lowe's accepts compact fluorescent bulbs at all Long Beach stores, and long fluorescent bulbs at the Bellflower Blvd. store only.
  
  Long fluorescent bulbs can also be taken to a Local Weekend Universal Waste Collection Event, or to one of the Permanent Universal Waste Collection Centers (listed at right)
  

It is against the law to place home-generated Sharps into household and public trash or recycling containers. Current law requires residents to dispose of home-generated sharps in an approved and properly labeled container, at an approved facility.

Home-generated Sharps include:

• Needles
• Syringes
• Lancets

Long Beach residents can dispose of their Sharps for free using one of the following options:

• Permanent Sharps Collection Centers (listed at right)
• Local Weekend Sharps Collection Events
• Medical Waste Mail-back Services

Physicians, Hospitals and other medical care providers are willing to take back home-generated Sharps from their clients. Be sure to ask your Doctor or medical advisor about it.

1. Keep the area well ventilated.
2. Extinguish any open flame or heat
   source.
3. Keep children and pets away.
4. Wear gloves and protective clothing.
5. Stop the product from spreading by
   covering the spill with absorbent material (kitty litter, sand, disposable diapers, soil).
6. Sweep and scoop the absorbent into a container with a lid or into a strong plastic bag. Clean area with soap and rags, put used rags into container as well. Be careful not to wash hazardous materials into the street gutter.
7. Label the container with the product name, chemical name, and hazard category (flammable, corrosive, etc.). All information should be available on the
   product's label.
8. Dispose of the container as hazardous waste. See disposal section.
9. If the spill is large and you cannot safely clean it up, contact the Fire Department immediately by dialing 911.
   

• Call the Poison Center at
  (800) 777-6476
  or (213) 222-3212.
• For a medical
  emergency call 911.
• It is helpful to have the container with you for poison identification when you make an emergency call.