Hazardous Waste and Medicine Disposal

Household Hazardous Waste

Household hazardous waste is unwanted household products labeled as flammable, toxic, corrosive, or reactive. This includes paints, solvents, chemicals, varnishes, acids, auto fluids, acrylics, resins, and more. The best way to dispose of hazardous waste is through the County of Santa Clara Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off program, offered by the Department of Environmental Health.
 
To drop-off hazardous waste and for more information, call the Santa Clara County HHW Program at (408) 299-7300 or visit their website.

Business-Generated Hazardous Waste

Business hazardous waste includes paint, solvents, motor oil, fixer and developer, cleaners, chemicals, and more. If your business is a Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) located within Santa Clara County, you may use the County’s VSQG Disposal Program to dispose of hazardous waste. 

Per month, a VSQG generates less than 100 kilograms (~27 gallons or 220 lbs.) of hazardous waste or less than one kilogram (~2.2 lbs.) of extremely hazardous waste. The cost to use the drop-off facility is based on the type and quantity of the waste. All businesses will need either a temporary or permanent EPA ID number.

VSQG participants must pre-register with the program at least one week prior to disposal. For more information about pre-registering for hazardous waste drop-off, call the Santa Clara County Hazardous Waste Program at (408) 299-7300 or follow the steps listed on their website.

Medicine Disposal

Please do not dispose of any medicines through the toilet, drain, or garbage. Instead, click HERE to find free medicine disposal bins, free sharps disposal bins, and free packages to mail in medicines and sharps for disposal.

Pharmaceuticals disposed of through the toilet or drain enter our sewer system and then our Wastewater Treatment Plants. These facilities are not equipped to treat these chemicals. As a result, pharmaceuticals may be released from the wastewater facility into the San Francisco Bay and severely harm aquatic life.

Pharmaceuticals include prescription drugs such as antibiotics, antidepressants, and hormones. They also include over-the-counter medications, antiseptics, and veterinary medicines.