Household Hazardous Waste is accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfillevery Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-Off Events are exclusively for household wastes from Yolo County residents. Hazardous wastes generated by businesses are not accepted.

Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Guide (PDF)

Do not mix wastes together. There is a limit of 125 pounds or 15 gallons accepted at a time due to Department of Transportation Regulations.

Free hazardous waste pick-up service: Yolo County seniors and residents with a disability may call 530-666‐8856 to schedule a free pick up of hazardous waste materials.

Reusable Products: Often residents turn in items at the household hazardous waste days that are still usable. These reusable items are available for free! Stop by the landfill during a household hazardous waste drop-off day to get free reusable household products like paints, cleaning products and more!

Contact the Yolo County Central Landfill (530-666-8729) for more information.

Batteries contain toxic materials and it is a violation of State law to throw them away in the trash. Some batteries retain a residual charge even after they can no longer properly power a device--their power has not been completely used up and they can combust or spark, causing a fire or other safety incident. Recycle household batteries safely by following the steps below:

1. Bag it or tape it. Place each battery in its own clear plastic bag before placing it in a storage container. If a bag isn’t available, you can tape the terminals with clear packing, non-conductive electrical or duct tape (do not use masking, painter or Scotch tape). Make sure the battery label is visible.
2. Store the batteries in a cool, dry place. Incidents can occur when batteries (or the devices they power such as a cellphone or tablet) are exposed to moisture or warm temperatures. Store them in a plastic container, not metal or cardboard.
3. Keep an eye out for damaged batteries. If you see a swollen or bulging battery, immediately put it in sand or kitty litter in a cool, dry place and bring it to the Yolo Landfill Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off as soon as possible.
4. Drop them off within six months. Old batteries should never be stored longer than six months before bringing to one of the locations listed below for recycling:

• Davis Ace Hardware, 815 3rd Street
• Davis Food Co-Op, 620 G Street
• Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street
• CVS Pharmacy, 1550 E. Covell Blvd.
• CVS Pharmacy, 1471 W. Covell Blvd.
• Nugget Market, 1414 East Covell Blvd.
• Nugget Market, 409 Mace Blvd.
• Recology Davis Recycling Center, 2727 2nd Street (during buyback hours only: Monday – Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Saturday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.) 

For additional locations where you can recycle rechargeable batteries and cell phones, visit Call2Recycle.org.

Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries spark dangerous fires if they are cracked or damaged. Since trash collection trucks compact waste as they are emptying bins along their routes, the presence of a single lithium-ion battery in the trash can lead to fires up to 1200°C—the equivalent to a welding torch. Lithium-ion batteries are found embedded in many household products, including cell phones, power tools, cameras, electric toothbrushes, electric razors and other electronic items that need to be plugged into an outlet to recharge.

For the safety of our community, please make sure that all batteries (and items containing these batteries) are disposed of safely. If you have a product that contains embedded batteries that cannot be removed, please bring these to the Yolo County Hazardous Waste Facility at the Landfill every Thursday – Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for free and safe disposal.

Car Batteries

Standard car batteries can be taken to the Yolo County Central Landfill for free drop-off daily during normal business hours. State law requires stores to accept your old battery upon the purchase of a new battery.

Electric car batteries can be difficult and expensive to recycle. They may not be accepted at the Yolo County Landfill for free. If you have an electric car battery, always check to see if the auto shop or car dealership will take the battery for recycling. They you cannot find alternative options, contact the Yolo County Landfill to see what other options may be available.

Electronic items--anything that runs off a battery or has a cord--are illegal to place in the trash in California. These can be recycled every day at these locations for free:

• Yolo County Central Landfill, 44090 County Road 28H (530-666-8729) Open Mon-Sat 6:30am-4pm and Sun 8am-4pm
• Best Buy, 2165 Bronze Star Dr., Woodland (fees apply for businesses)
• Yolo Employment Services, 220 Harter Ave., Woodland

Some examples of accepted electronic materials include:

• Blenders and toasters
• Cell phones
• Christmas lights
• Coffee makers
• Compact Disk (CD) Players
• Computer monitors
• Computers and computer accessories
• Digital scales
• DVD players & VCRs
• Electric toothbrushes
• Fax machines
• Machinery and tools with electric motors
• Microwave ovens (fees may apply for recycling, not all sites accept these--call to confirm)
• Music players (MP3, ipod, etc.)
• Printers, copiers and scanners
• Speakers, radios & stereos
• Telephones
• Televisions
• Typewriters
• Vacuum cleaners
• Video and Still Cameras
• Video game machines (PS, XBOX, etc.)

More information on electronics:

• CalRecycle: Electronics webpage 
• CA Department of Toxic Substances Control: Electronic Waste webpage

Fluorescent bulbs and tubes contain mercury that can pollute the environment and contaminate groundwater. Broken tubes and bulbs in a trash can or dumpster can create clouds of mercury vapor that can linger around the area for hours, exposing anyone nearby to the harmful chemical. Information about what to do if a fluorescent bulb breaks.

Residents can dispose of fluorescent bulbs for free at these locations:

• Ace Hardware, 1350 E Main St., Woodland
• Home Depot, 1860 E Main St., Woodland (CFLs only)
• Home Depot, 690 Riverpoint Ct., West Sacramento (CFLs only) 
• IKEA, 700 IKEA Ct., West Sacramento (CFLs only)
• Lowe’s Home Improvement, 2250 Lake Washington Blvd., West Sacramento
• Yolo County Central Landfill, 44090 County Rd 28H Woodland. The landfill will accept fluorescent bulbs and tubes from residents for free and safe disposal every day during normal operating hours.

If you have pesticides (liquid or solid) that you no longer need, they must be disposed of properly so that they do not harm you or the environment. Any leftover pesticides must be taken to the Yolo County Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off. Do not recycle or rinse empty pesticide containers. Residents may place empty pesticide containers in the trash. 

To prevent environmental contamination, prescription and over-the-counter medication should never be flushed down a toilet or thrown in the trash. Fortunately, there is a state-wide program that is paid for by the pharmaceutical industry to safely collect and dispose of medications. Request a free mail-back envelope to get rid of unwanted medications.

If you have unwanted, unused and/or expired over-the-counter or prescription medicines you can bring them to the locations listed below. Contact each location for hours. More information on safe medication disposal drop-off and accepted items. 

• CVS Pharmacy, 1550 E Covell Blvd.
• Kaiser Permanente Davis MOB Pharmacy, 1955 Cowell Blvd.
• UC Davis Clinic Pharmacy, 2660 West Covell Blvd.
• Davis Pharmacy, 635 Anderson Rd. Suite 3

For more information about pharmaceutical waste, see the California Integrated Waste Managements website and the Department of Toxic Substances Control website.

Medication and Used Syringe Disposal Guide (PDF)

 
In addition to the programs through the Med-Project, there are other local options available:

• Yolo County Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Days. Anyone that lives in Yolo County can bring sharps in approved sharps collection containers to the hazardous waste drop-off for free and safe disposal. Place sharps waste in a red sharps container or a rigid plastic container, such as bleach or detergent bottles. The lid of the container should be tightly closed and taped shut with “Sharps Waste” written on the outside of the container.
• Drop-Off at Recology Davis. Recology Davis accepts sharps waste for free drop-off at their CRV redemption center during buyback hours, Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sharps are only accepted during the CRV redemption hours and may not be dropped off after hours. Place sharps waste in a red sharps container or a rigid plastic container, such as bleach or detergent bottles. The lid of the container should be tightly closed and taped shut with “Sharps Waste” written on the outside of the container. Recology Davis employees will receive the sealed sharps container and place it in their sharps kiosk for proper disposal. 

Medication and Used Syringe Disposal Guide (PDF)

Do you change your own oil?

Used motor oil cannot be poured on the ground, into the trash, down a sink drain, into the street or down a stormdrain--any of these disposal methods will cause extensive and dangerous environmental contamination. Instead, take used motor oil and filters to one of the centers listed below for free and safe recycling. Call ahead to confirm hours and quantity accepted. Make sure the container holding the used motor oil is secure for transportation to prevent spills. Place oil filter in a zip-lock bag and never leave oil or filters at centers after hours.

• # Oil Changers, 2014 Lyndell Terr., Davis 530-753-7543
• #* Recology Davis, 2727 Second St., Davis 530-756-4646
• #* O’Reilly Autoparts, 1681 Research Park Dr., Davis 530-753-6755
• #* SpeeDee Oil Change and Tune-up/Midas, 2000 F. St., Davis 530-753-1633
• #* Yolo County Central Landfill, County Road 28H & 104 530-666-8729 (only Thursday - Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)

# These sites will also accept used oil filters for recycling
*  These sites will pay 40¢ per gallon for used motor oil

NEVER mix used motor oil with antifreeze, brake fluid or other materials. 

Bring contaminated oil and other automotive fluids to the Yolo County Landfill Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Days.

Oil containers:  When possible, keep waste in its tightly sealed original container. Label any material that is not in its original container. Do not use leaking containers. If a container is leaking, place the entire contents into a tightly sealed, labeled plastic container.

Transporting Oil:  Keep containers upright while transporting to prevent spills. Transport in the trunk of your car or secured in your truck bed. Do not transport more than 125 pounds or 15 gallons of oil at a time (due to federal regulations).

How often do you need to change your motor oil?

Needing to change your car’s oil at 3,000 miles is a myth. Auto makers now are recommending oil changes at 5,000, 7,000 or even 10,000 miles. Following the 3,000 mile myth generates millions of gallons of waste oil every year which can pollute California’s natural resources.

For more information, visit CalRecycle's website to find the manufacturer-recommended oil change intervals for most vehicles.

Used Oil Facts

• Each year, millions of gallons of used oil are illegally poured down drains, sewers or disposed in the trash.
• One gallon of used motor oil can pollute one-million gallons of drinking water.
• Used motor oil can be re-refined into new oil that is just as good as new.
• Before it is drained, an oil filter can contain over a pint of used oil. Oil filters cannot be thrown into the trash.
• State agencies are mandated to use re-refined oil, and have reported no problems resulting from its use.
• Used oil can contain such contaminants as lead, magnesium, copper, zinc, chromium, arsenic, chlorides, cadmium, and chlorinated compounds. 
• Oil poured down drains or onto the ground or put in the garbage can work its way into our ground and surface waters and cause serious pollution.

More information on used motor oil and filter recycling.

The California Department of Toxic Substance Control website has information on other toxic products, including treated wood, lighting, packaging and cadmium and lead in jewelry.