Some products we use every day contain hazardous materials and cannot be thrown away in the trash.

Common items may be hazardous because they have one or more of the following properties: 

• They are toxic: poisonous when ingested, inhaled or touched (such as rat poison or bleach).
• They are flammable: Easy to ignite (such as lighter fluid and paint removers).
• They are corrosive: eats away materials and living tissue by chemical action (such as oven cleaner).They are reactive: creates an explosion or generates deadly vapors (such as bleach mixed with ammonia

See below for free and safe disposal options for residents.

Other items that cannot be thrown away in the trash:

Used tires: When buying new tires, most dealers will take back your old tires. Used tires can be taken to the Yolo County Central Landfill. Fees may apply.

Refrigerators and microwaves: These can be recycled at the Yolo County Central Landfill. Fees may apply. 

Not sure if something you have is hazardous? Check our Recyclopedia

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.

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Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off

Household Hazardous Waste is accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill every 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

Do not mix wastes together. Limit of 125 pounds or 15 gallons due to Department of Transportation Regulations.

Free senior/disabled pick-up service: Senior and disabled Yolo County residents who are unable to drive may call 666‐8856 to schedule a free pick up of hazardous waste materials.

Reusable Products: Check out the reuse opportunities at the landfill as well! 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 (666-8729) for more information.

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Batteries

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 them 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 County household hazardous waste drop-off program 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 at 3rd & G Sts.
• 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.
• Rite Aid, 655 Russell Blvd.
• Rite Aid,  2135 Cowell Blvd.

Rechargeable batteries can also be recycled at these sites in Davis:

• Davis Ace Hardware at 3rd & G Sts.
• Yolo County Central Landfill,  44090 County Road 28H

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

Americans purchase approximately three billion household batteries each year, or about ten batteries per person. Household batteries contain metals that are potentially toxic, including cadmium, zinc, lithium, and nickel.  Help us reduce toxic waste--switch to rechargeable batteries!

More information on batteries. 

Car Batteries: Automotive batteries can be taken to the Yolo County Central Landfill Recycling Center 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.

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Electronics

Televisions, microwaves, computer monitors and laptops are illegal to place in the trash. These and other electronics can be recycled every day at these locations for free:

• Goodwill Store, 1640 E. 8th Street (564-4474)
• Goodwill Donation Xpress, 2939 Spafford Drive, Suite 110 (753-2524)
• Goodwill Donation Xpress, 417 Mace Boulevard, Suite E (759-1136)
• Goodwill Donation Xpress, 1351 W. Covell Boulevard (757-4431)
• Yolo County Central Landfill, 44090 County Road 28H (666-8729) Open Mon-Sat 6:30am-4pm and Sun 8am-4pm

More information on electronics:

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

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Fluorescent bulbs and tubes

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 buls for free at these locations:

• Home Depot, 1860 E Main St., Woodland (CFLs only)
• Home Depot, 690 Riverpoint Ct., West Sacramento
• 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. Residents of Yolo County can also bring fluorescent bulbs and tubes to the weekly Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Days at the Yolo County Central Landfill, held every Friday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., for free disposal.

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Medications

To prevent environmental contamination, prescription and over-the-counter medication should never be flushed down a toilet or thrown in the trash. 

Safe & Simple Pharmaceutical Drop-Off (PDF)

If you have unwanted, unused and/or expired over-the-counter drugs, prescription medicines, pet medications and medicated ointments you can bring them to the locations listed below.

How to prepare medications for disposal:

1. Check if Acceptable

 Accepted:

• Schedule II - V Non-Controlled medications
• Over-the-counter medications (pills and liquids)
• Medications ointments/ lotions
• Pet medications
• Controlled Substances* (i.e. codeine, morphine, oxycodone, Norco, etc.) are ONLY accepted at the Davis Police Department

Not Accepted:

• Illegal (Schedule I) Substances
• Medical sharps and needles
• Iodine-containing medications
• Mercury thermometers
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Chemotherapy or cytotoxic medicines
• Compressed cylinders or Aerosols (e.g. asthma inhalers)—bring to the Yolo hazardous waste drop-off 
• Vitamins & dietary supplements (place in the trash)
• Business medical waste
• Bloody or infectious waste
• Personal care products

2. Prepare for Drop-Off

• Protect your privacy - Scratch, remove or blackout your information on the prescription label.
• Place the pills in a clear zipper bag - If no clear zipper bag is available, dump the pills into the kiosk directly. Recycle the medicine container.
• Liquids and creams - These must remain in their original container be sealed tightly.

3. Place in Kiosk

Drop off your medications in the bins at these locations:

• City of Davis Police Department 2600 5th St. (530) 747-5400
  • Open Monday - Thursday & every other Friday 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • This location accepts controlled substances.
    
• Yolo County Central Landfill, CR 28H & 104 (530) 666-8729
  • During the weekly household hazardous drop-off events, non-controlled medications are accepted for free drop-off from Yolo County residents. Controlled substances not accepted.

*Only facilities or events with a law enforcement officer present ( CFR 1301.24 and CFR 1307.21) may accept controlled substances (PDF, 310KB), which include commonly abused drugs such as narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, or anabolic steroids; examples include codeine, opiates, or tranquilizers. Chemotherapy pharmaceuticals should be returned to the clinic that dispensed them. Controlled substances may ONLY be brought to the Davis Police Station. 

Medications should never be flushed down the toilet or poured down the sink. More information on not flushing unused medications.

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

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Sharps

State law has made it illegal to dispose of home-generated sharps waste in the trash and requires that all sharps waste be transported to a collection center in an approved sharps container.

Home-generated sharps waste includes hypodermic needles, pen needles, intravenous needles, lancets, and other devices that are used to penetrate the skin for the delivery of medications derived from a household or multifamily residence.

The following are some of the disposal options available to you for disposal of sharps waste:

During HHW drop-off events, home generated sharps in approved sharps collection containers are accepted 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.

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. 

Other options for safely disposing of used sharps are available on the California Department Of Public Health webpage. These options include the following:

Home generated sharps must be placed in an approved red sharps container. The sharps container is puncture-resistant and, once sealed, cannot spill. This container is considered full when it has been filled to three quarters of its capacity. At this point, the container should be permanently sealed and returned to a disposal location as soon as possible (see the list above for sharps disposal options). At that time a new container should be obtained.  Sharps containers may be purchased at most pharmacies and drug stores. Residents can also use a metal or a rigid plastic container, that has a tight fitting lid--such as a coffee can 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. 

California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) sharps webpage
CalRecycle sharps brochure

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Used Motor Oil and Filters

• Take used motor oil and filters to one of the centers listed below.
• Call ahead to confirm hours and quantity accepted.
• Make sure container is secure for transportation to prevent spills.
• Place oil filter in a zip-lock bag.
• DO NOT leave oil or filters at centers after hours

If you change your own motor oil, you can recycle your used motor oil and filters at the locations listed below.

  * Davisville Express Lube, 2014 Lyndell Terr., Davis 753-7543
#* Recology Davis, 2727 Second St., Davis 756-4646
#* O’Reilly Autoparts, 1681 Research Park Dr., Davis 753-6755
#* SpeeDee Oil Change and Tune-up, 2000 F. St., Davis 753-1633
#* Yolo County Central Landfill, County Road 28H & 104 666-8729

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

Do NOT mix used motor oil with antifreeze, brake fluid, or other non-oil liquids or solids. 

Bring contaminated oil and other automotive fluids to a Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off event.

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 WASTE:  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.

How often do you need to change your motor oil?

Χ a) 3,000 miles 
Χ b) 3 months
✓ c) check your owner's manual

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 and the CalRecycle Check Your Number database to find the manufacturer-recommended oil change intervals for most vehicles (2000-2020).

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 containing oil SHOULD NOT be thrown into the trash. Remember to recycle!
• It takes one gallon of used oil to produce 2.5 quarts of re-refined oil.
• If all used motor oil generated by the public was collected and re-refined, it would provide enough oil for more than 5 million cars each year.
• State agencies are now mandated to use re-refined oil, and have reported no problems resulting from its use.
• The CA Highway Patrol spends about $110,000 on 22,000 gallons of re-refined engine oil and maintains 3,800 enforcement vehicles that drive more than 110 million miles per year.
• Extensive laboratory testing and field studies show re-refined oil is equivalent to virgin oil.
• 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.

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