One of the best ways to reduce pollution is by properly recycling and disposing of our own waste. Your trash matters! The mercury in just a few batteries, CFLs and old thermometers can contaminate millions of gallons of Bay water. These items and others, like medicines, electronics (e-waste), and motor oil cannot legally go in your trash or recycling bin, but there are places to recycle them near you.
Recycling and Disposal of Household Toxics
Find your local collection facilities and participating retailers. Search by city or zip code and the item you need to recycle.
Region-wide: www.Earth911.org
San Francisco: www.sfenvironment.org
East Bay: www.stopwaste.org
San Mateo County: www.recycleworks.org
Santa Clara County: www.recyclestuff.org
Ongoing Disposal Locations
Pharmaceuticals | Mercury Thermometers | E-Waste | Batteries
Pharmaceuticals
Click here for full listing of Bay Area sites that accept old medications for disposal.
Mercury Thermometer Exchange Locations
Bring your mercury thermometer sealed in two ziplock bags for safe transport, and receive a free digital thermometer in exchange.
Berkeley: Ecological Wellness Center
1521 B 5th St., Berkeley, CA
Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-1pm
510-558-7285
Daly City: North San Mateo County Sanitation District (Daly City residents only)
153 Lake Merced Blvd., Daly City, CA
Monday-Friday 8am-4pm
650-991-8203
Fremont: City of Fremont Development Services Center/Environmental Services
39550 Liberty St., 2nd Floor, Fremont, CA 94537
Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, closed from 12:00pm-1:00pm.
(510) 494-4693
Livermore: City of Livermore Water Reclamation Plant
101 W. Jack London Blvd., Livermore, CA
Monday-Friday 8am-4pm
925-960-8100
Martinez: Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
4797 Imhoff Pl., Martinez, CA
Tuesday-Saturday 9am-4pm
Call to make an appointment: 1-800-646-1431
Millbrae: City of Millbrae Public Works Department
621 Magnolia Ave., Millbrae, CA 94030
Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
650-259-2397
Newark: City of Newark Fire Administrative Office
6170 Thornton Ave., Newark, CA 94560
510-790-7254
Palo Alto: Regional Water Quality Control Plant
2501 Embarcadero Way, Palo Alto, CA
Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm
650-329-2598
Pleasanton: DSRSD Wastewater Treatment Facility
7399 Johnson Dr., Pleasanton, CA
By appointment only: call Erik Kuefner, 925-875-2335
Pleasanton City Hall (Utility Billing Counter)
200 Old Bernal Ave., Pleasanton, CA
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
925-931-5427
Pleasanton: Operations Service Center (Administration Building)
3333 Busch Rd., Pleasanton, CA
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
925-931-5500
San Francisco: Department of the Environment
11 Grove St., San Francisco, CA
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
415-355-3700
San Francisco: UCSF Bookstore
500 Parnassus, San Francisco, CA
Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, Saturday 10am-5pm
415-476-1666
San Francisco: Hazardous Waste Facility
501 Tunnel Ave., San Francisco, CA
Thursday-Saturday 8am-4pm
415-330-1400
San Jose: City College Health Services
2100 Moorpark Ave., San Jose, CA
Monday-Thursday, 9am-3pm and 5pm-8pm
Union City: Union Sanitary District (Front Lobby)
5072 Benson Rd., Union City, CA 94587
510-477-7500
E-Waste – Free Disposal Locations
Check with each event organizer to ensure they can accept your items.
Berkeley: Weekly E-Waste Disposal Events (Every Wednesday)
Every Wednesday, 9am-3pm
Cal Overstock and Surplus Den
1000 Folger Ave.loading docks, Berkeley, CA
Sponsored by UC Berkeley Business Services: businessservices.berkeley.edu or 510 772-8397
Hayward: Free, Ongoing E-Waste Disposal
Monday - Saturday, 9am–3pm
ACQ Office/Electronic Waste Management
27607 Industrial Blvd., Hayward, CA
Sponsored by ACQ Office/Electronic Waste Management: noEwaste.com or 866-335-3373.
Milpitas: Free, Ongoing E-Waste Disposal
Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm
363 Fairview Way, Milpitas, CA
Sponsored by Blue Star Electronics: BSErecycling.com or 1-800-839-5762
Oakland: Free, Ongoing E-Waste Disposal
Monday - Friday, 8am–4pm, and Saturday, 9am–3pm
Universal Waste Management
721 37th Ave., Oakland, CA
Sponsored by Universal Waste Management: unwaste.com or 1.888.832.9839
San Francisco: Free, Ongoing E-Waste Disposal
Goodwill Computer/E-Waste Donation Station inside the store accepts computers, monitors, printers and cartridges, electronic devices, batteries, and more.
Waldeck's Office Supplies
500 Washington Street, San Francisco, CA
Sponsored by Waldeck’s Office Supplies: waldecks.com or 415-981-3381
San Francisco: Free, Ongoing E-Waste Disposal
Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm
1165 Quesada Ave, San Francisco, CA
Sponsored by Elmars Corporation: 877-DRWASTE (877-379-2783) or elmars.org
San Ramon: Free, Ongoing E-Waste Disposal
7 days a week, 9:30am-4:30pm
31 Beta Ct., Suite C, San Ramon, CA 94583
Sponsored by Recycle For Breast Cancer: recycleforbreastcancer.org or 925-735-7203
Santa Rosa: Free, Ongoing E-Waste Disposal
Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm and Saturday 10am-2pm
3227 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, CA
Sponsored by Computer Recycling Center: crc.org or 1-888-887-3372
Sunnyvale: Free, Ongoing E-Waste Disposal
Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm and Saturday 10am-2pm
370 West Caribbean Dr., Sunnyvale, CA
Sponsored by Computer Recycling Center: crc.org or 1-888-887-3372
It’s now against the law to throw household batteries in the trash!
Regionwide
IKEA Stores accept household batteries and fluorescent light bulbs
For locations: http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/