Julie Clopper / Shutterstock.com Garden Chemicals Illegal in Garbage & Drains Household Hazardous Waste Julie Clopper / Shutterstock.com Drop-off is available twice a month by appointment only on Saturdays for household hazardous waste and/or universal waste. Acceptable items include over-the-counter and prescription medications, fluorescent light tubes, motor oil and used motor oil, antifreeze, paint, chemicals (pool and others), household cleaners, and pesticides. The majority of medications are accepted as household hazardous waste excluding controlled substances. Some items can be dropped off at the HHW Facility without an appointment and during hours of operation. These items include: sharps waste (syringes or lancets) properly packaged for safe disposal, (used) motor oil, filters and antifreeze. Proof of residency is required. To make an appointment to drop off your household hazardous waste on the next available Saturday at the Waste Management HHW Facility at 2880 Industry Street, please call Waste Management’s Customer Service line at (760) 439-2824. HHW must be dropped off by appointment – click for more info. Never Pour Down the Drain Garden chemicals, such as weed killer and fertilizer, can never be dumped down storm drains, home drains or tossed in the garbage. Regular drains are not equipped to handle these chemicals, and they will leach into the environment. Don't Water Grass After Using Do not water grass after applying garden chemicals. Not only will the runoff end up in local waterways, it also ruins the effectiveness of your pesticides. Don't Use if It's Going to Rain Avoid using chemicals before a storm. If you do, rain will wash them down storm drains and into local waterways. Ready-to-Use Containers Empty containers that held ready-to-use chemicals can be thrown in the trash without rinsing them out. Ways to Reduce Avoid Purchasing Concentrates Consider purchasing ready-to-use products. Purchasing concentrations to dilute on your own can expose the body to harmful chemicals. Also the use of under-diluted chemicals is more damaging to the air, water and soil. Buy What You Need Reduce the impact of garden chemicals on the environment by buying only what you need. Give away any unwanted or leftover products, which saves you the hassle of disposing of them as hazardous waste.
