Universal Waste cannot be disposed of in trash!

As of February 8th, the Department of Toxic Substances Control has made it illegal to dispose of certain Household Hazardous Waste items, also called Universal Waste, in your trash can. These items should now be brought to East Palo Alto’s Corporation Yard. The most common Universal Wastes are:

Household Common Batteries such as: AA, AAA, C cells, D cells and button batteries

Fluorescent Tubes and Bulbs and Other Mercury-Containing Lamps

Electronic Devices such as: televisions and computer monitors, computers,
printers, VCRs, cell phones, telephones, radios, and microwave ovens.

Mercury Thermometers – Many health clinics, pharmacies and doctor’s offices have
thermometer exchange programs that will give you a new mercury-free fever
thermometer in exchange for your old one.

Non-Empty Aerosol Cans that Contain Hazardous Materials – If your aerosol can is labeled with words like TOXIC or FLAMMABLE don’t put it in the trash unless it is completely
empty.

For more information, please visit the following Household Hazardous Waste Program Web links:

• Earth 911 - Where you can recycle hazardous waste, bottles & can, and other items:
http://www.earth911.org

• DTSC’s web page on universal wastes
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/UniversalWaste/index.cfm

• California Integrated Waste Management Board’s universal waste web page:
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WPIE/HazSub/UniWaste.htm

• California Recycling:
http://www.recycle.ca.gov/