Hazardous Waste Disposal

Household Hazardous Waste
Many common household products are legally defined as hazardous. These materials can pose a threat to human health, animals, and the environment.  For more information, call the Household Hazardous Waste Information Line at (831) 454-2606.  The Santa Cruz County Hazardous Waste Program is sponsored by the County of Santa Cruz and the Cities of Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Capitola and Santa Cruz.

Free drop-off at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facilities:

• Sharps & Medicines - CVS Pharmacy, 809 Bay Avenue, 831.477.1421
                                          CVS Pharmacy, 1750 41st Avenue, 831.476.0400
                                          CVS Pharmacy (Target), 1825 41st Avenue, 831.227.2102
                                          Lauden Integrative Pharmacy, 1820 41st Avenue, Suite F, 831.462.9880
  • Capitola Police Department, 422 Capitola Avenue, 831.475.4242 (medicines only)
  • Inmar (disposal of medicines and sharps) Inmar's program works to expand free, public access to medicine disposal, remove unused or expired medications from the home safely, and prevent the flushing or trashing of unwanted medication — which helps to protect the environment and prevents overdoses and misuse. Residents can find more information about our program, find a location, or order medicine, inhaler, and sharps mail-back supplies by visiting https://safemedicinedrop.com/ or calling 1-888-371-0717.
• Household Batteries - Household batteries can be collected curbside with your weekly recycling at no additional charge. Please place batteries in a sealed clear zip-lock bag and set them on top of your blue recycling container (not inside).
• Unwanted paint, cleaning supplies, solvents, pesticides, garden & pool chemicals -
  Buena Vista Landfill, 1231 Buena Vista Drive, Watsonville, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  Ben Lomond Transfer Station, 9835 Newell Creek Road Ben Lomond, Thursdays 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  City of Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Facility, 605 Dimeo Lane, 3 miles north of Santa Cruz off of Hwy 1, Saturdays, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

In case of an emergency caused by the improper use of household chemicals, call 911.