Household Hazardous Waste Program
Household Hazardous Waste Program 
When: Third Saturday of every month
Upcoming Events in 2012: January 21, February 18, March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15, October 20, November 17, and December 15.
Where: John Smith Road Landfill, 2650 John Smith Road, Hollister CA 95023
Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 noon
The County of San Benito Integrated Waste Management Regional Agency sponsors Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection days. These events serve the cities of Hollister, San Juan Bautista, and the unincorporated areas of San Benito County. The purpose is for residents of San Benito County to lawfully dispose of household hazardous waste that is not accepted by the landfill. Hazardous wastes are any unused or leftover portions of products containing toxic chemicals. There is no charge for dropping off this waste. This program is limited to household hazardous waste generated by residents, and proof of residency is required. The limit is either 15 gallons (total) or 125 pounds of material per trip.
For additional information on collection programs, call the San Benito County Integrated Waste Management Regional Agency at 831-636-4110 or e-mail us at sbciwm@cosb.us.
Sharps & Pharmaceutical Disposal Program Click Here for Free Drop Off Locations
What is Household Hazardous Waste?
In the Yard: Pesticides, Fungicides, Weed Killers, Pool Chemicals, Small Propane Tanks
In the Garage: Antifreeze, Oil & Filters, Gasoline, Wash & Polishes, Auto Batteries, Engine Cleaners, Brake Fluid
In the Workshop: Paint (all kinds), Paint Thinner, Wood Preservatives, Glues & Adhesives, Solvents, Photo Chemicals
In the House: Ammonia Based Cleaners, Bleach Based Cleaners, Aerosol Sprays, Polishes, Fluorescent Lamps, Nail Polish & Remover, Medications & Syringes
NOT ACCEPTED: Explosives, Ammunition, Radioactive Waste, Biological Waste (syringes & lancets must be in an approved Sharps container available free to San Benito County residents). Call 831-636-4110 for more information.
Look for these words on labels:
Household hazardous waste (HHW) items are labeled with warnings of Poison–Danger–Warning–Cautionand Precautionary Statements. Items with these labels can be brought to the HHW event. Remember, any hazardous waste that you use in your home, yard, or garage, including automotive fluids (oil, gas, etc), can be brought to the HHW collection event.
Consider using these safer and less toxic alternatives listed in the table below
| Ammonia-based cleaners | NEVER MIX AMMONIA & CHLORINE! It produces a deadly gas. Instead use a white vinegar/water mixture or dissolved baking soda |
| Automotive wax or polish | For chrome: mix baking soda and water into a paste |
| Batteries | Use rechargeables, solar powered, or AC adapters |
| Chemical fertilizer | Use compost, wood ashes, peat moss, fish meal, and/or manure |
| Chlorine bleach | use vinegar, baking soda, and borax |
| Disinfectant | Use 1/2 cup borax in 1 gallon water |
| Drain cleaner | Use a wire snake, boiling water, 1/2 cup baking soda & 1 cup vinegar, a plunger; seal off top of drain – expanding chemical reaction pushes the clog out – follow with boiling water; use a strainer on every drain and clean regularly |
| Flea repellent | Use an herbal collar (eucalyptus buds or rosemary), put brewer’s yeast in pet’s food; use a flea comb. |
| Floor & furniture polish | Olive oil and lemon juice, 2:1 ratio; or vegetable oil soap |
| Fungicide | Avoid overhead or evening watering to prevent fungus growth; use a sulfur dust & spray or a dormant oil spray without copper |
| Glass cleaner | Use water and vinegar in an 8:1 ratio |
| Herbicide | Hand weed; keep lawn short; compost, mulch, and cover bare ground |
| Insecticides | Caulk openings; for ants, use chili powder to hinder entry; for roaches, use traps or boric acid & powdered sugar mixture |
| Lighter fluid | Use an electric charcoal starter |
| Oven cleaner | Use baking soda & water immediately after spill, copper scrubbers, and/or non-chlorinated scouring powder |
| Paint thinner/solvents | Use water based products or let solids settle, carefully transfer solvent & reuse |
| Paint strippers | Use sandpaper, a heat gun, steel wool, and/or emery cloth |
| Paint (water based) |
Donate extra paint to community development projects, local high school theatrical departments and remember to only buy what you need |
| Pesticides | Use water-based or powdered products when possible; practice companion planting (see links below for more information) |
| Rodenticides | Use live traps |
| Rug cleaners | Use baking soda, club soda, Simple Green |
| Rust remover | Moisten spot with lemon juice, sprinkle with salt and expose to sunlight; for whites, cover stain with cream of tartar, gather so tartar stays on stain, dip in hot water for 5 min, wash |
| Smoke detector | Buy non-ionized smoke detectors |
| Thermometers | Use electronic ones instead of mercury filled |
| Windshield washer fluid | Use fluid without freeze protection in spring and summer |
Check out some of these sites for other tips and suggestions:
Saskatchewan Naturally – Safe Solutions For Your Home and Garden
Federal Environmental Protection Agency – Alternative Household & Garage Cleaning Products
Marvel at the many uses of baking soda
Pagewise – a host of links to a ton of cleaning tips’ sites
Companion planting for insect control
Companion Planting: Basic Concept and Resources
Golden Harvest Organics – Good tips on why some plants work with others
Garden Guides – tells which pests are repelled by which plants