Electronic & Universal Waste Recycling
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The State of California prohibits placing electronic waste, fluorescent tubes, consumer batteries and mercury thermostats into trash. Known as 'Universal Waste', these items can harm human health and the environment if improperly disposed of. Although these products may not be dangerous to use, most of them contain poisonous 'heavy metals' such as lead, mercury and cadmium that can pollute groundwater near landfills.
Electronic Waste
Almost anything considered 'electronic' is banned from landfills. These items include computers, monitors, peripherals, phones, TVs, VCRs, DVD players, stereos, microwave ovens, PDAs, iPods, etc. Customers at Recology San Francisco (the dump) can dispose of up to 30 electronic items per month for free if they are delivered without any other type of garbage. More than 30 items are charged at a rate of $1.50 per piece. If the electronics are mixed with garbage, the regular tipping fee applies. Get hours and directions to the SF dump. In addition, many Goodwill stores accept working and non-working electronics. The Bulky Item Collection Program collects all residential electronic wastes for free. Call Sunset Scavenger: 330-1300 or Golden Gate Disposal: 626-4000 to arrange a Bulky Item Collection pick-up or visit ReycleMyJunk.com.
Electronics with screens (e.g., CRTs, TVs, laptops, portable DVD players) must be of California origin and used in California; also these items with screens must be delivered by the user, or an employee. Electronics with screens brought in by moving companies or other third party haulers must sign a form stating the name and address of the original user.
Consumer Batteries
Household batteries (a.k.a. dry cell, alkaline, Ni-Cad, rechargeable batteries from computers and cell phones, etc.) can be dropped of at all Walgreens and many other locations in San Francisco. The batteries are picked up by garbage company employees, sorted by type and sent to recycling facilities. For a complete list of drop off sites, visit SFEnvironment.com. (Note: Do not bring large or small 'lead-acid' batteries, such as car or motorcycle batteries.) Households or businesses may bring up to 5 gallons of batteries (about 70 pounds) per month for free to the public disposal area at the SF Dump. More than 5 gallons are charged at a rate of $.50 per pound. Sunset Scavenger's junk pick up program can help property managers for large office buildings set up a special pick up service for consumer batteries for office building tenants. Please call 330-1300 or visit RecycleMyJunk.com for more information.
Fluorescent Lamps (tubes and bulbs)
Fluorescent lamps from residents may be dropped off at neighborhood drop-of sites established by the City. For a list of sites, visit SFEnvironment.com. Up to 30 lamps per month are also accepted for free at the Public Disposal Area at Recology San Francisco. All of these sites only accept fluorescent tubes and compact "curly cue" fluorescent bulbs. Recology San Francisco is the only site that will also accept other specialty light bulbs, such as mercury vapor, HID, etc. for recycling (but not burnt out, regular incandescent bulbs, which are still non-recyclable trash and should be disposed of in your black trash cart). Customers with more than 30 lamp items per month can recycle the rest for $1.00 per lamp. Click here for hours and directions to the SF dump. Property managers, electrical lighting contractors and other businesses may want to establish a pick up service with fluorescent lamp recycling companies. See SFEnvironment.com for a list of companies that can help.
Household Hazardous Waste
San Francisco residents may bring paint, oil, and other chemicals to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, open 8 am - 4 pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For facility requirements and instructions about how to use the facility, visit our
Household Hazardous Waste page.
For additional Information also see:
Electronic WasteAlmost anything considered 'electronic' is banned from landfills. These items include computers, monitors, peripherals, phones, TVs, VCRs, DVD players, stereos, microwave ovens, PDAs, iPods, etc. Customers at Recology San Francisco (the dump) can dispose of up to 30 electronic items per month for free if they are delivered without any other type of garbage. More than 30 items are charged at a rate of $1.50 per piece. If the electronics are mixed with garbage, the regular tipping fee applies. Get hours and directions to the SF dump. In addition, many Goodwill stores accept working and non-working electronics. The Bulky Item Collection Program collects all residential electronic wastes for free. Call Sunset Scavenger: 330-1300 or Golden Gate Disposal: 626-4000 to arrange a Bulky Item Collection pick-up or visit ReycleMyJunk.com.
Electronics with screens (e.g., CRTs, TVs, laptops, portable DVD players) must be of California origin and used in California; also these items with screens must be delivered by the user, or an employee. Electronics with screens brought in by moving companies or other third party haulers must sign a form stating the name and address of the original user.
Consumer Batteries
Household batteries (a.k.a. dry cell, alkaline, Ni-Cad, rechargeable batteries from computers and cell phones, etc.) can be dropped of at all Walgreens and many other locations in San Francisco. The batteries are picked up by garbage company employees, sorted by type and sent to recycling facilities. For a complete list of drop off sites, visit SFEnvironment.com. (Note: Do not bring large or small 'lead-acid' batteries, such as car or motorcycle batteries.) Households or businesses may bring up to 5 gallons of batteries (about 70 pounds) per month for free to the public disposal area at the SF Dump. More than 5 gallons are charged at a rate of $.50 per pound. Sunset Scavenger's junk pick up program can help property managers for large office buildings set up a special pick up service for consumer batteries for office building tenants. Please call 330-1300 or visit RecycleMyJunk.com for more information.
Fluorescent Lamps (tubes and bulbs)Fluorescent lamps from residents may be dropped off at neighborhood drop-of sites established by the City. For a list of sites, visit SFEnvironment.com. Up to 30 lamps per month are also accepted for free at the Public Disposal Area at Recology San Francisco. All of these sites only accept fluorescent tubes and compact "curly cue" fluorescent bulbs. Recology San Francisco is the only site that will also accept other specialty light bulbs, such as mercury vapor, HID, etc. for recycling (but not burnt out, regular incandescent bulbs, which are still non-recyclable trash and should be disposed of in your black trash cart). Customers with more than 30 lamp items per month can recycle the rest for $1.00 per lamp. Click here for hours and directions to the SF dump. Property managers, electrical lighting contractors and other businesses may want to establish a pick up service with fluorescent lamp recycling companies. See SFEnvironment.com for a list of companies that can help.
Household Hazardous Waste
San Francisco residents may bring paint, oil, and other chemicals to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, open 8 am - 4 pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For facility requirements and instructions about how to use the facility, visit our
Household Hazardous Waste page.
For additional Information also see: