How to Dispose of Hazardous Materials
In the City's commitment to zero waste activities, we have contracted with CleanEarth to provide residents with a no cost, residential door-to-door household hazardous waste collections program. (This program is not open to the business community.)
The process is simple. CleanEarth will visit your home and safely and compliantly remove residential household hazardous waste that should not be placed in your typical trash or recycle bin.
Many of the products that we commonly use to clean or maintain our homes, cars, and yards contain hazardous ingredients. Fortunately, alternatives exist that can accomplish the same tasks while reducing or eliminating many hazardous chemicals. However, there may be times when you need to use a hazardous chemical to get the job done. The resources on this site highlight important aspects of the process for disposing of household hazardous waste, to help you achieve the best possible results and safeguard yourself and the community against the dangers of hazardous products.
For our business community, the City of Santa Monica operates the Hazardous Waste Drop-off Center for Small Business to provide small quantity generators operating within Santa Monica, a legal and affordable solution to hazardous and/or universal waste disposal.
If your business qualifies as a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG), you may bring your hazardous waste to the Hazardous Waste Drop-off Center for Small Business at the Santa Monica City Yard Facility. Appointments are required.
Jump to Section:
Continue the Process:
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Residents Can Visit the CleanEarth Website
+ -To schedule a hazardous waste material pickup through our residential door-to-door household hazardous waste collections program, click here and select Request Pickup.
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Residents Can Call CleanEarth
+ -In addition to requesting a pickup online, you can call CleanEarth directly at (800) 714-1195 to schedule your residential door-to-door hazardous waste material pickup.
To drop off:
Hazardous Waste Drop-Off (For Businesses that qualify for the Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG) Program ONLY)
State and Federal laws require that all businesses that generate or accumulate hazardous and/or universal wastes to comply with regulations for proper disposal of these wastes. Generators of small quantities of hazardous and/or universal wastes may be conditionally exempt from many of the regulations if they deliver the waste to permitted collection sites.
The City of Santa Monica operates the CESQG Program to provide small quantity generators with a legal and affordable solution to hazardous and/or universal waste disposal. To see a list of prices for commonly dropped-off items, click here.
Prescription Drug Drop-Boxes
Unwanted or expired prescription drugs can now be safely disposed of 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This service helps to act as a safeguard against harmful contaminants entering the environment when drugs are improperly flushed down the toilet or thrown in the trash.
Locations:
CVS Pharmacy #9608
Address: 2505 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Accepted: prescription medications (scheduled II-V controlled and non-controlled), over the counter medications, liquid medication bottles (less than 4oz in zip lock bag)
Not Accepted: illegal (schedule I) drugs, needles/syringes or sharps containers, medical devices and batteries, aerosol cans and inhalers, chemicals, mercury-containing devices
Hours: 24/7
Vons Pharmacy #2262
Address: 710 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Accepted: controlled and non-controlled medications
Not Accepted: needles/syringes or sharps, aerosols and inhalers, liquids, vitamins
Hours: M-F 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm
UCLA 16th Street Pharmacy
Address: 1223 26th Street Room 1202, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Accepted: controlled and non-controlled medications
Not Accepted: needles/syringes or sharps
Hours: M-F 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-5pm, Sun closed
Outside of Santa Monica, there are several additional S. A. F. E. Drug Drop-Off Program Locations at sheriff stations throughout Los Angeles County. Click here for a list of locations.
Unwanted Paint
Unwanted paint has always been the single largest type of hazardous waste generated by Santa Monica residents; and convenient disposal options have never existed for painting contractors – until now. California’s PaintCare recycling network features a new statewide program funded by fees from new paint sales. To see information on PaintCare locations, accepted products, and how to contact, please visit their website by clicking here.
PaintCare sites accept house paint as well as primers, stains, sealers, and clear coatings such as shellac and varnish. Accepted products, also referred to as “PaintCare products” and “architectural coatings,” are the same ones that carry the PaintCare fee when purchased.
To be accepted for drop-off, PaintCare products must be in their original containers of no larger than 5 gallons in size, must have the original manufacturer’s printed label on the container, and must be covered with a secured lid. They cannot accept open or leaking cans.
PaintCare sites do not accept aerosols (spray cans), solvents, and products designed and labeled to be used for industrial or non-architectural use.
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For Qualified CESQG Businesses:
+ -The City of Santa Monica operates the CESQG Program to provide small quantity generators operating within Santa Monica with a legal and affordable solution to hazardous and/or universal waste disposal.
Santa Monica qualifying small businesses can drop off their hazardous waste materials on the second Wednesday of each month between the hours of 8:00am and 2:00pm at the City Yard Facility located at 2500 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404.
- Please include the following with any correspondence: business name, phone number, address, contact person.
- The appointment and fee will be issued by staff with a follow-up call or email.
- All Santa Monica businesses must show their business license when they dispose of waste at the Hazardous Waste Drop-off Center for Small Business.
- Accepted forms of payment are by company or personal check.
State and Federal laws require that all businesses that generate or accumulate hazardous and/or universal wastes to comply with regulations for proper disposal of these wastes. Generators of small quantities of hazardous and/or universal wastes may be conditionally exempt from many of the regulations if they deliver the waste to permitted collection sites.
Your business must be located within the City of Santa Monica and generate less than 220 pounds or 27 gallons of hazardous waste (e.g. paints, solvents, aerosol cans, photographic chemicals, asbestos) per month. Universal wastes such as fluorescent lights, batteries and electronics are not subject to weight or quantity limits but the weights and quantities must be consistent with what would normally be generated by a small business. These guidelines are set out in the Code of Federal Regulations 40 CFR 261.5 and the California Code of Regulations Title 22, Section 66260.10.
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Alternate In-Person Drop-Off Locations Within Santa Monica
+ -Prescription Drug Drop-Boxes
Unwanted or expired prescription drugs can now be safely disposed of 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This service helps to act as a safeguard against harmful contaminants entering the environment when drugs are improperly flushed down the toilet or thrown in the trash.
Locations:
CVS Pharmacy #9608
Address: 2505 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Accepted: prescription medications (scheduled II-V controlled and non-controlled), over the counter medications, liquid medication bottles (less than 4oz in zip lock bag)
Not Accepted: illegal (schedule I) drugs, needles/syringes or sharps containers, medical devices and batteries, aerosol cans and inhalers, chemicals, mercury-containing devices
Hours: 24/7
Vons Pharmacy #2262
Address: 710 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Accepted: controlled and non-controlled medications
Not Accepted: needles/syringes or sharps, aerosols and inhalers, liquids, vitamins
Hours: M-F 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm
UCLA 16th Street Pharmacy
Address: 1223 26th Street Room 1202, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Accepted: controlled and non-controlled medications
Not Accepted: needles/syringes or sharps
Hours: M-F 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-5pm, Sun closed
Paint Drop-Off Locations:
Sherwin-Williams
816 Pico Blvd. (Near Lincoln)
Santa Monica, CA 90405