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Waste Recycling Options

This chart provides a handy reference for proper disposal and recycling options for your electronic and other household hazardous wastes:

 


Waste Item

Recycling Options





Household batteries 


Mercury thermostats and thermometers


Fluorescent bulbs and tubes

 

The County’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program takes household hazardous waste items for FREE. Call (408) 299-7300 for an appointment.


Free Battery Drop-Off Locations
 


Free Thermometer Drop-Offs

 



Free Fluorescent Bulb Drop-Off Locations

 

Laptops and printers

PDAs and cell phones

Camcorders and digital cameras


 

Electronics                               

Small appliances
Computer items 
For a complete list of items click here

 

To find an electronics recycler, visit www.recyclestuff.org or call the Recycling Hotline at (800) 533-8414.

 




Boomerang Toner & Ink
15695 Los Gatos Blvd
Los Gatos, CA 95032
(408) 358-7410 

 

Computer systems including monitors, keyboards, disk drives and mice

 


TVs with cathode ray tubes

VCRs and DVD players

Flat Screen TVs (LCD)

Plasma Screen TVs

Microwave ovens

Stereos


computers, technology, network, telephone, test equipment and cell phones, working and nonworking

 

To find an electronics recycler, visit www.recyclestuff.org or call the Recycling Hotline at (800) 533-8414.

 



Visit Santa Clara County’s Recycling Guide for CRTs and Electronics
 

 


To find a local State-certified E-Waste Recycler and Collector, visit  www.erecycle.org



Computer Recycling Center
www.crc.org 
(408) 327-1800
Many donated items are free.  Some larger electronics may have a nominal fee.

 

Used Motor Oil

 

Free Motor Oil Drop-Off Locations

 

Needle and Sharps Disposal

 

Los Gatos Locations:

Shannon Road Fire Station-
16565
Shannon Rd

Community Hospital of Los Gatos-
815 Pollard Road
(Patients only) (408) 378-6131


B M A Dialysis-
14651 S. Bascom Avenue
 (Patients only)
 
(408) 358-3791

Mission Oaks Campus of Good Samaritan-
15891
Los Gatos Almaden Rd
(408) 356-4111

For other Santa Clara County locations click here


Pharmecutical- used/unused medicines Free Prescription Drop Off locations:

 


New
California Hazardous Waste Law

 

New rules for disposal of electronic waste

Effective February 2006, new California hazardous waste rules ban California residents from throwing most consumer electronics, batteries, and mercury-containing products in their trash cans.  Called “universal waste;” these items contain harmful chemicals which, if disposed of improperly, may be harmful to people and the environment.

Virtually all electronic devices that contain a battery or circuit board – including computers, printers, cell phones, stereos, and even some appliances like microwave ovens – are targeted in the new regulations, because they often contain heavy metals like lead, copper, and chromium.  Household batteries, mercury thermometers, thermostats with mercury, and fluorescent tubes and compact bulbs are also among the prohibited products.

 

Options for Proper Disposal

Santa Clara County operates a free household hazardous waste disposal program for paint, solvents, batteries and other hazardous materials commonly found in homes.  To schedule an appointment to drop off your waste, call (408) 299-7300.  The drop-off events are on selected Fridays and Saturdays of each month at facilities in San Jose, Sunnyvale, and San Martin.  Occasional, roving drop-off events are held at sites throughout Santa Clara County on Saturdays.  The County also has partnerships with local stores to take back batteries and fluorescent bulbs (see the chart below).

For a complete list of wastes that may not be disposed of in your garbage can, and information about their safe disposal and recycling, visit www.hhw.org.

 

West Valley Collection and Recycling will accept household batteries at their processing facility, call (408) 283-9250.  You can visit one of the local businesses that accept used motor oil by viewing the chart below.

 

To find out where to recycle your electronic item, call the Recycling Hotline at (800)-533-8414, or visit its website at www.reducewaste.org.  In addition, there are 43 private companies that collect electronic waste, funded by state fees.  To find a local recycler, visit www.erecycle.org