California disposal guide

Paint (Latex & Oil-Based): PaintCare program accepts latex and oil-based paint at drop-off locations statewide. Visit paintcare.org.
Batteries: All batteries must be recycled — it is illegal to put any battery in the trash.
Mattress: California has a mattress stewardship program. Use the Bye Bye Mattress locator and confirm site acceptance, condition limits and fees.
Refrigerator / Freezer: Utility rebate programs available for recycling old refrigerators. Check with your utility.
Microwave: E-waste ban — microwaves should be recycled through certified e-waste collectors.
Electronics (TVs, Computers, Phones): Check CalRecycle’s electronics collection options for your exact device. Acceptance and fees vary; do not assume all retailers must accept all electronics.
Motor Oil & Automotive Fluids: Certified Used Oil Collection Centers accept oil for free. Visit calrecycle.ca.gov.
Light Bulbs: All fluorescent bulbs and CFLs must be recycled. Free drop-off at retailers.
Tires: Ask a tire retailer or CalRecycle-listed waste-tire facility about acceptance, quantity limits and fees. Do not assume a retailer has a universal ten-tire take-back duty.
Clothing & Textiles: Many cities offer curbside textile recycling.
Medications & Prescriptions: Drug take-back programs are expanding. Check with local pharmacy.
Cooking Oil & Grease: Many cities offer free cooking oil drop-off for biodiesel conversion.
Furniture: Check with your local waste hauler for bulky item pickup schedules.
Smoke Detectors: Contact manufacturer for return and recycling program.
Propane Tanks & Cylinders: Never put propane cylinders, full or "empty," in trash or curbside recycling bins; leftover gas can ignite in collection trucks. Small 1 lb (16.4 oz and 14.1 oz) camping cylinders, empty or partly full, are taken at county household hazardous waste facilities and collection events. Riverside County, for example, accepts them free from residents. Call your county program first, since accepted items vary. For 20 lb grill tanks, swap them at a tank-exchange cage or ask a propane dealer to take them back. Many county HHW sites also accept them. Prefer refillable 1 lb cylinders to cut down on disposable ones.
Small Appliances (Toaster, Blender, etc.): E-waste recycling programs may accept small appliances.
Aerosol Cans: California is stricter than most states: households may not put non-empty aerosol cans (spray paint, solvents, pesticides, or any can that still sprays or sloshes) in the trash. Take them free to your county household hazardous waste facility or collection event. A can is empty only when both product and propellant are gone; empty cans may go in the trash or be recycled as scrap metal (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 22, § 66266.2(b)(7), as explained by Los Angeles County Public Works). Whether empty cans go in your curbside recycling bin depends on your city's hauler, so check locally.
Pesticides & Herbicides: Contact your local CUPA for pesticide disposal. CalRecycle has a searchable facility locator.
Pool Chemicals: Contact your local CUPA. Many pool stores participate in take-back programs.
Fire Extinguishers: Take to your local CUPA or fire department. Some accept them during hazardous waste events.
Printer Cartridges & Toner: Cartridges accepted at all certified e-waste recyclers.
Old Gasoline & Fuel: Contact your local household hazardous waste program about fuel acceptance and safe transport. Never pour fuel into drains or onto soil; dumping can lead to criminal penalties.
Styrofoam (Polystyrene): California restricts EPS food service ware under SB 54. Check current CalRecycle guidance and local disposal rules; a sale restriction does not establish recycling acceptance.
Plastic Bags & Film: Plastic bag ban in effect — stores charge for paper bags. Bags still recyclable at store drop-offs.
Antifreeze & Coolant: Contact your county household hazardous waste program or a coolant recycler. Antifreeze is not a California universal-waste category; confirm site acceptance and do not mix it with used oil.
Carpet & Rugs: California has a carpet stewardship program updated by AB 863. Check CalRecycle and CARE for current collection options and acceptance; do not assume every location accepts every carpet.
Oil Filters: Oil filters are banned from landfills. Must be recycled at certified centers.
Glass (Bottles, Jars & Broken): CRV bottles/cans can be redeemed for cash at recycling centers (5¢ or 10¢).
Diapers: Some areas have diaper composting pilot programs. Check with your waste hauler.
Christmas Trees: Most cities offer free curbside tree pickup and recycling in January.
Paint Thinner & Solvents: Take to CUPA hazardous waste facilities. Some hardware stores hold collection events.
CRT TVs & Monitors: Free CRT recycling at certified e-waste collectors. CA has e-waste recycling fees built into purchase price.
Car Batteries (Lead-Acid): Core charge required at purchase. Full refund when you return the old battery.
Yard Waste (Leaves, Branches, Grass): SB 1383 requires organic waste (including yard waste) to be composted, not landfilled.
Concrete, Brick & Asphalt: C&D waste diversion required. Most transfer stations accept clean concrete.
Needles & Sharps: Use California’s approved sharps stewardship collection options and confirm eligibility. SB 486 concerns manufacturers’ disposal-support plans, not a blanket duty for every pharmacy to accept filled containers.
Appliance Cords & Power Cables: E-waste recyclers accept all cords and cables. Check CalRecycle for locations.
Smoke Alarm Batteries: All batteries are banned from trash. Recycle at any Call2Recycle drop-off or household hazardous waste facility.
Latex & Nitrile Gloves: Medical gloves from home healthcare must follow sharps/medical waste disposal rules if contaminated.
Expired Food & Leftovers: SB 1383 requires organic waste composting statewide. Use your green bin for food scraps.
Cooking Grease Traps & Grease: Many cities offer used cooking oil recycling. Check with your waste hauler.
Water Filters (Brita, PUR, etc.): Water filters can go in regular trash if no recycling program is available. Activated carbon is non-hazardous.
Humidifier & Dehumidifier Filters: Humidifier filters are non-hazardous and can go in regular trash.
Swimming Pool Covers: Large plastic items may be accepted at buyback centers. Check CalRecycle.

California disposal guide

Disposal guides