FAQ-HHW

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (HHW)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)


What is Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)?

You may have many items in your home considered to be "Household Hazardous Waste". Household Hazardous Waste means any hazardous waste generated incidental to owning and/or maintaining a place of residence. A Household is defined as a single detached residence or a single unit of a multiple residence unit and all appurtenant structures Household hazardous waste does not include any waste generated in the course of operating a business at a residence.
Some of these items are paint, used oil, household and automobile batteries, spent fluorescent lamps, television and computer monitors, etc. Hazardous wastes from all sources, including households, must be properly handled and recycled or disposed of to prevent injury to personnel and contamination at solid waste landfills.

Where can I take my HHW?

The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program provides the following opportunities for disposal and recycling of household hazardous wastes at no charge to residents of Tulare County:

  • Visalia Corporation Yard Collection Center - The permanent HHW collection facility is located at the City of Visalia Corporation Yard, 335 N. Cain St. in Visalia and is open every Saturday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.
  • Porterville RECYCLE-ONLY HHW Collection Facility – The Recycle-Only HHW collection facility is located at the City of Porterville Corporation Yard located at 555 N. Prospect, Porterville, CA and is open every third Saturday of the month from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Only the following recyclable household hazardous waste materials are accepted at the Recycle-Only HHW collection facility:
    • Latex paint
    • Used oil
    • Used oil filters
    • Antifreeze
    • Spent lead-acid batteries
    • Nickel-cadmium, alkaline, carbon-zinc, or other small batteries
    • Intact spent fluorescent lamps
    • Intact spent high intensity discharge (HID) lamps
  • Mobile One – Day HHW Collection Events - We offer temporary Recycling Events throughout the County during year.
  • Used Motor Oil - There are 40 locations for "do-it-yourselfers" to take used motor oil and are operated in partnership with private businesses.
  • Electronic Waste - Electronic Waste (e-waste) - Televisions, computer monitors, and electronic devices with video display screens greater than four inches measured diagonally are accepted free from residents, businesses, schools, nonprofits and local government at the following locations.
  • E-Recycling Solutions – Please visit the Community Services Employment Training (CSET) website.
  • Goodwill Industries of San Joaquin Valley, Visalia - 2240 S. Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, Hours are Monday - Sunday 8 am to 5 pm. Telephone 559-732-7922. For more information, go to the “About Electronics Recycling” on their website.
  • Tulare County Recycling - 26951 Road 140, Visalia. Hours are Monday - Saturday 8 am to 4 pm. Telephone 559-741-1766.
  • Universal Waste – For a fact sheet listing the various types of U-Waste and the rules for recycling them, refer to the Universal Substances Fact Sheet.
  • All forms of Universal Waste are accepted at the Visalia Permanent HHW Collection Center and Mobile One-Day HHW Collection Events.
  • The Porterville Recycle-Only HHW Collection Facility accepts nickel-cadmium, alkaline, carbon-zinc, or other small batteries; and intact spent fluorescent and high intensity disharge (HID) lamps.

The Community Services Employment Training (CSET) accepts E-Waste and fluorescent lamps at the drop-off centers at the following locations:
Exeter Recycling Center 314 W. Firebaught St. Exeter, CA

Tuesday-Saturday,   9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Goshen Recycling Center

30498 Diagonal 69 (frontage road from 99, exit Avenue 304)

 Goshen, CA

Monday - Saturday, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Woodlake Mobile Recycling Center 137 Valencia St. Woodlake, CA

Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Cleanup Events Call (559) 732-4194 www.cset.org/recycling/collection.htm

Saturdays  9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Is there a penalty if I just leave my waste somewhere?

The abandonment of a hazardous waste constitutes illegal disposal, which is subject to a civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each violation. Never leave hazardous waste outside of a closed collection location.

How should I transport my Household Hazardous Waste or Universal Waste?

We strongly recommend that household hazardous waste be in closed containers and packed in a manner that prevents the containers from tipping, spilling, or breaking during transport. Do not mix different household hazardous wastes within the same container. Due to permit restrictions, universal waste is the only hazardous waste accepted from non-household generators. Individuals who generate household hazardous waste can transport it to any of the above-listed recycling opportunities.

Is there anything special I should do for my own personal safety when transporting my household hazardous waste?

For your safety when transporting materials to the collection event, we recommend placing individual containers within plastic tubs, or in cardboard boxes lined with plastic. Place different hazard classes (poisons, corrosives, oxidizers, flammables) into separate boxes so that if one container leaks it will not cause a chemical reaction with an incompatible material. No explosives, infectious, radioactive, or electronic wastes, or compressed gasses will be accepted. Please, no hazardous wastes from businesses.

Do I need to worry about any type of special permits to transport my waste?

An individual transporting household hazardous waste to one of the above collection options is exempt from the requirements to use a hazardous waste manifest and a registered hazardous waste hauler if all of the following conditions are met:

  • Except as provided for spent automotive-type lead acid storage batteries, the total amount of household hazardous waste transported by an individual or universal waste transported by a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG) to one of the above collection options shall not exceed
    • A total liquid volume of five gallons
    • A total dry weight of 50 pounds
    • A combined weight of 50 pounds if the hazardous waste transported is both liquid and non-liquid
  • The household hazardous waste and Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG) universal waste that is transported shall be in closed containers and packed in a manner that prevents the containers from tipping, spilling, or breaking during transport.
  • Different household hazardous wastes or different CESQG hazardous wastes shall not be mixed within a container before or during transport.

Is there a limit to how much household hazardous waste I can take to a facility?

By law, the total amount of household hazardous waste or hazardous waste transported to a household hazardous waste collection facility by either the person or a CESQG shall not exceed a total liquid volume of five gallons or a total dry weight of 50 pounds. If the hazardous waste transported is both liquid and non-liquid, the total amount transported shall not exceed a combined weight of 50 pounds. A public agency may choose to increase the liquid volume and dry weight to a liquid volume of 15 gallons and a dry weight of 125 pounds under certain circumstances. (If the public agency finds that the local household hazardous waste collection program operated by that public agency, or its contractor, has adequate public education programs to inform the public on proper techniques for packaging and transporting the household hazardous waste to the program's household hazardous waste collection facilities.)

What about my old car batteries?

Automotive-type lead acid storage batteries are accepted for recycling at virtually all retailers that sell these types of batteries. A retailer will often pay a "core charge" or offer a rebate on purchase of a new battery. Households and non-households (e.g., automobile owner, service station operator, retail store operator) generating, storing, and transporting automotive-type lead acid storage batteries according to the following provisions are otherwise exempted from the requirements governing hazardous waste:

  • Generates in one year, stores at one time, or transports at one time in one vehicle ten or fewer spent lead-acid storage batteries of the above type; and
  • Generates in one year, stores at one time, or transports at one time in one vehicle ten or fewer spent lead-acid storage batteries of the above type.

For more information, refer to the Department of Toxic Substances Control.  Automotive-type lead acid storage batteries are accepted at the Visalia Permanent Collection Facility, the Porterville Recycle-Only HHW Collection Facility and Mobile One Day HHW Collection Events. However, when possible we request that you recycle these batteries at retail facilities that accept them.