Glendale Fire Department Household Hazardous Waste Program was one of the first established in the nation and the first permanent indoor operation in Southern California. Since the program was established in 1991 the program has collected more than 3,000 tons of waste.

The Household Hazardous Waste facility is open every Wednesday and 2nd Saturday of every month from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

• The facility will still be closed on all holidays and during extreme weather conditions.
• As a reminder this facility is only open to Glendale and La Cañada residents proof of residency is required.

Areas Serviced

• The Household Hazardous Waste Program serves residents of Glendale and La Cañada.
• For residents of La Crescenta or Montrose if you pay a utility bill to Glendale Water and Power you can also participate in the program. Please bring a copy of the bill with you.
• If you live in a city other than Glendale or La Cañada, click here for a Hazardous Waste Round-up near you. https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/cleanla/

How to bring in your Household Hazardous Waste

• A maximum of 15 gallons of liquid or 125 lbs. of solid hazardous waste may be brought during each visit. The material is measured by the size of the container and not its actual content.
• If possible, keep the chemicals in their original labeled container and bring then in a sturdy box.
• Be prepared to leave your containers (we cannot empty your containers and return them). New containers will be provided for used oil only.
• Place the chemicals into the trunk of your car, or in the back of your truck/SUV/van, in such a way as to minimize any chance of spillage. When you arrive you will be asked for your name and zip code.
• Please remain in your car at all times and the staff will remove the materials for you.

HHW Materials Collected

Lights and Batteries

• Fluorescent lamps and tubes. Includes fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps, metal halide lamps, and sodium vapor lamps. LED lights should not be placed in the trash because they often contain metals in amounts that exceed threshold limits.
• Batteries. Includes all batteries, AAA, AA, C, D, button cell, 9-volt, and all others, both rechargeable and single use. Also lead-acid batteries such as car batteries and rechargeable ones such as lithium and nickel metal hydride used on computers and power tools.

Mercury-Containing Items

• Thermostats that contain mercury. There is a mercury inside the sealed glass "tilt switch" of the old style thermostats (not the newer electronic kind).
• Mercury gauges. Some gauges, such as barometers, manometers, blood pressure, and vacuum gauges contain mercury.
• Mercury thermometers. Mercury thermometers typically contain about a half gram of mercury. Many health clinics, pharmacies and doctor's offices have thermometer exchange programs that will give you a new mercury-free fever thermometer in exchange for your old one.

Household and Landscape Chemicals

• Acids, oxidizers, and bases. Includes some pool chemicals such as muriatic acid, sodium hypochlorite, pool tablets and shock treatments.
• Home cleaners and disinfectors. Oven cleaners, floor cleaners, glass cleaners and bleach
• Wood Polish. Lemon and orange oil based polisher
• Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Insect killers (ants, fleas, termites, hornets), fungicides, weed killers (crab grass, dandelions) and lawn fertilizers.

Paints and Solvents

• Latex paint.
• Oil-based paint
• Nonempty aerosol paint or solvent cans. Many products in aerosol cans are toxic. And many aerosol cans contain flammables, like butane, as propellants for products like paint. If your aerosol can is labeled with words like TOXIC or FLAMMABLE, don't put it in the trash unless it is completely empty.
• Solvents. Includes materials such as paint thinners, finger nail polish remover, etc.

Building Materials

• Asbestos. Includes some older tiles, piping and siding. All asbestos materials must be brought to the EMC must be double bagged and wet.
• Treated Wood. Includes wood that is treated with chromium copper arsenate (CCA) or Creosote.

Automobile-Related

• Antifreeze.
• Batteries.
• Lubricating fluids.
• Motor oil and filters.

Household Medication Waste Disposal

• Note: Chemotherapy pharmaceuticals should be returned to clinic that dispensed them.
• Note: Schedule II to V Controlled Substance medications are prescribed medications that are strictly regulated because they have a high potential for abuse and/or can cause harm when ingested by the wrong person. Those medications are not accepted at our facility.
• To check if your medication is a controlled substance please visit https://www.dea.gov/drug-scheduling.
• For a list of locations that accepted Controlled substances II to V please visit https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e2s2.

   

  • Prescription medication
  • Over-the-counter medication
  • Medicated ointments and lotion
  • Pet medication

Other

• Propane gas cylinders. Includes propane tanks used for BBQ or plumbing.
• Needles and sharps generated in home health care. Includes hypodermic needles, hypodermic needles with syringes, blades and needles.
• PCB-containing materials. Includes paint and ballasts that contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB).
• Photo waste (Nitrate compounds, silver bearing, fixers and developers).).

Materials that are NOT accepted: explosives, ammunition, radioactive materials, compressed gas cylinders other than propane, trash, tires or medical waste other than sharps.

Small Business Program

• The HHW program is also authorized to take certain hazardous materials for some small businesses located in the service area at a subsidized cost.
• The business must contact the program manager prior to dropping off any waste in order to set up an account.
• Please contact the us at (818) 548-4810 if you have any questions or to set up your account.