California state law prohibits us from disposing of household hazardous waste in any of our Transfer Stations or the Rock Creek Landfill. To help you safely and legally dispose of hazardous waste, Calaveras County currently offers the following programs.

Drop-off Service - Seven days a week - The Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility at Rock Creek, which is open seven days a week from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm., offers free disposal of household hazardous wastes as listed below.

One-day Collection Events - If you cannot make it to Rock Creek, Public Works will continue to sponsor one-day collection events at six locations throughout the County once each year. The next events are scheduled for:

September 13, 2008
Angels Camp
Copperopolis

September 14, 2008
West Point

September 20, 2008
Arnold

September 21, 2008
San Andreas

These services are limited to Calaveras and Alpine County residents. State law limits transportation to a maximum of 15 gallons of liquid hazardous waste or 125 pounds of solid hazardous waste per trip. Containers must be adequate to contain materials and must be sealed to minimize spills.

HHW -- What is it?

Household hazardous waste is any material used in your home that may threaten human health or the environment when improperly discarded. Hazardous waste usually has one or more of the following characteristics:

• Flammable: It may burst into flames easily.
• Toxic: It may be poisonous to humans or other living things.
• Corrosive: It may eat or wear away at many materials.
• Reactive: In contact with air, water, or other substances, it may produce heat or harmful vapors.

Some examples of household hazardous waste are:

Pesticides - Household cleaners - Ammonia - TV and Computer Monitors - Disinfectants - Mercury - Poisons - Boric acid - Glues and adhesives - Herbicides - Cleaning fluids - Batteries - Aerosol cans - Motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze, and other automotive products - Paints - Thinners - Photographic chemicals - Gasoline and other fuels - Mothballs - Pool and spa chemicals

Drop-off Service - Friday through Monday - The Red Hill and Wilseyville Annexes accept the following special wastes: TV's, computer monitors, motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze, automobile batteries, latex paint, fluorescent tubes, and tires, Friday throught Monday 9:00am to 5:30pm.

What about businesses?

Business that generate small quantities of hazardous waste (less than 220 pounds per month) may also use the services described above, either the Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility at Rock Creek or the one-day collection events throughout the County. However, qualifying businesses must first make an appointment with the program coordinator and submit an inventory of hazardous waste to be disposed of.

If you would like more information about our programs, please call the Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division, at (209) 754-6403 or e-mail us at ccsw_web@co.calaveras.ca.us.