Batteries — The #1 Fire Starter
Lithium-ion batteries cause garbage truck fires weekly.
When crushed, they short-circuit and ignite at 1,000°F+ — almost impossible to extinguish. One battery can destroy an entire $300K truck.
Never trash: Phone batteries, laptop batteries, power tool batteries, vapes, e-bike batteries, portable chargers
- Sacramento disposal:
- Retail drop-off: Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy, Staples
- HHW Facility: 4450 Roseville Rd (free)
Lithium battery danger and garbage truck fire
Paint — Not Down the Drain, Not in the Trash
One gallon of paint can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water.
- Latex paint: Let small amounts dry completely (add kitty litter). Once solid → OK for trash. Liquid → HHW.
- Oil-based paint, stains, varnishes: ALWAYS hazardous waste. Never drain, never trash.
- Sacramento disposal:
- HHW Facility: Accepts all paint, free
- PaintCare: Many hardware stores accept latex
- Pro tip: Donate good paint to Habitat ReStore
Paint disposal decision tree
Electronics — More Toxic Than You Think
Your old TV contains lead. Your old phone contains arsenic.
Electronics contain heavy metals that leach into soil and groundwater when landfilled:
- Lead — CRT monitors, old solder
- Mercury — Flat screen backlights
- Cadmium — Batteries, circuit boards
- Arsenic — Semiconductors
- Sacramento disposal:
- Best Buy: Accepts most electronics, free
- HHW Facility: All e-waste accepted
Electronics contain toxic heavy metals
Motor Oil & Automotive Fluids
One quart of motor oil contaminates 250,000 gallons of water.
Used motor oil is the single largest source of oil pollution — not tanker spills, but improper disposal by regular people.
Never trash or pour out: Motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze, gasoline
- Sacramento disposal:
- Auto parts stores: O'Reilly, AutoZone, Napa accept used oil FREE
- HHW Facility: Accepts all automotive fluids
One quart of oil contaminates massive water supply
Fluorescent Bulbs & CFLs — Mercury Inside
That energy-saving bulb contains mercury vapor.
- Never trash: CFL spirals, fluorescent tubes, HID bulbs
- OK for trash: Incandescent bulbs, LED bulbs, halogen bulbs
If a CFL breaks: Open windows, leave room 10 min. Don't vacuum (spreads mercury). Scoop with paper, wipe with damp towel, seal in bag → HHW.
- Sacramento disposal:
- Home Depot, Lowe's: CFL recycling bins at entrance
- IKEA: Accepts all bulbs
Which bulbs contain mercury
Medications — Not Down the Toilet
Flushed medications end up in the water supply.
Hormones, antibiotics, and painkillers have been detected in fish and tap water. Controlled substances in trash can be retrieved.
- Sacramento disposal:
- Drug take-back kiosks: CVS, Walgreens (FREE, anonymous)
- DEA Take-Back Day: Twice yearly events
- If no take-back: Mix with coffee grounds, seal, then trash
Medication disposal - use take-back kiosks
Propane & Compressed Gas
Pressurized cans explode when crushed.
Anything under pressure is a potential bomb in a garbage truck. Even "empty" tanks have residual pressure.
Never trash: Propane tanks, butane canisters, aerosol cans (unless completely empty), CO2 cartridges, fire extinguishers
- Sacramento disposal:
- HHW Facility: Accepts all compressed gas
- Propane exchange: Blue Rhino, AmeriGas (swap old for new)
Pressurized containers explode when crushed
Sacramento Quick Reference
North Area HHW Facility 4450 Roseville Road, North Highlands Fri-Sun, 8:30am - 4pm | (916) 875-5555 Accepts everything on this list — FREE
| Item | Where to take it | |------|-----------------| | Batteries | Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy | | Motor Oil | O'Reilly, AutoZone, Napa (FREE) | | Paint | Hardware stores (PaintCare) | | Medications | CVS, Walgreens kiosks | | CFLs | Home Depot, Lowe's, IKEA | | Electronics | Best Buy |
Sacramento hazardous waste disposal reference card