Long Beach Recycles

Hazardous Waste 101 

What is Hazardous Waste?

Hazardous Waste includes cleaners, paints, electronic devices, batteries, lawn products, and auto products. These products have chemicals in them that are harmful to human health and the environment.

Please be responsible for toxic chemicals used in and around our homes and dispose of any unused portions properly. HHW cannot be disposed of in the trash. Please help keep toxic chemicals out of our neighborhoods and environment.

Where Can I Safely Dispose of My HHW?

Long Beach and Los Angeles County residents have access to free disposal of hazardous waste at a local HHW collection event or at the following locations and times:

Gaffey Street S.A.F.E. (Solvents/Automotive/Flammables/Electronics) Center
1400 N. Gaffey St.
San Pedro, CA 90731
Open Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm**
1-800-98-TOXIC (86942)


**This location will be closed the following days, visit this link to view the LA County schedule of events:

• October 12, 2024
• October 13, 2024
• November 9, 2024
• November 10, 2024 
• December 28, 2024
• December 29, 2024

Los Angeles County EDCO Recycling and Transfer Environmental Collection Center
2755 California Ave. 
Signal Hill, CA 90755
Open 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm**

**This location will be closed the following days, visit this link to view the LA County schedule of events:

• October 12, 2024
• November 9, 2024
• December 28, 2024

For the safety of our staff and facilities, do NOT place these items in your refuse or recycling carts/bins. For questions, please call (562) 570-2876.

View the HHW Guide - English | Khmer | Tagalog | Spanish

Household Hazardous Waste Reuse Center Now Open!

Help reduce waste by picking up FREE available products such as household cleaners, lawn and garden products, paint, and more. Residents can take home partially used household, yard, and car care products for free to help save money on the purchase of new items, reduce waste, and reduce the cost of disposing good products.

Residents may choose up to five items per week, per household. Products and availability may vary.

Los Angeles County EDCO Recycling and Transfer Environmental Collection Center
2755 California Ave. 
Signal Hill, CA 90755
Open 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm**
** Holiday closure dates are noted above. 

For questions, please call (562) 570-2876 or email lbrecycles@longbeach.gov. 

View the Reuse Center flyer (English/Spanish)

What is the Criteria for Reuse Center Products?
All items available at the Reuse Center are only from the EDCO HHW/E-Waste collection events. During HHW/E-Waste collection event at EDCO, residents will drop off their waste and it will be sorted by the contracted HHW technicians (Contractor). The Contractor will visually inspect each container and apply the following criteria to sort materials eligible for reuse: 

• The product is not electronic waste.
• The product is a common household maintenance product and is readily available to the general public (i.e. over-the-counter products, products found in grocery stores, hardware stores, etc.).
• The product does not contain, or does not consist of, any banned chemicals like the following products banned and unregistered pesticides, products containing PCB's, asbestos, dioxins, and personal products such as shampoo, soap, make-up, etc.
• The product must be in its original container and have original label (no hand marks).
• The product container must be in good condition and not compromised (no rust, cracks, torn label, leaking, punctures, or thin or soft areas with the potential for cracks or leaks).
• The product container must be at minimum half full.
• The product must not be expired or be within two (2) months short of expiring.
• Motor oil must be new and unopened.

To ensure quality control of products selected for the reuse program, the Contractor will open and inspect contents of all the following types of containers:

• Antifreeze
• Bleach
• Large containers such as one- and five-gallon buckets
• Containers with spray pumps tops

After inspecting the product, the product is then cleaned off and added to the Reuse Center. Los Angeles County Public Works Department has prepared a Quality Assurance Plan that was reviewed by a Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA).    

In Case of Accidental Exposure

• For a medical emergency, call 911.
• Call the Poison Help hotline at (800) 222-1222 or visit PoisonHelp.org.
• Note: It is helpful to have the container with you for poison identification when you make an emergency call. 

+ Other Local weekend HHW Collection Events

+ Use MapIt to find household hazardous waste and e-waste recycle centers

Where Can Businesses Dispose of HHW? 

Use Clean LA's online search tool to find a disposal site near you in Los Angeles County.