Richmond, CA., August 18, 2023 — A recent incident on August 2, 2023, posed a hazardous material (HAZMAT) incident to the City of San Pablo community and residents. Excessive amounts of lab type chemicals were found in a resident’s home in San Pablo, that was being cleaned out by a relative. The amounts and types of laboratory chemicals initiated a hazardous materials incident that involved several county and state agencies.

Due to the amount of the potentially dangerous materials that were found at this location, residents in the 3-block area were given a mandatory evacuation order between Giant Road, Miner Avenue, 11^th Street, and Palmer Avenue, in San Pablo, soon after a Shelter in Place order was given.

The agencies involved did an outstanding job at keeping the residents safe, preventing injuries, and identifying the chemicals (many of which were unlabeled), removing the materials from the residence safely, and disposing of the items properly.

Residents use common household chemicals for cleaning, maintaining yards, and vehicles.  When no longer needed these products must be disposed of properly. RecycleMore would like to remind the residents of San Pablo and all of West Contra Costa County about the no-cost Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) programs available to help people safely and legally dispose of common household hazardous items. Industrial and lab strength chemicals do not belong in the home and should be disposed of by contacting hazardous waste contractors and not delivered to the HHW facility. Even household chemicals can be dangerous.

 

Take stock of cleaners, pesticides, paints, batteries, oils, and fuel stored in garages, sheds and under sinks and bring any old, excess, and unwanted HHW to the HHW facilities in West Contra Costa County (Proof of West County residency is required):

West Contra Costa HHW Facility

101 Pittsburg Avenue, Richmond, CA 94801

9am-4pm Wednesday – Saturday

OR

El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Center

7501 Schmidt Lane, El Cerrito, CA 94530

9am-4pm Tuesdays Only (For HHW acceptance. Businesses are not accepted.)

 

If you are a small business owner in West Contra Costa County, you may be eligible to drop off hazardous waste for a fee, as part of the Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) Program. For more information, access the RecycleMore website.

“RecycleMore is proud of the Hazardous Waste Programs available to residents and businesses. RecycleMore would not be able to offer these programs without the assistance of the contractor, Republic Services, says Peter Holtzclaw, Executive Director of RecycleMore.

If you have chemicals that are NOT common household products or large quantities, DO NOT attempt to deliver these chemicals to HHW facilities, you may need to hire a hazardous waste contractor to properly dispose of the material. If you believe there is a safety hazard, please contact your local emergency response agency to assess the situation.

 

ABOUT RECYCLEMORE: RecycleMore is a local government joint powers authority created by the cities of El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, Richmond, San Pablo and unincorporated Contra Costa County. RecycleMore is also known as the West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority (WCCIWMA).

Within the jurisdiction, RecycleMore provides waste processing management for the franchised waste stream which includes the landfill, recyclables, composting, and Household Hazardous Waste (HHW).

RecycleMore is also charged with implementing and making sure the region is in compliance with California State Laws such as AB 939, AB 1826, and SB 1383, which mandate a reduction in the amount of waste materials going to landfill.

 

Related Links

Website:         https://recyclemore.com/

Website/HHW Facilities:  https://recyclemore.com/hazardous-waste/hhw-facility-info/

Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/WestCountyRecycleMore/

Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/westcountyrecyclemore/