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Jump to:  Richmond Facility   |    El Cerrito Facility (Tuesdays only)    |     Kensington HHW Services


West Contra Costa County Household Hazardous Waste Facility

If you reside in El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, Richmond, San Pablo and the unincorporated West County areas (Crockett, El Sobrante, Port Costa, Rodeo, & Tormey) you may drop off your household hazardous waste for FREE at the the West Contra Costa County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Proof of residency is required.

As of January 2023, Kensington residents may now also drop off HHW at this facility, click here for further information.

  • Address:
  • Directions starting northbound on Richmond Parkway:
    • Turn right onto Pittsburg Avenue.
  • Directions starting southbound on Richmond Parkway:
    • Turn left onto Pittsburg Avenue.
    • Once on Pittsburg Ave, go about 1000 yards.
    • Turn right into the second driveway at 101 Pittsburg Avenue.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

  • Open: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday
  • Hours: 9:00am – 4:00pm (closed 12:00pm to 12:30pm for lunch)

ACCEPTABLE ITEMS:

To see examples of what types of items can be dropped off at the facility, please see our Online Disposal/Recycling Guide. Search for the item you have for disposal to see whether or not it is accepted at the facility and for alternative ways for proper disposal. Note that these items are NOT accepted for drop off: controlled substances, radioactive materials, explosives, firearms, pressurized gas cylinders – thick walled and over 5 gallons.

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS:

If you are a small business in West Contra Costa County, you may be eligible to drop off hazardous waste for a fee. For more information, navigate here.

HANDLING, TRANSPORT & DROP-OFF

The legal transport limit is no more than 15-gallons or 125-pounds of household hazardous waste per vehicle per visit. Individual containers are limited to 5-gallon capacity. Proof of West County residency is required.  Here are some additional instructions on how to safely handle, transport and drop off these materials:

  • Leave labels intact or clearly label all items.
  • Do not mix materials in the same container.
  • Tighten lids and place leaking or dirty containers in strong plastic bags.
  • Pack individual containers in a sturdy box or tub with absorbent material such as newspaper.
  • Transport materials in the trunk or rear of the vehicle.
  • Stay in your vehicle when you arrive at the facility.
  • Show identification for residency.

For more information, call the West Contra Costa Household Hazardous Waste Hotline:  (888) 412-9277.


Kensington HHW Services

Residents and some businesses* in Kensington are eligible to use the West County HHW Collection Facility in Richmond and the El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Center (on Tuesdays), as of January 2023, using the Voluntary Permit ProgramBefore going to the facilities, residents of Kensington should obtain a permit first by calling Bay View Refuse & Recycling at (510) 237-4614. Bay View Refuse may ask questions about your waste/material to ensure you are aware of the Do’s & Don’ts of using the facility. Proof of residency is required to use the HHW Facilities such as a driver’s license or utility bill. Please note it is not required to use a permit and no one from Kensington is turned away if they do not have a permit.

State law prohibits the transportation of more than 15 gallons (three 5-gallon containers) or 125 pounds of hazardous waste in your vehicle. Individual containers are limited to 5-gallon maximum capacity.

*Only businesses generating less than 27 gallons or 222 pounds of hazardous waste per month may participate in the Very Small Quanitity Generator Program (VSQG), at the West Contra Costa County HHW Facility in Richmond. Fees are based on cost of materials disposed.

For general information on how to properly manage Household Hazardous Waste, click here.

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El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource Center

RecycleMore provides these services in partnership with West County Resource Recovery (WCRR), Republic Services, and the City of El Cerrito. You must show proof of residency in the RecycleMore Service area: El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, Richmond, San Pablo, and unincorporated Contra Costa County communities of Bayview, El Sobrante, Montalvin Manor, North Richmond, Rollingwood and Tara Hills. *Residential waste only, NO business waste will be accepted.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

  • Open: Tuesdays (for HHW only)
  • Hours: 9:00am – 4:00pm (closed 12:00pm to 12:30pm for lunch)

Items accepted for drop off on Tuesdays:

  • Garden products (pesticides and fertilizers)
  • Propane gas cylinders
  • Hazardous aerosols/cleaners/sprays & poisons
  • Auto products (such as gasoline, cleaners, polishes)
  • Paints, solvents, thinners, and adhesives
  • Photo & pool chemicals
  • Mercury thermometers and switches

Items accepted during regular business hours at the center:
*
Please visit the El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource Center page for most up to date information.

  • Used motor oil & filters (5-gallon container maximum, no paper filters; RecycleMore service area residents only)
  • Cooking oil (5 gallon maximum, NO solid grease)
  • Household batteries (Alkaline, NiCad, lithium)
  • Auto batteries (lead-acid cell)
  • Fluorescent lights: tubes and CFLs (RecycleMore service area residents only)
  • Sharps* (needles, syringes, lancets; RecycleMore service area residents only)
    • Must be contained in an approved sharps container or thick plastic container with a screw top lid.
    • Bin always locked so seek staff for assistance.
  • Medications (no controlled substances allowed, RecycleMore service area residents only):
    • Remove excess packaging.
    • Empty pills into Ziploc-type bag for disposal.
    • Mix pills together.
    • Liquids, creams, inhalers do not need to be bagged.
    • Black out any personal information.
    • Bin always locked so seek staff for assistance.
  • New Policy: Due to changes in Global Recycling Markets, the only materials currently eligible for Electronics (e-waste) recycling are:
    • Cable boxes
    • Cameras & video equipment
    • Cell phones & chargers
    • Computer components such as: memory, hard drives, disk drives
    • Computer monitors
    • Computer systems
    • Console video games
    • GPS systems
    • Green board / PC cards
    • Hard drives & memory
    • Internet devices
    • Laptop computers
    • LCD TVs & monitors (none with wood allowed)
    • Smartphones & PDAs
    • Telephones & telephone systems & related equipment
    • Televisions (all sizes, all ages, all types except those housed in wood)
    • Toner / Laser / Inkjet cartridges (OEM only)
    • Video game consoles & software
    • Wiring & cables

Items not accepted at any time:

  • No hazardous waste from businesses
  • No explosives, ammunition, medical waste, radioactive waste
  • No treated wood waste or contaminated soil
  • No microwaves or refrigerators

Items not allowed / currently accepted in the E-Waste Bin: 

  • Predominantly plastic electric appliances or major appliances (air filters, electric blankets, radios, vacuums etc.)

If you do not see your item, please check our Recycling Guide.

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