Hazardous/Special Waste
Reduce hazardous waste by choosing safer cleaning and pest control products; buying only what you need of automotive and home maintenance items and following label instructions.
- Items that are Banned from the Trash and Recycling Bins with how to properly recycle or dispose of them.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE
Humboldt County's household hazardous waste drop-off facility is located at the Humboldt Waste Management Authority waste transfer station at 1059 West Hawthorne Street in Eureka. It is open the first Saturday of each month (excluding holidays) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. No appointments are required for households but there is a 15 gallon container size limit. There is a $5 fee. If you are a business call to set up an appointment. For further information call 441-2005.
E-WASTE
Computer monitors, CPU's, copiers or any equipment with a digital read out or processing board can be recycled at Arcata Resource Recovery Center, 1445 10th Street in Arcata, at no charge. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for more information call (707) 822-5156. You can also take your e-waste to Humboldt Waste Management Authority, 1059 W. Hawthorne in Eureka, for a nominal fee of $2 for monitors and 5 cents/pound for other e-material. For more information call (707) 268-8020.
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Click on this link for the brochure, No Drugs Down the Drain, with information on proper disposal of pharmaceuticals.
How to dispose of used prescription drugs can be confusing. Some say it is safe to flush medicines down the toilet, others say to throw them in the garbage. Neither is a good option as both methods of disposal introduce pharmaceuticals into our water either directly through the wastewater treatment plant or indirectly when they leach out of a landfill. Non-controlled-substances can be taken to Humboldt Waste Management Authority (HWMA) in Eureka, please call for more details or to arrange drop off, 441-2005. In addition to HWMA, Open Door Clinics in McKinleyville, Arcata and Eureka have drop boxes where you can drop your left over medicines during normal business hours.
PAINT
At no charge, paint can now be taken to Arcata Resource and Recovery Center at 1445 10th Street in Arcata. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..