Recycling Hazardous waste

To dispose of hazardous waste, here is the relevant page of the City of LA's Bureau of Sanitation website. It covers the less hazardous "universal waste" (batteries, light bulbs). They devote this page to the truly hazardous waste (syringes/needles and bio-medical waste, paint and paint thinners, tires, used oil and even electronics).

Option (1) is to wait for the next "hazmobile" hazardous waste pick-up near Encino. Electronic waste collections often occur separately - they will take all electronic hardware (no washers, dryers, ovens).  For the next hazardous waste or e-waste event, check the calendar here. There may not be one near Encino for a while.

So, option (2) is to find retailers who will take hazardous waste specific to their business. For example, Home Depot has a system for recycling fluorescent bulbs since they contain tiny amounts of mercury and should not be placed in the trash (link here). Best Buy takes back electronics and some appliances no matter where you bought them, though there are exceptions and there can be a $10 fee on some items (here). Target takes batteries (here), and so does Jiffy Lube (here).

Option (3) is to go to the permanent facility in Sun Valley, near Tuxford and Glenoaks (it's called a S.A.F.E. CENTER): 11025 Randall St., Sun Valley, CA 91352, Hours of Operation: Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The City Council website states... We accept: paint and solvents; used motor oil and filters, anti-freeze, and other automotive fluids; cleaning products; pool and garden chemicals; aerosol cans; all medicine; auto batteries; household batteries. E-waste: computers, monitors, printers, network equipment, cables, telephones, televisions, microwaves, video games, cell phones, radios, stereos, VCRs, and electronic toys. We do not accept: business waste, ammunition, explosives, radioactive material, biological waste or tires. Bulky Items: furniture, refrigerators, washing machines/dryers, conventional ovens, paper, computer software.

Paints used in painting the house are water-based these days (in California they are required to be). They can be disposed of when empty in the blue recycle containers.

For more on syringe disposal, go here.