sfenvironment.org

Toxic Products: Recycling & Disposal

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When most people think of hazardous materials or products, they probably picture trucks full of industrial chemicals or bottles of laboratory chemicals. But just about all households and businesses use hazardous materials on a regular basis. When we are done using these products, they become hazardous waste, and cannot be put into the trash.

Examples of common products that require special care at the end of their useful life include:

• Paints and solvents


• Cleaning chemicals, floor strippers, metal polishes


• Garden chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers


• Automotive products including car batteries, motor oil and antifreeze


• Electronics such as computers, TVs and mobile phones


• Fluorescent tubes and bulbs (they contain mercury)


• Batteries of all shapes and sizes including AA, AAA, D, button cells, etc.


• Medicines, needles, syringes

All these products contain toxic chemicals or heavy metals that can leach into the soil under and around landfills, and into groundwater if they are put into the trash. To protect the environment and our health, the City & County of San Francisco sponsors a variety of programs for its residents, businesses and city departments to safely recycle and dispose of hazardous materials.