Household hazardous wastes are the leftover or unused portions of materials used to clean and maintain your home. The following are just a few of the common items considered to be "household hazardous waste":

• Paint, Solvents & Thinners
• Household Cleaners, Pesticides, Aerosols & Fertilizers
• Used Motor Oil, Filters, Car batteries
• Household Batteries, Photo Chemicals
• Poisons, Anti-Freeze, Asbestos
• Many items labeled Caution, Warning, Danger, Poison, Toxic, Flammable, or Corrosive

For safety and environmental reasons it is illegal to dispose of HHW in the garbage, sewers, or storm drains. Please take these materials to the West County Drive-Through Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility.

Location: 101 Pittsburg Avenue (directions)
Hours: Thursdays, Fridays and the first Saturday of every month 9am-4pm, closed 12-12:30pm.
Phone: 1-888-412-9277
Website: http://www.Recyclemore.com/article.asp?key=3

There is NO CHARGE for dropoff and NO APPOINTMENT IS NEEDED!

SEWER SERVICES

The City of Pinole and West County Sanitary District take care of maintaining the City's sewer system. The area that is serviced by the City of Pinole maintains the main sewer line and the lateral line up to the curb. If you suspect a problem in the main sewer line, call the Public Works office at (510) 724-9010. If the problem occurs after 5pm, call (510) 724-8950. The area that is serviced by the West County Wastewater District maintains the main sewer line. For service covered by West County Wastewater, call (510) 222-6700.

The City of Pinole is regulated by a Regional Water Quality Control Board. As such, we are bound by state regulations that require best management practices in the treatment of the City's sewage influent.  As part of our attempt to prevent toxins and unwanted debris from entering our sewage system, resulting in the pollution of surrounding natural bodies of water, we encourage you to visit the websites listed below and learn about the proper disposal of Household Hazardous Waste.

PROPER USE AND DISPOSAL OF PESTICIDES

As part of the City of Pinole's NPDES permit compliance process and for the protection of our environment, we encourage all of our citizens to use pesticides minimally, only when absolutely necessary, and in a safe and approved manner.  The following web sites will help in that regard and will introduce you to Integrated Pest Management, a system of non-chemical, alternative pest mitigation methods.

Sponsored by the EPA:

• Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety
• Pesticides Safety Program
• UC Davis Integrated Pest Management Program
• Integrated Pest Management Information Service

MOTOR OIL

There are several reasons why you should recycle your used motor oil.

Recycling your used motor oil and filter is as easy as 1-2-3.

Thanks to the help of the NPDES program, Public Works is able to follow-up when you see the illegal dumping of motor oil. If you see illegal dumping taking place, call the Police Department at (510) 724-9050, and if you find motor oil or other hazardous waste in the street, call the Public Works Department at (510) 724-9010.

In Contra Costa County storm drains flow directly to local creeks, San Francisco Bay and the delta with no treatment. Storm water pollution is a serious problem for wildlife dependent on our waterways and for the people who live near polluted streams and baylands. Home remodeling, repair, and construction activities often involve materials and wastes that are toxic to the environment when they reach a storm drain or creek. Paint products, concrete, mortar and landscaping runoff containing weed killers to pesticides are common sources of concern. Proper handling and use of these materials is essential to protect the health of the Bay.

RECYCLING INFORMATION

As part of our attempt to prevent toxins and unwanted debris from entering our storm system resulting in the pollution of surrounding natural bodies of water, we encourage you to visit the following EPA sponsored websites and learn about the proper disposal of Household Hazardous Waste.

Mercury has the potential to reach San Francisco Bay when the mercury containing thermometers break in household sinks. The mercury flows into the sewer system and to the wastewater treatment plant. The treatment plant cannot effectively remove toxic metals like mercury and the metal can bypass treatment and end up in the Bay. Mercury enters into and contaminates fish tissue. When humans eat contaminated fish, the mercury can hinder brain development especially in fetuses and young children. The local Household Hazardous Waste facility located at 101 Pittsburg Avenue in Richmond at the Richmond Parkway has a mercury thermometer exchange program. Simply bring your mercury thermometer to the Household Hazardous Waste facility Thursday or Friday 9:00 am to noon or 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, or the first Saturday of every month from 9:00 am to noon, and exchange it for a free digital thermometer. Save yourself another trip to the collection facility by dropping off any other household, garden or automotive chemicals you no longer need to ensure that these toxins don't reach our water environment. Fluorescent bulbs also contain mercury and should be recycled. Below is additional information on Fluorescent lamps and where you can dispose of them.

For more information about EPA's fact sheet on fishing warnings visit: