Managing Household Hazardous Wastes

California Health and Safety Code (HSC), Division 20, Chapter 6.5, Article 10.8., Sections 25218.12 establishes the authority and basic operating requirements for public agency collection and management of household hazardous waste. Regulatory standards for the management of household hazardous waste and authorization requirements for collection are available at the following links:

Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations Chapters 23 and 45. 

Chapter 6.5 Section 25218 of the Health and Safety Code

Local HHW Programs

HHW must be managed in accordance with state hazardous waste laws.  In general, these laws require that hazardous wastes be disposed of at permitted treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDF) or a recycling facility as appropriate.  These laws further require that hazardous waste be transported by a registered hazardous waste transporter and that the waste is identified on a hazardous waste manifest.

Because Local agencies are assumed to have close control over the handling of HHW, California Hazardous Waste Law provides several management requirements for HHW generators and establishes a streamlined permitting process for HHW Collection Facilities. 

Reduced management requirements provided to households include:

• Households are not required to have an EPA identification number (CCR, Title 22, 66262.12)
• Households may self-transport up to 5 gallons or 50 pounds  of HHW to an approved HHW Collection Facility.  The local administering agency may elect to increase this quantity under specified conditions, to 15 gallons or 125 pounds (HSC 25218-5.1)
• Households are not required to use a Hazardous Waste Manifest when they self transport HHW to an approved HHW Collection Facility (HSC25218)