What is E-Waste?

Each year in California hundreds of thousands of computers, monitors, copiers, fax machines, printers, televisions, and other electronic items become "obsolete" in the eyes of consumers. Rapid advances in technology and an expanding demand for new features accelerate the generation of "old" electronic equipment ("e-waste"). Many components of electronic equipment--including metals, plastic, and glass--can be recycled, while others may present environmental hazards if not managed correctly. 

Help reduce waste by discarding electronic waste (e-waste) through one of these convenient options: 

• Free curbside collection of up to five items, three times annually. To schedule an e-waste collection, contact Waste Management at 760-929-9400 at least 24 hours in advance of your regular collection day. 
• Drop off e-waste for free at Waste Management’s buyback center, located at Palomar Transfer Station: 5960 El Camino Real. Hours of operations are: 8am – 4pm, Tuesday – Saturday (closed for lunch between 12pm – 12:40pm).

Household Battery Collection

Residents can recycle household batteries by putting them in a clear zipper bag and placing them on top of their recycle cart on their service day.

What is Hazardous Waste?

Hazardous waste is any gas, liquid, or solid used in the home labeled with the words caution, warning, danger, poison, toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive and poses a health threat to people, animals, and the environment due to the chemical nature.

Examples of Household Hazardous Waste

Items Not Accepted as HHW

• Smoke Detectors – Ionization smoke detectors can be mailed back to their manufacturer for recycling.

Want to know how to dispose of household hazardous waste? Check out our video. 

Disposal options

The city offers several convenient ways for residents to get rid of household hazardous waste. 

Drop Off Service for Carlsbad Residents

The city offers drop off service for household hazardous waste for Carlsbad residents.

Stericycle / PSC Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (map it)
1145 East Taylor St.
Vista, CA 95084
Hours: Saturdays 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
800-714-1195
Cost: Free

Door-to-Door Service for Carlsbad Residents

The city provides service through Stericycle / PSC to collect household hazardous waste material from the front door of resident’s homes for a $10 fee. This service is available by appointment only. For an appointment, call 800-714-1195. Please note if there is a resident in the home over the age of 65 this service is free of charge. 

Recycle Used Motor Oil

Why Recycle Used Oil?

Did you know that used motor oil never wears out? It just gets dirty and can be recycled, cleaned, and used again. Recycling used motor oil conserves a natural resource (oil) and is good for the environment too! Motor oil poured onto the ground or into storm drains, or tossed into trash cans (even in a sealed container) can contaminate and pollute the soil, groundwater, streams, rivers and the ocean. Recycling your used motor oil reduces this pollution threat. When you take your used oil to a certified center for recycling, you are protecting the environment, conserving a valuable resource, and getting paid for it. That's a winning combination!

About the Certified Centers

The city encourages the recycling of used motor oil. Certified Used Oil Collection Centers will take used motor oil from the public and will pay you 40¢ a gallon. Most centers will take up to 5 gallons at a time.

What About Contaminated Oil?

Certified Collection Center managers will not accept used motor oil that has been contaminated with other fluids such as antifreeze, solvents, gasoline, or water. So please, don't mix your used oil with anything. However, if your used oil accidentally gets contaminated, your certified center manager can tell you where to take it for proper disposal. Or see options listed above for household hazardous waste disposal options.