Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste is waste that has properties that make it potentially dangerous or harmful to humans’ health or the environment. It can be liquids, solids, or contained gases.

The EPA uses the following characteristics to define hazardous waste:

Ignitability– Liquids or solids that are flammable or combustible
Corrosivity – Highly reactive substances that cause rust, corrosion, and noticeable damage to living tissue; acids and bases are common corrosive materials
Reactivity – Substances that, when mixed, create toxic, unstable, or explosive reactions
Toxicity – Poisonous materials

Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Locations

All Marin Businesses (except Novato)
Novato Businesses

All Marin Businesses

Except Novato

The Marin Household Hazardous Waste Facility (MHHWF) is one of the Household Hazardous Waste Programs managed and funded by Zero Waste Marin. ZWM works in partnership with The Marin Recycling & Resource Recovery Association (MRRRA) to operate the HHW facility and to provide Marin County households (except Novato) and businesses that are Very Small Quantity Generators (VSQGs) with a safe and convenient option for hazardous waste disposal.

Businesses that generate up to 27 gallons or 220 pounds of hazardous waste per month, or 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) of extremely hazardous waste per month, are welcome to drop off hazardous waste at the following location:

Call to schedule your appointment at least one week in advance, as it is challenging to accommodate same-day appointments. Visit the Marin HHW Facility website for full details on which items are accepted and which are not.

This facility does not take waste from businesses that generate household hazardous waste in Novato; however, Novato business owners offering services to customers that create household hazardous waste in Marin County, excluding Novato, can schedule an appointment to bring hazardous waste to the Marin Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

Novato Businesses

For Novato businesses, for more details on accepted and not accepted items call the Recycling Center.

The Novato Household Hazardous Waste Facility accepts drop-offs of household waste between 8:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. on the first & third Sunday and Monday of the month.

Additional Resources

California PaintCare

Paint is toxic and can be harmful to the environment; please bring unused paint to one of these PaintCare local collection locations or take it to the Marin Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

Novato businesses should take paint to the Novato Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

Use the PaintCare Drop-off Site Locator to find more approved collection sites.

Thermostat Recycling

In California, it is illegal to dispose of thermostats containing mercury in the trash. Mercury is a heavy metal that may cause serious health problems to humans and threatens marine wildlife.

To dispose of thermostats responsibly, contact Thermostatcare or bring them to the Marin or Novato HHW facility.

Household Battery Recycling

In our increasingly electronic world, consumers are using more batteries and products with batteries than ever before. Some of these batteries can also be found in e-bikes and scooters. Batteries can be defective, damaged, or recalled and must be handled properly. To learn how to safely dispose of batteries and find additional battery locations in the County, visit Call2Recycle.

You can also contact the Marin or Novato HHW facility to find more information.

Please be sure to check out our Residential Hazardous Waste Programs page for additional resources and information regarding safely disposing of hazardous waste in Marin County.