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Household Batteries & Light Bulbs

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Drop Off Locations

BatteriesHousehold Batteries

Used batteries are considered hazardous waste in California. You may not put batteries in your trash or recycling carts. This includes single-use and rechargeable Alkaline and Lithium AAA, AA , C, D, button cell, 9-volt, hearing aid, small tool and other small household batteries.

NOTE: To avoid potential fire hazard, it is important to tape each terminal end of each battery before depositing in the drop off container.

To reduce waste,  choose rechargeable batteries when possible. All businesses that sell rechargeable batteries must take them back to be recycled. 

Household Battery Drop-off in City Facilities:

  • City of Santa Cruz Municipal Utilities Customer Service Office, 212 Locust Street      
  • City Hall, Locust Street parking lot, battery receptacle hole in fence on the trash enclosure (24/7) - See Map Below

Battery Drop Off Collage

  • London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center Street
  • Resource Recovery Facility, 605 Dimeo Lane (Monday-Saturday, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm)

 Retail Battery Drop-off Locations in the City of Santa Cruz:

  • O'Reilly Auto Parts, 411 May Avenue

Light Bulbs

Fluorescent lighting contains mercury which is a hazardous material. It is illegal to throw out fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent bulbs, high-density discharge bulbs, metal halide bulbs, and sodium or neon bulbs.

Do the Right Thing! NEVER throw your used fluorescent bulbs or tubes in the trash or recycling cart!

 

Under Construction

Take bulbs and tubes to these retail locations:

Ace Hardware

1214 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz - Tubes up to 4 ft./ 4 items per visit
Westside Hardware 855 Almar Avenue, Santa Cruz - Tubes up to 4 ft./ 4 items per visit

 

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-off Sites
Resource Recovery Facility 605 Dimeo Lane, Santa Cruz
Buena Vista Landfill 1231 Buena Vista Drive, Watsonville
Ben Lomond Transfer Station 9835 Newell Creek Road, Ben Lomond

 

Limit at HHW sites: 10 bulbs or tubes per visit. Tubes over 4 feet are not accepted at retail locations. City residents may take tubes over 4 feet to the Resource Recovery Facility at no charge. Commercial customers and businesses must take used bulbs and tubes to the Buena Vista Landfill. There is a fee for recycling fluorescent bulbs and tubes.

For additional drop-off locations in the County of Santa Cruz visit: Santa Cruz County Recycles

Questions?
420-5593 
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