Disposing of Hazardous Materials & Hazardous Waste
From industrial chemicals to household cleaners, paints, automotive fluids, even computer monitors and television screens - hazardous materials and wastes are part of our everyday lives. Hazardous Materials are substances that pose a potential risk to life, health, or safety of the environment or self due to their chemical, physical or biological nature. When a hazardous material including universal waste such as batteries, fluorescent lamps or monitors break, it can contaminate or leak into the environment when not disposed of properly. The Gilroy Fire Prevention Program, which is in the BLES Division of Community Development, is the agency that has oversight of hazardous materials disposal by businesses and organizations in Gilroy. Any business or organization that generates hazardous waste is required to have a Permit from the Fire Prevention Program and required to be inspected for proper handling and disposal practices.
Household Hazardous Waste Facility
Residents can use the county-wide Household Hazardous Waste Facility located in San Martin to properly dispose of household hazardous wastes at no charge. This facility only operates for a 3-day period, once each month and residents are required to make an appointment. Please call 408-299-7300, or visit their website
here. Through the County of Santa Clara there is a program available businesses that generate less than 27 gallons (100kg) of hazardous waste each month called Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators, click
here to learn more.
More Information
For more information call the Gilroy Fire Prevention Program, which is in the BLES Division of Community Development at City Hall at 408-846-0451.