California
Household hazardous waste drop-off
Orange County household hazardous waste drop-off
Hours, sticker price, who can use it, item fees, hazardous waste options, and holiday notes for Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers (4 sites, OC Waste & Recycling).
Not a household-trash drop-off. This page covers only the specifically listed recycling, compost, hazardous or specialty materials. Check the accepted materials before loading your vehicle.
Last verified from official sources: 2026-11-09
Who can use it
Orange County residents only. Household and residential waste only; no business waste. Any of the four centers may be used.
Hours
- All four centers: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (closed on major holidays and during rainy weather)
- Anaheim Collection Center, 1071 N. Blue Gum Street, Anaheim 92806
- Huntington Beach Collection Center, 17121 Nichols Lane (Gate 6), Huntington Beach 92647
- Irvine Collection Center, 6411 Oak Canyon, Irvine 92618
- San Juan Capistrano Collection Center, 32250 Avenida La Pata, San Juan Capistrano 92675
Sticker or permit
Required: No (see notes)
Price: No separate sticker price was established on the linked page; the eligibility and item fees below still apply.
Where to buy: Contact the facility about access requirements before loading.
Per-item fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Household hazardous waste and e-waste (Orange County residents) | Free |
| Load limit | 15 gallons or 125 lbs per vehicle per trip (Department of Transportation requirement) |
| Container size | 5 gallons or less; larger containers not accepted |
Hazardous waste
Accepted: automotive products (antifreeze, car batteries, brake and transmission fluid, motor oil, fuel additives); cleaning products and non-industrial pool chemicals; flammables (diesel, gas/oil mix, kerosene, lighter fluid, home heating oil, fire extinguishers up to 40 lbs, propane tanks up to 5 gal); lawn and garden chemicals; batteries including e-bike and vape pen batteries; fluorescent bulbs and tubes; mercury thermostats and thermometers; sharps in puncture-proof containers; smoke detectors; paint, stains, solvents, adhesives and aerosol cans; e-waste (TVs, monitors, computers, phones, microwaves, printers, game consoles, photovoltaic solar panels). Not accepted: asbestos, ammunition, explosives, marine flares, biological waste, commercial waste, helium and high-pressure cylinders (acetylene, oxygen, SCUBA or SCBA tanks), prescription medication, radioactive materials and tires.
Holiday closures
Posted closures: Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26, 2026), Christmas, New Year's Day (Jan. 1, 2027), Independence Day (July 4, 2027) and Labor Day (Sept. 6, 2027). Also closed during rainy weather.
Holiday schedule last verified 2026-11-09 from official sources .
Other notes
- Keep materials in original containers (except motor oil, fuels and antifreeze). Containers must have lids, be sturdy, non-leaking, labeled and protected from breakage. Do not combine different wastes or mix oil-based paint with latex paint.
- Containers are not returned, except uncontaminated oil containers on request.
- Materials Exchange Program: Orange County residents can take home up to five partially used household, yard and car care products per week per household, free.
- Irvine center: the county posted (updated Dec. 5, 2025) that the City of Irvine and OC Waste & Recycling extended the Irvine license for up to one year at the current site while a new permanent site is found. It stays open until further notice; check before visiting.
- Source note: the county holiday list shows Christmas as "Dec. 25, 2025" next to 2026-2027 dates, which looks like a typo; confirm the Christmas 2026 closure with the county.
- The four centers share the same hours, rules and accepted-items list, so they are listed together on this page.
Nearby California towns
Sources
Every fee and hour above was taken from these official pages or PDFs on 2026-11-09. If something conflicts, trust the town.