California
Household hazardous waste drop-off
Santa Clara County household hazardous waste drop-off
Hours, sticker price, who can use it, item fees, hazardous waste options, and holiday notes for County of Santa Clara Household Hazardous Waste Program (San Jose and San Martin facilities).
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
Free for Santa Clara County residents; bring proof of residency. Palo Alto residents should not book and should use Palo Alto's own program. Businesses that qualify as Very Small Quantity Generators can call (800) 207-8222 to book.
Hours
- By free appointment only; staff are on site only on scheduled operating days. Arrive on time: if you are more than 15 minutes late you may be turned away.
- Permanent sites (East San Jose and San Martin): Thursday, Friday and Saturday on scheduled weeks. Appointment times are chosen when you book.
- Posted schedule: San Jose Nov 12-14 and 19-21; no event Nov 26-28 (Thanksgiving); San Jose and San Martin Dec 3-5; San Jose Dec 10-12 and 17-19; no event Dec 24-25; San Jose Dec 26; no event Dec 31 and Jan 1; San Jose Jan 2, 2027
- Temporary event: Santa Clara, Saturday Jan 30, 2027
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 (Santa Clara County residents) | Free, by appointment |
| Containers | Not returned |
Hazardous waste
Accepted: flammables (paint, wet or dry, petroleum products, polishes, gasoline); corrosives (acids, bases, batteries, drain cleaners); toxics (poisons, pesticides, garden chemicals, ammonia, solvents); oxidizers (pool chemicals, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, perchlorates); plus e-waste, propane, helium, small oxygen tanks, smoke detectors, fluorescent lamps and sharps. Medications are no longer accepted at any facility or event.
Holiday closures
No events Thanksgiving week (Nov 26-28), Dec 24-25, Dec 31 or Jan 1.
Holiday schedule last verified 2026-11-09 from official sources .
Other notes
- Put the waste in your trunk, truck bed or rear cargo area and remove anything you want to keep from that area. Do not bring pets.
- To prevent illegal dumping when sites are closed, the county emails the facility address only after you book.
- For e-waste, auto batteries, tires, household batteries, bulbs, motor oil, paint and other items, the county also lists neighborhood drop-off recyclers.
- The program's sites share one appointment system, eligibility 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.