Homeowner

San Diego Just Made It Easier to Properly Dispose of Hazardous Waste — What Homeowners Should Know

By Hedda ParashosSeptember 24, 2026

The City of San Diego has launched a new initiative to make hazardous waste disposal more accessible for residents. If you're renovating, decluttering before a sale, or cleaning out an older property, here's what qualifies, where to take it, and why getting this right matters.

The City of San Diego has expanded drop-off hours at its Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Transfer Facility, so San Diego hazardous waste disposal now fits into more residents' schedules. The facility used to take drop-offs only on Saturdays. It's now open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you have old paint cans in the garage, leftover pesticides under the sink, or motor oil from a past renovation, you have one more day each week to get rid of them safely and legally.

What Counts as Household Hazardous Waste

The City of San Diego treats many common household products as hazardous waste. Paint and stain products top the list, along with solvents, thinners, and strippers. Pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals, and many cleaning products also qualify. So do automotive products like motor oil, oil filters, and antifreeze, and household batteries of all types. Fluorescent tubes, CFLs, propane cylinders, and sharps like needles and lancets are also on the list.

Some items that seem like they belong aren't accepted at the facility, including electronics, appliances, asbestos, treated wood, and explosives like ammunition, fireworks, and marine flares. Those items have separate disposal channels.

For homeowners in La Jolla and across San Diego, this matters most if your home was built before 1978, the year lead-based paint was banned for residential use. Older homes may have lead paint and other legacy materials that need careful handling during renovation or demolition. Those materials follow different rules than leftover household products, as explained below.

San Diego Hazardous Waste Disposal: Where to Take It

The City's HHW Transfer Facility is at the Miramar Landfill entrance, 5161 Convoy St. Drop-off is free for City of San Diego residents, but it's by appointment only. You can book online at sandiego.gov/HHW.

A few things to know before you go:

• Bring a photo ID or a recent bill showing your name and a City of San Diego address. Residents of other cities in the county aren't eligible.

• No container can be larger than 5 gallons, and each load must weigh less than 50 pounds. For larger amounts, call 858-694-7000.

• Contractors, landscapers, businesses, and homeowner associations can't use the facility.

You have other options too. The City holds several one-day collection events each year for used motor oil, oil filters, fluorescent bulbs, and batteries. Leftover paint can go to PaintCare drop-off sites, and many auto parts stores are certified used oil collection centers.

Why This Matters if You're Selling or Renovating

Homeowners getting ready to list often clear out the garage, storage areas, and utility spaces. That's smart, but disposing of hazardous materials the wrong way can lead to fines and liability. Pouring paint down a drain or putting chemicals out with the regular trash violates state and local environmental rules.

If you're getting ready to sell and wondering what your property is worth in the current market, Find out what your home is worth → A clean, decluttered home almost always shows better, and disposing of hazardous waste correctly is part of that process.

If you're renovating, keep two kinds of waste separate. Leftover consumer products from the project, like unused paint, solvents, and cleaners, go through the City's HHW program. Construction and demolition waste, including lead-paint chips and debris and anything containing asbestos, doesn't. Your contractor handles those under separate regulations.

What This Means For You

• Before a sale or renovation, check your garage, basement, and storage areas for paint, chemicals, and automotive fluids that need proper disposal.

• Book a free appointment at the Miramar HHW facility, now open Wednesdays and Saturdays, instead of putting these items in regular trash or recycling.

• Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint. Leave renovation debris to your contractor, since the residential program doesn't accept it.

• Proper disposal protects you from fines and keeps your home in good shape for inspection. Find out what your home is worth →

The extra drop-off day makes the City's program easier to use and worth bookmarking. Whether you're clearing out before a listing or finishing a remodel, handling hazardous materials correctly is easy to overlook and important to get right.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I drop off hazardous waste in San Diego?

City of San Diego residents can drop off household hazardous waste for free at the HHW Transfer Facility at Miramar Landfill, 5161 Convoy St. It's open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You need an appointment, which you can book at sandiego.gov/HHW. Bring proof of City residency.

Does San Diego hazardous waste disposal apply to renovation debris?

No. The City's residential HHW program covers leftover household products like paint, solvents, and chemicals, not construction debris. Leftover consumer products from a renovation can go to the facility. Construction waste, including lead-paint debris and asbestos, is your contractor's responsibility under separate regulations.

Can I put old paint or motor oil in the trash or recycling bin in San Diego?

No. Liquid paint, motor oil, solvents, and most chemical products aren't allowed in regular trash or recycling in San Diego, and improper disposal can lead to fines under state and local environmental law. Take them to the City's free HHW facility by appointment, or use a PaintCare site for paint or a certified used oil collection center for motor oil.

Source: sandiego.gov