Universal Waste for Multi-Family Residents

Universal waste, also known as U-waste, is a type of hazardous waste that is generated by both residents and businesses. Universal Waste, including Electronic Waste, such as electronics, fluorescent bulbs and tubes, and batteries are a rapidly growing problem that accounts for significant amounts of toxic waste in landfills.

As of February 2006, the State of California prohibits placing electronic waste, fluorescent tubes, consumer batteries and mercury thermostats into the trash. These items can harm human health and the environment if improperly disposed of. Although these products may not be dangerous to use, most of them contain poisonous 'heavy metals' such as lead, mercury and cadmium that can pollute groundwater near landfills.

• Batteries
• Calculators
• CD and MP3 players
• Cell Phones
• Computers and monitors
• Copy machines
• Fax and answering machines
• Mercury Containing Waste - Fluorescent bulbs and tubes (CFL's), high-intensity lights, sodium vapor lamps, metal halide lamps, and mercury thermometers and switches.
• Microwaves
• Radios
• Stereo equipment
• Tape players and recorders
• Telephones
• Televisions
• VCRs, DVD players and DVRs

Almost anything considered 'electronic' is banned from landfills. Electronic waste, also known as E-Waste, is one of the fastest growing segments of our nation's waste stream. In fact, it accounts for 70 percent of the overall toxic waste that is currently found in landfills.
Source: Clean Air Council

E-Waste contains a variety of toxic components like lead, cadmium and mercury, arsenic and flame retardants, and when dumped in a landfill, these materials can potentially contaminate the soil and ground water, thus impacting surrounding areas. Electronics are made from valuable resources such as precious metals, copper, and engineered plastics, all of which require substantial amounts of energy to process and manufacture. Recycling electronics helps recover valuable materials and as a result, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, saves energy and resources by removing fewer raw materials from the planet.

All Residential and Multi-Family customers can use one of their bulky item removals as 1 single box weighing not more than one hundred pounds containing consumer electronic devises and/or televisions. This does not include any devices that have mercury switches. All bulky item removals need to be approved by the property manager. To find a location nearest you to recycle these items, please visit Recycle Del Norte or call the Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority at (707)465-1100. You can also donate items to several non-profit and local organizations.

Some manufacturers will take back their old equipment and be involved in the reuse and recycling of their equipment.

Dell Computer Exchange

HP Computer Exchange

Gateway Computer Exchange

Apple Computer Exchange

Additional Resources:

California Department of Toxic Substances Control

eRecycle

All batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead cadmium and nickel, which can contaminate the environment when they are improperly disposed of. This includes all battery sizes: AAA, AA, C, D, button cell, 9 Volt, and all others, both rechargeable and single use. Get a full list of battery drop off locations from Recycle Del Norte.

Multi-Family Property Managers
We suggest establishing a centrally located collection container within the property - a lobby, multi-use room, mail room or clubhouse for residents to place their bagged batteries. With button batteries taped to paper, place them all in a sealed plastic bag and leave in the mutually determined collection location.

You've probably heard about CFLs, or compact fluorescent lights, the energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps that consumers have been encouraged to use instead of typical incandescent lights. In fact, many of you have them in your home or business. They use much less electricity; three quarters less in fact.

The Environmental Protection Agency encourages the use of CFLs to save energy and prevent greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global climate change. However, because of the mercury CFLs contain, they must be disposed of carefully. Manufacturers of fluorescent lighting products are working to reduce the amount of mercury content in CFLs, and no mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use, but CFLs release a mercury vapor when broken.

With about 400 million CFLs being sold every year in the United States, it's more important than ever that you don't put them in the Garbage or Recycle carts. However, there are other options.

We encourage you to take them back to any of the locations noted below.

If a fluorescent bulb breaks in your house, the Environmental Protection Agency advises consumers to open a window, have all people and pets leave the room, (making sure no one walks through the breakage area on their way out), and stay out of the area for at least 15 minutes.

For more information and to download a two page document of recommended steps,
click here.

To download a handy chart to help identify the various types of lighting, click here.

To find out more about discarding and disposing of other house hold hazardous waste, you can call Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority about the Household Hazardous Waste Program at (707) 465-1100 or visit their web site.

Del Norte Transfer Station State Street Crescent City, CA

Home Depot 520 Hwy 101 Crescent City, CA