Hazardous Waste Disposal

The City collects antifreeze*, batteries*, oil*, and paint* on the second and fourth Saturday of the month, January through October from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. During the months of November and December, the event is held only on the second Saturday of the month. In addition to the above items, the City accepts up to three small household electronics (for example, microwaves, televisions, handheld devices), compact fluorescent lightbulbs, and fluorescent light tubes (limit six) and mercury-based thermostats. This event is free of charge to residents.

Please keep items separated and ONLY bring those items that are accepted. If you have items not listed above, please visit lessismore.org  to find out if you can dispose of them at the Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center or hold them until the annual Household Goods and Hazardous Waste Day.

*There is a 5 gallon total liquid maximum

Beginning in October 2026, the City of Carpinteria participates in the County of Santa Barbara’s Community Hazardous Waste Collection Program, providing Carpinteria residents with additional free opportunities to safely dispose of a broader range of household hazardous waste at the Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center (CHWCC) at UCSB.

Residents may use the facility on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. No appointments are necessary for households. Qualifying businesses may also use the facility by appointment on Fridays and are subject to applicable fees.

Please note that this service is free for households and residents are required to show proof of residency with either a driver’s license, utility bill, or vehicle registration. Residents may transport up to 125 pounds of solid waste or 15 gallons of liquid waste per trip. Residents carrying more than this may be turned away.

The center is closed during rain and major holidays, including the weekends closest to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Please call (805) 882-3602 in advance of those occasions to determine whether or not the Center will be open.

The CHWCC accepts a wide variety of hazardous materials, including aerosols, cleaners, corrosives, and other materials not accepted through the City’s regular ABOP collection. For a complete list of accepted materials and additional information, please visit lessismore.org.

The City operates a once a year free hazardous waste collection event for the residents of Carpinteria. The Annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection event is held at City Hall and operated as a drive through drop off in the City’s Public Works Yard. Most items are accepted at this yearly event. The following items are NOT accepted: biohazards, nuclear waste, explosives, and tires.

The Annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection event is conducted on the second Saturday in April between the times of 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

The 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day was successfully held on June 13, 2026. To learn more about this year’s event, including participation statistics and collection results, please view the 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day Impact Summary.

For hazardous waste disposal the rest of the year, you can look up approved hazardous waste haulers at Less is More, or find information on recycling specific items here.

Medication/Pharmaceutical & Sharps Waste Disposal

Please do not flush medications! It is important that medications are properly disposed of. Wastewater treatment facilities are not able to remove many of the chemicals that make up pharmaceutical products. If released into water bodies, these pharmaceutical byproducts can adversely impact wildlife and the environment. Currently there are two programs that operate take-back programs at convenient locations throughout the City.  Visit Med-Project and the California Drug Take-Back Program for locations.

Home-generated sharps, or simply “sharps,” are needles, syringes with needles, and disposable lancets like the type diabetics use to test their insulin levels. These items should be disposed of in an approved container made of rigid, thick-walled plastic. The containers should be clearly marked with a biohazards label. Please download this helpful Sharps brochure for more information.

E.J. Harrison & Sons provides free, postage-paid mail-back containers for home-generated sharps. To order a container, simply call E.J. Harrison & Sons at 805-647-1414. If you are located outside of City limits, contact your waste hauler for more information.