Kern County Waste Management

What Is Residential Hazardous Waste?

Residential Hazardous Wastes are products, purchased for use in or around the home, that when improperly discarded, may threaten human health or the environment. These products include:

household cleaners; deodorizers; personal hygiene products; pesticides; herbicides; insecticides; pet care products; paint products; photographic chemicals; swimming pool chemicals; and automotive products & fluids. Even though a product can be easily purchased at the local store, it can still be harmful to you, your family and the environment. To identify these products, check the container label for words, such as:

DANGER, WARNING, CORROSIVE, FLAMMABLE, EXPLOSIVE, OXIDIZER, IRRITANT, HARMFUL, FATAL, POISON

Disposing of Residential Hazardous Waste in your trash or dumping it down storm drains or into the sewer and septic systems can be dangerous to your health, the health of others and the environment. Thrown into your trash can, Residential Hazardous Waste can pose a threat to trash collectors and workers. Dumped on the ground or street, Residential Hazardous Waste can be absorbed into the ground water supply, enter storm drains and eventually pollute the Kern River.

What can I do with my RESIDENTIAL HAZARDOUS WASTE?

• Only buy what you can use. Share leftovers with friends, neighbors, etc.
• Recycle used motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze, car batteries and latex paint.
• Buy safer alternatives to hazardous household products.
• Store unused products in a safe, dry, cool place.
• Follow label directions.
• For legal, safe disposal of Residential Hazardous Waste, bring it to one of the permanent Kern County Special Waste Facilities in Bakersfield, Mojave or Ridgecrest, Or find out about one-day Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events in your community.

Residental Hazardous Waste can be dropped off at one of three County Special Waste Facilities or at a one-day Hazardous Waste Collection Event noted below:

• Bakersfield
• Mojave
• Ridgecrest
• Transportation Guidelines

The Metro Kern County Special Waste Facility is located at 4951 Standard Street, (southwest corner of Standard and Foster Streets) in Bakersfield, California.

Operational Hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday 8 am - 4 pm

Closed: New Year's Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day

 

STOP n SHOP

Check out the FREE "Stop n Shop" Program which is only available at the Metro-Bakersfield Special Waste Facility. Many of the materials brought in for disposal such as paint, pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals and cleaners are actually good, usable products. These usable products are given away for FREE! It can save you money on the purchase of items and it reduces the cost of disposing of perfectly good products. The Stop n Shop is open from 8am to 1pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The Mojave Special Waste Facility, serving East Kern County residents, is located at 17035 Finnin Street (southwest corner of Finnin & Sabovich Streets on the Mojave Airport property) in Mojave, California.

 

 

 

2012 Mojave Operational Dates & Hours (9 am to Noon):      

• May 5, 2012
• July 7, 2012
• September 1, 2012
• November 3, 2012

 

The Ridgecrest Kern County Special Waste Facility is located at 3301 W. Bowman Road at the Ridgecrest Landfill in Ridgecrest, California.

Operational Hours: 2nd Saturday of each month 10am – 1pm.

CLOSED: New Year's Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day

 

 

2012 Ridgecrest Operational Dates:

• May 12, 2012
• June 9, 2012
• July 14, 2012
• August 11, 2012
• September 8, 2012
• October 13, 2012

Transportation Guidelines for Residents

Prior to transporting your waste to one of the facilities, please follow these rules:

1. A maximum of 15 gallons or 125 pounds of waste/material may be transported, per vehicle, per trip.
2. The contents of any single container of waste/material may not exceed five gallons.
3. Do not mix waste/material.
4. Waste should be in the original container. If not label the container as to its contents.
5. Containers must be closed, sturdy, not leaking and protected from breakage.
6. Permamnent facilities and household hazardous waste collection events are for Kern County residents only.

ONE-DAY HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION EVENTS:

In order to provide residential hazardous waste collection services to residents in outlying County communities, the following One-Day Collection Events are scheduled:

• April 7, 2012            - Kern Valley Transfer Station from 9:00 AM until Noon
• August 4, 2012        - Lebec Transfer Station from 9:00 am until Noon
• October 6, 2012      - Tehachapi Landfill from 9:00 am until Noon
• December 1, 2012   - Kern Valley Transfer Station from 9:00 AM until Noon

What can I expect when I visit the Special Waste Facility?

1. You will drive up to the collection area, put your vehicle in park and turn off the engine. State regulations require you to remain in your vehicle when delivering hazardous waste and refrain from smoking. If you wish to have a container returned to you, please notify staff immediately. Some containers may not be returnable.
2. An attendant will give you a short form to complete. It’s easy – just your name, address and signature.
3. While you fill out the form, an attendant will remove the household hazardous waste from your trunk or back seat. You return the clipboard to the attendant and you drive away. That's it!