There’s A Whole New Universe of Waste to Worry About

What do batteries, fluorescent tubes, and televisions have in
common? They all belong to a special category of garbage called
”
universal waste
”
and they all are no longer acceptable as regular garbage. A new
state ruling has indicated that these items are too toxic to be
considered regular garbage.
What do batteries, fluorescent tubes, and televisions have in common? They all belong to a special category of garbage called “universal waste” and they all are no longer acceptable as regular garbage. A new state ruling has indicated that these items are too toxic to be considered regular garbage.

They all contain measurable amounts of mercury, lead, or other heavy metals. Consequently, South Valley Disposal and Recycling can no longer pick them up at your curb.

As many of you know, this is nothing new for televisions and computers as the items have been banned from your garbage for more than two years. These other items, however, are new. Thankfully, there are programs in place to easily manage most of the commonly found items. Here is a quick roadmap to the universe of universal waste.

• Computers, monitors, and other electronic waste can be brought to Western Recycling at the corner of Railroad and Barrett. This includes stereos, printers, vcr’s, and other electronics. Their phone number is 779-1781.

• Fluorescent tubes can be brought to Johnson Lumber at the corner of Tennant and Butterfield. Their phone number is 778-1550.

• Household batteries (everything but automotive batteries) can be recycled at the curb. Place the used batteries in a zippered plastic bag and insert them ON TOP (NOT INSIDE) of your recycling cart and South Valley will get them recycled. Their number is 842-3358.

• Cell phones can be recycled at any cell phone dealership.

• Sharps (used hypodermic needles) can be brought to the San Martin Transfer Station at 14070 Llagas Ave.

• The following other items, which are generated infrequently, can be brought to the County Household Hazardous Waste Program after calling them at 299-7300: 

• Thermostats – There is mercury inside the sealed glass “tilt switch” of the old style thermostats (not the newer electronic kind).

• Microwave ovens.

• Electrical switches and relays typically contain about 3.5 grams of mercury each. Mercury switches can be found in some chest freezers, pre-1972 washing machines, sump pumps, electric space heaters, clothes irons, silent light switches, automobile hood and trunk lights, and ABS brakes.

• Pilot light sensors – Mercury-containing switches are found in some gas appliances such as stoves, ovens, clothes dryers, water heaters, furnaces and space heaters

• Mercury gauges – Some gauges, such as barometers, manometers, blood pressure, and vacuum gauges contain mercury.

• Mercury-added Novelties – Examples include greeting cards that play music when opened; athletic shoes (made before 1997) with flashing lights in soles; and mercury maze games.

• Mercury thermometers – Mercury thermometers typically contain about a half gram of mercury. Many health clinics, pharmacies and doctor’s offices have thermometer exchange programs that will give you a new mercury-free fever thermometer in exchange for your old one.

• Non-Empty aerosol cans that Contain Hazardous Materials – Many products in aerosol cans are toxic. And many aerosol cans contain flammables, like butane, as propellants for products like paint. If your aerosol can is labeled with words like TOXIC or FLAMMABLE don’t put it in the trash unless it is completely empty.

Anthony Eulo is a program administrator for the City of Morgan Hill who happily recycles his batteries at the curb. He welcomes your questions, comments, and thoughts and can be reached at 779-7247 or en*****@************ca.gov .