Does Junk Removal Take Paint?
No, but paint is the easiest item on this list to get rid of. PaintCare runs drop-off sites throughout California, open to households and businesses, that take leftover paint at no cost: interior and exterior house paint (latex, acrylic, oil-based, enamel), primers, stains, sealers, and clear coatings such as shellac and varnish. Many of the sites are paint and hardware stores.
The rules at a PaintCare site: the product has to be in its original container, no larger than five gallons, with the manufacturer's label and a secured lid. Open or leaking cans are not accepted, and neither are aerosol spray paint, solvents or industrial coatings. Those go to a household hazardous waste center instead; LA Sanitation's S.A.F.E. Centers list paints, stains and solvents together.
Where Do Propane Tanks Go?
Not in a junk load and not in a bin. LA Sanitation's S.A.F.E. Centers accept propane cylinders from City of Los Angeles residents. Los Angeles County's program lists reusable one-pound propane cylinders among the items it collects. Riverside County's facilities take barbecue and camp-size propane but not cylinders over forty pounds. If a tank is still full, say so when you arrive.
Does Junk Removal Take Tires?
Tires have their own route under California's Tire Recycling Act, so they stay out of a junk load. LA Sanitation puts it plainly: waste tires cannot go in the black, blue or green bin. City of Los Angeles residents may drop off up to four tires per calendar year at any LASAN collection yard at no charge; rims must be removed first, and the yard asks for a state photo ID and a current utility bill to confirm City residency. Tires from tire shops and mechanics are not accepted at the residential drop-offs.
Riverside County lists tires as not accepted at its household hazardous waste facilities, so check your city's trash hauler or the county's page for the tire route where you live.
What About Batteries, Light Bulbs And Electronics?
Household batteries can start fires in trucks and bins, which is why LA Sanitation asks that they never go in the trash or recycling. Alkaline, rechargeable, lithium-ion, button and car batteries all go to a S.A.F.E. Center, and small batteries can go in the battery buckets at Los Angeles Public Library branches. Tape the terminals, bag them, and keep swollen ones apart. Riverside County's facilities take auto and household batteries too.
Fluorescent tubes and bulbs contain mercury and are on the hazardous waste lists in Los Angeles and Riverside counties. TVs, monitors and computers are covered electronic devices with their own free routes; see how to get rid of a TV or old electronics in Los Angeles.
Motor Oil, Antifreeze, Pesticides And Pool Chemicals?
All household hazardous waste, all free to drop off. LA Sanitation's S.A.F.E. Centers accept automotive fluids and petroleum fuels (gasoline and diesel containers are not returned), household cleaners and chemicals, pesticides and herbicides, and pool chemicals. Riverside County runs ABOP facilities for antifreeze, batteries, used motor oil and oil filters, and paint. San Bernardino County's program recycles used motor oil, oil filters, batteries and antifreeze, and lists lawn-care products, pest-control products, drain cleaners and pool chemicals among the common hazardous items from homes.
Where Is The Nearest Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off?
These are the programs for the four counties we serve, as each describes itself. Days, hours and limits change; confirm on the official page before you load the car.
| Where you live | Program | What the program says |
|---|---|---|
| City of Los Angeles | LA Sanitation S.A.F.E. Centers and mobile events | Free for City residents. Up to 15 gallons or 125 pounds per visit. Staff ask for the address the waste came from. No explosives, radioactive materials or medical waste. |
| Rest of Los Angeles County | County HHW and E-Waste Collection Program | Free collection events and permanent collection centers. Solar panels are not accepted. |
| San Bernardino County | County Fire Household Hazardous Waste Program | Fourteen permanent collection facilities and one ABOP facility, free for county residents and very small businesses. |
| Riverside County | Permanent HHW facilities, ABOP sites and events | Free with proof of residency. Containers over five gallons or fifty pounds, cylinders over forty pounds, tires and trash are not accepted. |
| Orange County | OC Waste & Recycling household hazardous waste centers | Check the county page for locations, hours and accepted items. |
What Happens If Hazardous Items Are In My Pile?
Set them to one side before we arrive and point them out; we take everything else. Garage cleanouts are where this comes up most, so our garage cleanout page starts with the same sort. If you are not sure whether something counts, text a photo of the label to (442) 414-3483 and we'll tell you before the truck leaves. Asbestos is different again: suspected asbestos material needs a licensed abatement contractor, not a hauler or a drop-off center.
Sources
Official pages checked October 17, 2026. Programs, dates and rules change, so confirm with the agency before you rely on them.
- LA Sanitation & Environment: S.A.F.E. Centers and household hazardous waste
- LA Sanitation & Environment: Tire Recycling
- PaintCare: California drop-off sites
- PaintCare: Products accepted
- Los Angeles County: Household Hazardous and Electronic Waste Collection Program
- San Bernardino County Fire: Household Hazardous Waste
- Riverside County Waste Resources: Household Hazardous Waste
- OC Waste & Recycling: Household Hazardous Waste