Lithium batteries 

Lithium batteries include button cell or coin batteries, which are used in used in products such as cameras, watches, remote controls, handheld games and smoke detectors. Lithium batteries are considered hazardous waste and cannot be recycled. They can be dropped off at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility:

Drop off (free)
1145 East Taylor St.
Vista, CA 92084
Saturdays only
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
800-714-1195

Door to door service ($10)
Available by appointment only
Call 800-714-1195 to schedule
*Free for residents over age 65

Household batteries

Non-lithium batteries, also known as household batteries, include alkaline, zinc-carbon, 9 Volt, AA, AAA, C, D, and some button cell batteries. 

Residents in single-family homes can recycle household batteries by putting them in a clear zipper bag and placing them on top of their recycling cart on their service day.

Carlsbad residents in multi-family housing complexes that do not have recycling carts such as apartments or condominiums may drop off their batteries at Palomar Transfer Station Recycling Center:

5960 El Camino Real
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LED light bulbs

LED (light emitting diode) light bulbs can be recycled at the Palomar Transfer Station Recycling Center:

5960 El Camino Real
Monday – Saturday
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
LED bulbs can also be recycled at local retailers such as home improvement stores.

CFL light bulbs

CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) bulbs and tubes, fluorescent tubes and bulbs, high intensity discharge (HID), metal halide bulbs, sodium bulbs and neon bulbs contain mercury and require special handling. While mercury is a natural element with many uses, it is also toxic to both humans and animals, causing a variety of adverse health effects such as nerve damage and birth defects. If mercury is released into the environment, it can contaminate the air we breathe and enter streams, rivers and the ocean. Residents should take CFLs to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. They should not be placed in the landfill.

Incandescent light bulbs

Incandescent and halogen light bulbs can’t be recycled and should be placed in your landfill cart.

Types of Paint

• Acrylic and latex paints (water-based) can be recycled at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility or a PaintCare location. The paint is combined into batches and sold as recycled latex paint.  

• Oil-based paint, like Alkyd or solvent-based paints, can't be recycled but can be dropped off at a PaintCare location or the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. This paint is sent out for fuel blending, which is used to operate heavy machinery at cement plants instead of using gas or diesel. 

• Spray paint can't be recycled and may only be handled by a hazardous waste facility like the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. They have a custom-built aerosol recycling plant that is capable of recycling over 7 million cans per year. They capture and separate the propellant from the aerosol cans, recycle the cans and re-blend the propellant into a cleaner burning fuel.   

Disposal and recycling options

Republic Services accepts certain types of paints at the Recycling Buy Back Center through the PaintCare program. Carlsbad residents can safely dispose of paint free of charge at the Palomar Transfer Station Recycling Center:

5960 El Camino Real
Monday – Saturday
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Learn about the paint products accepted through PaintCare at the Recycling Center.

The state offers a PaintCare program that accepts water and oil-based paints at many local paint retailers. Most paints come with a fee at purchase that pays for this program, so disposal services are offered at no additional cost. Visit PaintCare.org to find a location near you and a list of accepted paints. 

Carlsbad residents can also drop off used paints at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (1145 East Taylor St., Vista, CA 92084) for free or schedule a pickup for $10 (call 800-714-1195 to schedule).

Medicine and prescription drugs are hazardous and can't be placed in the trash, flushed down the toilet or poured down the drain. Removing unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications from homes reduces access to potentially addictive medications for accidental or intentional misuse or theft. If you are disposing of pharmaceuticals, please remove any personal information from the original containers before dropping them off. Just like sharps, pharmaceuticals are sent for destructive incineration.

The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility will accept pharmaceuticals and medicine (except for controlled substances) by drop off at their Vista Facility (1145 East Taylor St., Vista, CA 92084) free of charge. CleanEarth will also accept these items with their door to door program for a fee.  

The Carlsbad Police and Fire Headquarters at 2560 Orion Way accepts anonymous, unused prescription medications in the drop box Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The Palomar Transfer Station does not accept pharmaceuticals.

• San Diego County Sheriff’s Encinitas Station
  175 N El Camino Real
  Encinitas, CA 92024
  Monday – Friday
  8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  Residents can anonymously drop off pharmaceuticals in the designated drop box. For additional drop box locations and more information, visit the Sheriff's Department website.

• CVS
  2510 El Camino Real
  Monday – Sunday
  24 hours a day
  760-729-8941
  Does not accept sharps, aerosols, inhalers, illicit drugs, chemotherapy waste or liquids over 2 ounces.

• Carlsbad Village Pharmacy
  1005 Carlsbad Village Drive
  Monday – Friday
  9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  760-729-2405
  Accepts controlled and non-controlled medications; Does not accept liquids over 2 ounces.

In addition to drop-off programs, residents can properly dispose of medications through:

National prescription drug take-back

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for the public to safely dispose of prescription medication anonymously. This event is held twice annually at no charge. For information about event dates and locations, visit the DEA's website.

Carlsbad residents can safely dispose of medical sharps free of charge at the Palomar Transfer Station Recycling Center:

5960 El Camino Real
Monday – Saturday
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In addition, Republic Services offers simple and convenient sharps disposal services for tattoo and piercing shops, home care providers, nursing homes, small medical facilities, veterinary clinics and more. To request service, call 760-332-6464.

Why recycle used oil?

Did you know that used motor oil never wears out? It gets dirty and can be recycled, cleaned and used again. Recycling used motor oil conserves natural resources and is good for the environment. Motor oil poured on the ground, into storm drains or tossed into trash cans (even in a sealed container) can contaminate and pollute the soil, groundwater, streams, rivers and the ocean. Recycling used motor oil reduces this pollution threat. When you take your used oil to a certified center for recycling, you are protecting the environment and conserving a valuable resource. 

Republic Services 

To recycle used motor oil, Carlsbad residents can pick up a 1-gallon used oil recovery kit with a watertight lid at the Republic Services office at Palomar Transfer Station.

Palomar Transfer Station
5960 El Camino Real
Monday – Saturday
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Once filled, the kit can be dropped off at the same location or customers can call Republic Services at 760-332-6464 to schedule a pickup and request a new kit.

About the Certified Collection Centers

The city encourages recycling used motor oil. Used Oil Certified Collection Centers accept used motor oil from the public and offer 40 cents per gallon that is recycled. Most centers will accept up to 5 gallons at a time.

What about contaminated oil?

Certified Collection Centers will not accept used motor oil that has been contaminated with other fluids such as antifreeze, solvents, gasoline or water. Please don't mix used oil with anything. However, if used oil accidentally gets contaminated, a certified collection center manager can provide information on where to take it for proper disposal. Or see the options listed above for household hazardous waste disposal options.

Fats, oils and grease are a natural part of our food. They include cooking oils, shortening, dairy products, sauces and salad dressings. Fats, oils and grease block sewer lines and may cause overflows into your property, your neighborhood and the ocean. Follow these tips to dispose of them properly:

• Pour cooled fats, oils and grease into a Republic Services provided Used Oil Recovery Kit, empty milk carton or another sturdy container
• Remove remaining fats, oils and grease by scraping greasy pans and absorbing oil with a paper towel
• Dispose of the containers in your landfill cart 

Carlsbad residents may also dispose of used cooking oil and grease by picking up a used oil kit that has a 1-gallon capacity with a watertight light from Republic Services. Once filled, customers can contact Republic Services to request collection and a new used oil kit. Call Republic Services at 760-332-6464 to schedule a pickup. 

The used oil recovery kits can also be dropped off at the Palomar Transfer Station Recycling Center:

5960 El Camino Real
Monday – Saturday
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The following household items may be dropped off at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility or picked up for a fee.

Household cleaners

• Drain and oven cleaners
• Wood and metal polish
• Toilet bowl cleaners
• Disinfectants

Home maintenance and improvement products

• Paint thinners and paint strippers
• Adhesives
• Stains
• Varnishes
• Sealants
• Wood preservatives

Lawn and garden products

• Pesticides
• Herbicides
• Fungicides

Miscellaneous

• Pool chemicals
• Photo chemicals
• Fingernail polish and polish removers
• Fire extinguishers

Drop off (free)
1145 East Taylor St.
Vista, CA 92084
Saturdays only
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
800-714-1195

Door to door service ($10)
Available by appointment only
Call 800-714-1195 to schedule
*Free for residents over age 65