Recycling Partners

Partnering with Business for a Healthy Community!

San Mateo County businesses that partner with San Mateo County Environmental Health provide a valuable service to residents by being drop-off sites for household hazardous waste items – used motor oil, oil filters, fluorescent lights, and household batteries- that can not be tossed into the trash

Click below for information on each program:
Universal Waste Retail "Take Back" Partnership - Fluorescent lights and/or Batteries

Used Oil & Filter Recycling Program

Universal Waste Retail "Take Back" Partnership - Fluorescent lights and/or Batteries
This new voluntary program for retailers selling household batteries or fluorescent lights is easy and virtually free.  Retailers simply set up collection containers, accept the lights or batteries from residents, and bring them to the County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program on an as-needed basis, by appointment.

Program Basics

• The retailer allows it's customers to bring used up household batteries and/or fluorescent lights (tubes to 4ft., compacts, other).

• These items are placed in an easy to transport container. Environmental Health will provide a 5 gallon bucket for holding household batteries and a 10 gallon heavy-duty cardboard box for holding fluorescent lights.

• Once your storage bins have nearly reached its capacity, make an appointment with the Household Hazardous Waste Program to drop off the collected waste.

• Current "Take Back Partners" - fluorescent lights and household batteries

Consider being a “Take Back” Partner: Benefits for your business Highlights for your customers Your business contribution Current Retail Partners
Take-Back Partners Documents: Collection Center Guidelines Frequently Asked Questions Take-Back Partner Universal Waste Drop-off Request (pdf) Take-Back Partner Universal Waste Drop off Request (word) Customer Log - Batteries Customer Log – Fluorescent Bulbs What to do if a fluorescent bulb breaks Abandoned Waste Drop-off Request

Expectations/Requirements

• ONLY accept waste from the public. Do not accept waste from a business and do not combine the universal waste generated from your facility with the take-back waste from the public. If you suspect someone dropping off universal waste from their business, refer them to the County HHW program. 

• Place shelf talkers in the point of sale location to notify the consumer that your store takes back various recyclable items (i.e. batteries and fluorescents).

• Place “Take-Back Collection Center” window decals on front of store to advertise this public service.

Once your bins are full…

1. Schedule a drop-off appointment, fill out a Drop-off Request form

2. On the form, itemize the types of fluorescent lights and pounds of batteries collected at your facility that you will be disposing of at the HHW facility (FREE OF CHARGE).

3. Choose a drop-off date on the 1st or 3rd Wednesday of each month.

4. Fax or email the form to the contact below. - You will be contacted within 72 hours by phone or fax to confirm the drop-off date, time, and location.

5. Bring the collected waste to the HHW facility on the scheduled drop-off date.

BENEFITS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

• Improved company image
• Increased foot traffic and associated sales
• Free collection bins provided
• Free program advertising (press releases, county website, newsletters, etc.)
• Free in-store promotional materials (i.e. shelf talkers, window decals)
• Disposal information provided for all types of waste that curious customers ask about

HIGHLIGHTS FOR CUSTOMERS:

• A convenient “drop-while-you-shop” location
• A solution to proper disposal
• A connection to businesses that care about their community

YOUR BUSINESS CONTRIBUTION:

• Collect returned materials from customers
• Deliver materials to County Household Hazardous Waste Facility when bins are full

Used Oil & Filter Recycling Program

Over 5 million California residents change their own motor oil.   That's about one out of every five adults. Would you like to see some of those do-it-yourselfers come to your business? When you become a Certified Used Oil Collection Center and accept used motor oil from the public you increase your customer traffic, provide a valuable service to your community, and receive hauling reimbursement:

• County Certified: up to 3 haulings/quarter  $65 each + $15 chlor-d-tect test
• Oil Filters County Certified: 1 drum per quarter, up to $75
• State Certified: 16¢ per gallon recycling incentive from the California Integrated Waste Management Board.

Guidelines Collection Center Guidelines Used Oil Filter Only Guidelines State Certified Oil Collection Guidelines Forms and Documents Customer Log Recycling Incentive Payment-Claim Report - Oil & Filters Recycling Incentive Payment-Claim Report - Filters
Resources Oil & Filter Haulers California Integrated Waste Management Board's Used Oil Recycling Program Current Used Oil and Filter Recycling Partners Abandoned Waste Drop-off Request