Hazardous Materials Management

Managing hazardous materials responsibly is a critical part of protecting the Big Bear Valley community and the environment. Big Bear Disposal offers services and resources to ensure the safe disposal of household hazardous waste, preventing contamination and promoting sustainability.

Hazardous waste includes materials that can pose risks to human health, wildlife, and the environment if not handled properly. Common examples include:

• Batteries: Household and automotive
• Paint and Paint Products: Oil-based paint, varnish, and stains
• Sharps: Needles, syringes, and lancets
• Automotive Fluids: Motor oil, antifreeze, and transmission fluid.
• Household Cleaners: Bleach, ammonia, and other chemicals

Proper disposal of these materials prevents pollution of water, soil, and air, safeguarding the health of our community and natural surroundings.

Big Bear Disposal provides convenient and environmentally responsible options for disposing of hazardous materials:

Clean Bear Sites provide convenient drop-off locations for trash, recyclables, and green waste to help keep Big Bear clean and beautiful.

Electronics and appliances may be recycled by dropping items off at the Big Bear Disposal, Inc. site located at 41970 Garstin Dr., Big Bear Lake, CA 92315.

Through a partnership with the California Paint Stewardship Program, residents can drop off leftover paint for recycling at Big Bear Paint Center, located at 42118 Big Bear Blvd. in Big Bear Lake.

To comply with state laws, sharps must be disposed of in approved containers and brought to designated drop-off centers. This ensures safe handling and prevents injuries.

Big Bear Disposal Clean Bear sites accept the following items and materials in addition to regular trash, recyclables and yard waste.

• Batteries (household and automotive)
• Cell/Mobile phones and telephones
• Florescent tubes and bulbs
• Radios, stereos and speakers
• Microwave ovens and clothes irons
• Televisions and VCRs
• Space heaters and heaters
• Computers, printers and monitors
• Thermometers and thermostats
• Greeting cards containing batteries
• Scrap metal and appliances from residents

For items not accepted, residents can contact local specialized disposal services or refer to state resources for guidance.

San Bernardino County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program
Big Bear Lake Public Service Yard
42040 Garstin Drive
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Saturday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (weather permitting)
Also accepts sharps

San Bernardino County Fire Department,
Household Hazardous Waste Division
2824 East W Street, Bldg 302 (San Bernardino International Airport)
San Bernardino, CA
(909) 382-5401
Monday – Friday 9 am to 4 pm
Also accepts e-waste and sharps

Other San Bernardino County collection facilities:
https://sbcfire.org/collectionfacilities/

Call 909.382.5401 or 1.800.OILY.CAT (645.9228) to verify operating hours prior to visiting a collection center.

Big Bear Disposal is committed to informing the community about safe, effective, and environmentally responsible solutions for hazardous material management. Together, we can protect the environment and preserve the natural beauty of Big Bear Valley for future generations.

California State law (H&SC §118286) makes it illegal to dispose of home-generated sharps waste (hypodermic needles, pen needles, intravenous needles, lancets, and other devices that are used to penetrate the skin for the delivery of medications) in the trash or recycling containers, and requires that all sharps waste be transported to a collection center in a sharps container approved by the local enforcement agency.

There are numerous options for safe needle disposal (some of which are free) including mail-back programs and drop-off locations.

Improper sharps disposal can possibly harm janitors, maids, pest control workers, groundskeepers, waste management workers, and children or household pets among others. Roughly 25% to 45% of all facilities processing household trash (besides recycling) in California have workers hand-sorting recyclable material out of that trash. A single worker’s on-the-job needlestick can mean weeks of taking drugs to prevent the spread of infection, with side effects including nausea, depression, and extreme fatigue as well as months waiting for expensive periodic tests to reveal whether they contracted life-threatening HIV/AIDs or hepatitis B or C. A 2008 study suggested that “nationwide each year 25%…or roughly 150,000 to 200,000 needlesticks occurred outside the health services industry for a cost of $38 million.”

For more information visit: http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/homehazwaste/sharps/ or call (800) 645-9228.