Donating & Disposing Special or Hazardous Items
For information about trash/recycling, large item pickup, and sewer system care, see Trash & Waste Management.
Clothing, Shoes & Household Items
Charitable organizations, including Goodwill and The Salvation Army, provide tax-deductible opportunities to donate your things, and will also recycle items that are not usable.
GiveBackBox.com – You can reuse your online shipping boxes from Amazon and other vendors, or any cardboard box, to donate gently used household items, clothing, shoes, etc., for free; directions are on the website.
Electronic (eWaste) and Hazardous Waste
Motor oil and filters, paints and solvents, household cleaning products, electronic items, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, home-generated sharps (needles and lancets) and unused (non-substance controlled) medicines can be dropped off at S.A.F.E. Centers throughout the City of Los Angeles. The nearest one is the Nicole Bernsen S.A.F.E. Center, open 9 am-3 pm Saturdays and Sundays (10241 Balboa… take Reseda to Devonshire, turn right, then right on Balboa as you can’t turn left into the facility from Balboa… it’s right next door to the gas station… the goods must be in your trunk or back where they can access without you getting out of the car).
Food Waste – See Composting
Household Batteries – For safety reasons (fire hazard), it is recommended that you tape off the positive end of ALL used batteries, even those you are saving to recycle.
Best Buy Woodland Hills – drop off in entry just inside store. They accept batteries plus a variety of cords and other electronic recycling.
Target – Guest Services counter
Woodland Hills Public Library – They only accept if you have taped off the ends with electrical tape.
Paint
Vista Paint on Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills – They do not limit the amount you can drop off (unlike other locations). Make sure the cans still have labels on them.
See Electronic (eWaste) and Hazardous Waste above and www.PaintCare.org
Prescriptions & Medications
CVS on Mulholland – Recycle bin is on aisle 19 by the pharmacy.
Kaiser pharmacies also have bins inside for this purpose.
See Electronic (eWaste) and Hazardous Waste above
Sharp Objects can be taken to Gelson’s on Mulholland Customer Service Counter or see Electronic (eWaste) and Hazardous Waste above. See more at https://www.wm.com or https://www.thinkgreenfromhome.com/SyringesAndLancets.cfm.
Small (eWaste) Items-Recycle by Mail – You can recycle batteries, compact fluorescent bulbs (which contain mercury), and printer cartridges through the wm.com Recycle by Mail program.
Bottles & Cans – California Refund Value (CRV) Centers
Shredded Paper – The Topanga Community Center annual shredding fundraiser volunteers will do it for you and ensure it is recycled for a small fee that supports local programs.