Household Hazardous Waste, E-Waste Collection set November 9, 10

The City of Lake Forest and CR&R will host a Household Hazardous Waste and Universal Waste Collection for Lake Forest residents on November 9-10, 2024. The hours will be from 8 am to 4 pm on Saturday, November 9 and 8 am to 3 pm on Sunday, November 10. The event will take place at the El Toro High School student parking lot at Ridge Route and Serrano Road. Bring proof of Lake Forest residency such as a valid driver's license or utility bill.

To ease congestion and reduce wait times, CR&R has implemented a suggested arrival time based on the last name of the individual dropping off items. Last names beginning with the letters A-E are encouraged to arrive between 8 to 10 am, F-K between 10 am to 12 pm, L-Q between 12 pm to 2 pm, and R-Z from 2 pm to the event's end.

Prepare for the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event by knowing the rules and following a few simple steps. Know that it is illegal to transport more than 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste in your vehicle per the Department of Transportation regulations. Also refrain from mixing products together; instead keeping items in their original containers, clearly labelled with sturdy lids. Containers larger than 5 gallons, however, will not be accepted.

Also, please be aware of what items are not accepted at this collection event. These include asbestos, biological waste, business waste, explosives (such as ammunition, road flares, or gasoline), high pressure cylinders, radioactive materials, trash (including bulky items such as furniture or mattresses), medical waste or sharps, pharmaceuticals or medication, and propane or helium tanks. Not sure if an item is hazardous? Check the label for words such as "toxic," "caution," "poison," "flammable," "corrosive," or "irritant." Instead, bring items such as paint, automotive products, aerosol cans, pesticides, cleaning products, electronics, batteries, and fluorescent bulbs. These items are acceptable. 

For future hazardous waste drop offs, Orange County residents can use free drop off centers available year round by visiting www.oclandfills.com or calling the hotline at 714-834-6752 for more information. The center nearest Lake Forest is at 6411 Oak Canyon, Irvine, CA 92618.