CAREFUL WHAT YOU THROW AWAY

The following items have been banned from California landfills and can’t be thrown in the trash:

Fluorescent Tubes and Bulbs: Any fluorescent or neon light bulbs. These lights contain mercury vapors that release into the environment when the bulbs are broken.

Electronic Devices: Televisions, computer monitors, printers, VCRs, cell phones, radios and microwaves. These devices contain heavy metals like lead, cadmium, copper and chromium.

Mercury-Containing Devices: Thermostats, switches, thermometers and some medical devices cannot be thrown away.

Batteries: All AA, AAA, C and D batteries, along with common “button” batteries used for small devices like watches and hearing aids. Batteries contain a corrosive chemical that can cause burns, as well as toxic heavy metals such as cadmium.

Orange County residents can drop off hazardous materials at one of four local dumpsites managed by the county’s Integrated Waste Management Department: