Where do you get rid of paint, batteries and old electronics in San Diego?
City residents drop paint, batteries, bulbs, motor oil and sharps free at the Household Hazardous Waste facility on Convoy Street, now open Wednesdays and Saturdays by appointment. Electronics go to the Miramar Recycling Center instead.
- Cost
- Free
- Open
- Wed & Sat
- Where
- 5161 Convoy St
- Electronics
- Not here
City of San Diego residents
9 a.m.–3 p.m., appointment only
Miramar Landfill entrance
Miramar Recycling Center
The short version
- The City's Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility at 5161 Convoy St is free for City of San Diego residents, by appointment.
- Since September 16, 2026 it's open Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with stay-in-your-car drop-off.
- It takes batteries, fluorescent and LED bulbs, paint up to 5-gallon containers, motor oil and filters, propane cylinders, sharps, pesticides and pool chemicals.
- It doesn't take electronics, swollen batteries, appliances, treated wood, asbestos, ammunition or fireworks.
- County residents outside city limits use the County's own facilities, collection events and free pickup for seniors and people with disabilities.
Paint, batteries, old fluorescent tubes and leftover pool chemicals can't go in your blue or black bin. San Diego has a free place for all of it, and in September 2026 it doubled its hours. Here's what to bring, what to leave home, and where the electronics go.
Drop-off
Pin from OpenStreetMap. Checked October 6, 2026.
What goes where
| Hazardous waste facility | Somewhere else | |
|---|---|---|
| Accepted | Batteries, bulbs, paint (≤5 gal containers), motor oil and filters, propane cylinders, fire extinguishers, sharps, medications (not painkillers), pesticides, pool and garden chemicals, cleaners, aerosols | — |
| Electronics | Not accepted | Miramar Recycling Center (858-268-8971); fees may apply |
| Rechargeable batteries | Accepted | Also Call2Recycle drop-off at many retailers |
| Turned away | Swollen batteries, appliances, treated wood, asbestos, ammunition, fireworks, containers over 5 gallons, business waste | Call the City for options |
How to drop off
- 01
Book an appointment
Reserve a Wednesday or Saturday slot at sandiego.gov/HHW.
- 02
Bring proof you live in the city
A photo ID or recent utility bill with a City of San Diego address.
- 03
Pack it safely
Keep products in original containers, lids on, upright in the trunk.
- 04
Stay in the car
Staff unload it for you.
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
City of San Diego · Checked October 6, 2026
Address, hours, accepted items
City of San Diego · September 16, 2026
Wednesday hours added
- PrimaryUniversal waste FAQ
City of San Diego · Checked October 6, 2026
Electronics at Miramar Recycling Center
County of San Diego · 2025
County options