Small Business Disposal Services
for qualifying Alameda County small quantity generators
Download the "Small Business Waste Program" information packet
If your business has leftover hazardous materials, you may be eligible for a service to safely dispose of these items at reasonable, affordable rates. Businesses that qualify as “small quantity generators” can dispose of hazardous materials safely, conveniently, and in ways that protect our environment.
Among the most common materials covered under the service are:
- Solvents, flammable solids and liquids, and detergents.
- Propane tanks and aerosol cans.
- Car and truck products, such as motor oil, lubricants, oil filters, and antifreeze.
- Lawn care products, such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers.
- Paint and paint-related materials, such as stains, varnishes, roofing tar, adhesives, joint compounds, and other petroleum-based products.
- Photo-chemical liquids, acids, bases, neutral oxidizers, and swimming pool chemicals.
Step 1: Do I qualify?
Non profit groups, landlords, condo operators, contractors, small businesses, or any other organization or commercial entity that meets the following criteria:
- Be located in, and generate the waste in Alameda County
- Qualify as a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG) as defined in the California Health and Safety Code, section 25218.1 , and the Code of Federal Regulations 40, Section 261.5 .
- You must produce less than 220 lbs, or 27 gallons of all kinds of hazardous waste per month, and less than 2.2 lb of Extremely Hazardous Waste per month
- You must have less than 2200 lbs (about 220 full one gallon paint cans, or 45 full five gallon buckets of paint) of all kinds of hazardous waste in storage at any time.
Step 2: Get an EPA ID Number
All participants in the Small Business Waste program MUST HAVE an EPA Identification number.
- Call the California Environmental Protection Agency (CAL-EPA) at 1-800-618-6942 to apply for an EPA ID. In many cases EPA ID numbers can be assigned over the phone.
Step 3: The Forms . . .
The CESQG self certification form (Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator form) is a legal document attesting to the fact that your firm meets the criteria of a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
- Fill out and return the completed certification form and information form, and we will open an account for you. Return completed forms by mail to:
Alameda County HHW CESQG
1131 Harbor Bay
Alameda, California 94502-6540
or fax: 510-293-9374 or Email: CESQG@co.alameda.ca.us
(State, County, and local hazardous materials regulating agencies reserve the right to visit your organization to verify your qualifications as a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator)
After we have reviewed your certification form we will open an account and send you a confirmation that you are eligible to participate in our program. At this time we will determine whether you will need to submit a prior inventory.
To learn more about getting your business certified for the service, please call the Alameda County Environmental Health Department toll-free at (800) 606-6606.
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