Where Paint, Chemicals, and Medications From a Palo Alto Cleanout Go
Last updated: October 14, 2026
Paint, chemicals, batteries, and medications from a Palo Alto cleanout go to the city's Household Hazardous Waste station at 2501 Embarcadero Way, not the trash. The station takes up to 15 gallons or 125 pounds per visit from Palo Alto residents with proof of residency. Here's what it accepts, what it doesn't, and what to do with the rest.
The Short Answer
Palo Alto residents drive hazardous items to 2501 Embarcadero Way on any Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. or the first Friday of the month from 3 to 5 p.m., with a driver's license or vehicle registration showing a Palo Alto address. Residents with a physical limitation can apply for home pickup. Controlled substances aren't accepted, so those go through a medication take-back site instead.
What the Palo Alto HHW Station Accepts
The Palo Alto HHW station accepts the hazardous items a cleanout turns up in garages, kitchens, and bathrooms.
| Where it's found | Items accepted |
|---|---|
| Garage and workshop | Latex and oil-based paint, paint thinner, propane cylinders, aerosol cans |
| Car | Motor oil, antifreeze, car batteries |
| Living space | Fluorescent and LED bulbs, household and lithium-ion batteries, small electronics with built-in batteries |
| Kitchen and bathroom | Cleaners, cooking oil, medications (no controlled substances) |
| Garden and pool | Pesticides, fertilizers, pool chemicals |
| Other | Fire extinguishers, road flares, nicotine-only vape devices |
Rules at the Drop-Off
The drop-off has firm rules. Each visit is limited to 15 gallons or 125 pounds, in containers no larger than 5 gallons. Drivers stay in the vehicle with all waste in the trunk. A hoarded garage can hold more than one visit's worth, so plan on several Saturdays or the first-Friday slot. The HHW Reuse Zone at the same site gives away usable household products, up to five items a visit, with no residency requirement.
Home Pickup for Residents Who Can't Drive In
Home pickup covers residents with physical limitations. The resident downloads a Physical Limitations Application from the city's site or requests one at (650) 496-5910, gets a doctor's signature confirming the limitation, and, once approved, calls (650) 329-2669 to book the collection. For an older parent still living in a hoarded home, this keeps the hazardous items moving without a family member making every trip.
Medications and Controlled Substances
Medications from a cleanout split into two groups. The HHW station takes medications but lists controlled substances as not accepted. Santa Clara County points residents to pharmacy drop-off kiosks and mail-back envelopes through the MED-Project program. Ask the kiosk operator about controlled substances before dropping them off.
What We Do With Hazardous Items During a Cleanout
During a hoarding cleanup, we pull hazardous items out of the piles as we find them, keep them out of the trash haul, and group them by type with labels. Leaking or unlabeled containers get bagged separately. The family gets a list of what was found, ready for the HHW station, a home pickup, or a medication take-back site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can non-residents use the Palo Alto HHW station?
No. The Palo Alto HHW station requires proof of Palo Alto residency, either a driver's license or a vehicle registration. Residents of East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Redwood City, and other San Mateo County cities use San Mateo County's free appointment-based drop-off program instead, booked at 650-372-6200. The Reuse Zone at the Palo Alto station is the one part open to anyone, with a limit of five free items per visit.
Does the Palo Alto HHW station take controlled substances?
No. The city's HHW page lists medications as accepted with "no controlled substances," and it puts controlled substances on the not-accepted list. For the rest of a medicine cabinet, the county's safe medication disposal page lists retail pharmacy kiosks and a free mail-back option. Call the specific kiosk location to ask about controlled substances before making the trip.
How much hazardous waste can I bring per visit?
The station caps each trip at 15 gallons or 125 pounds, and no single container can hold more than 5 gallons. A garage full of old paint and chemicals from a hoarded home can take several visits. The station is open every Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. and the first Friday of each month from 3 to 5 p.m.
Can paint go in the trash in Palo Alto?
No. Paint of either kind, thinners, and spray cans belong with household hazardous waste, so they go to the city's drop-off on Embarcadero Way rather than the black cart. Paint that's still good can be left in the station's Reuse Zone, where other residents take usable products for free. In a hoarded garage, we stack paint cans upright by type so the drop-off goes quickly.
Does Clean Up Day take hazardous waste?
Clean Up Day, run by GreenWaste of Palo Alto twice a year, is a curbside collection for bulky items, extra recyclables, and yard trimmings. Hazardous items like paint, chemicals, batteries, and medications go to the HHW station instead. Residents schedule Clean Up Day through GreenWaste at (650) 493-4894 with their utility account number.
Get a Free Estimate in Palo Alto
If a hoarded home has a garage or kitchen full of paint, chemicals, and old medications, call 123-456-7890 for a free walkthrough. See how we handle an estate cleanout, or our full hoarding cleanup in Palo Alto.