Spring Cleaning

The new year inspires many of us to clean our homes and get rid of what no longer has use. Whether you’re going through old cabinets, cleaning out your garage, or gathering items you want to be rid of, these tips and reminders will help you refresh your space and dispose of old items sustainably. 

If you have large items and extra trash that doesn’t fit in the waste bin, consider Waste Management of Alameda County’s bulky item pick up service, which is free for Hayward residents. Residents in single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes may schedule two pickups each calendar year. 

Items accepted for collection include: 

• 2 cubic yards of trash 
• 3 pieces of household furniture, including rolled and securely tied carpet 
• 3 large appliances or other scrap metal items 
• 2 mattresses 
• 2 electronic scrap items, including televisions, computers, monitors, computer printers, DVDs or VCRs 
• 4 passenger car tires 

Items not accepted for collection include: 

• Hazardous materials (paint, motor oil, solvents, cleaners, pesticides, car batteries) 
• Any single item over 75 lbs. (except furniture and appliances) 
• Medical waste 
• Construction or demolition debris 
• Rocks, bricks, dirt, or concrete

Hazardous materials can be dropped off at a proper disposal facility such as the Hayward Household Hazardous Waste Facility (2091 West Winton Ave) operated by StopWaste. 

Thinking about flushing items down the toilet? Think again! To avoid plumbing issues and keep our wastewater systems working correctly, the only thing that should be flushed down the toilet is human waste and toilet paper. Medicine and prescription drugs should never be flushed, unless it specifically states so on the packaging. All other medicines and prescription drugs can be safely disposed of by being dropped off at a collection kiosk. Some locations in Hayward include:

• CVS Pharmacy (243 Jackson St), 
• CVS Pharmacy (26059 Mission Blvd), 
• Tennyson Pharmacy (589 W Tennyson Rd), and 
• Ted’s Drugs (27453 Hesperian Blvd).

You can find more disposal locations throughout the Bay Area using StopWaste’s RE:Source online directory link. Collection kiosks require you bring pills in a sealed plastic bag and tightly close liquids and creams in their original container. Aerosols should have their protective cap on, and inhaler vials must be removed from the inhaler mechanism. To protect your privacy, you may remove or obscure any labels that show your name and personal information.