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San Mateo County Health
Helping everyone in San Mateo County live longer & better lives.
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Preventing Pollution

Overview

Pollution Prevention Program
A Healthier Environment for Healthier People

Sign up for the Pollution Prevention Program biannual newsletter. Read the Spring 2025 newsletter here.

Follow the Environmental Health Services blog to stay updated on upcoming events and program highlights. 

The Pollution Prevention Program conducts outreach and education on a variety of environmental and public health topics to encourage residents to protect their health and the environment.

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HHW Program Overview

San Mateo County’s HHW Program helps residents reuse, recycle, or responsibly manage residential hazardous waste for free. There are multiple easy and free ways to safely and properly remove HHW from your home. County residents can:

  1. Local Drop-off locations: Find convenient, local recycling and disposal options for paint, electronics, batteries, fluorescent lights, medicines, propane tanks, 1 lb. propane cylinders, and more. 
  2. Curbside Pick up: Take advantage of battery (and in select cities, used oil) pick-up on your recycle/garbage collection day. Check your hauler for details.
  3. Make an HHW drop-off appointment online, or call 650-372-6200. Review the program rules and schedule an appointment that’s convenient for you.  
General information

Coastal Cleanup Day 2025

Join us for the 41st Annual Coastal Cleanup Day!  Saturday, September 20 from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and all month long!
Please note: cleanup times on the 20th may vary by location. 

This cleanup event is a great way for families, friends, community groups, and schools to come together to help clean up creeks, parks, neighborhoods, and local beaches.

General information

Cigarette Butt Litter Reduction Program

Do you smoke cigarettes? Take our 1-minute survey and receive a free reusable pocket ashtray and a $5 gift card while supplies last.

Cigarette butts that are dropped or flicked away as litter can easily be blown or washed into storm drains that lead directly into waterways without filtration. In addition to being unsightly, cigarette butts never disappear because they are made of plastic and do not biodegrade. They are toxic to marine and freshwater wildlife. 

General information
Breaking Our Bag Habit

Breaking Our Bag Habit

About 63 million single-use plastic bags were used every year before San Mateo County’s Reusable Bag Ordinance went into effect. Most of them ended up in landfills, or as litter on land and in our waterways.