Guide for Reuse, Repair, Recycling, and Safe Disposal
for Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and the City of Palo Alto

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Oil-filled Heaters - Non-working

This is a notoriously tricky item to dispose of. If it works, please pass it along for reuse at a community thrift, NextDoor, Facebook Buy Nothing Group in your city, or such.

Consider repair before disposal. The internet has many DIY video tutorials on fixing for the common reasons these stop working. Your oil-filled heater brand's website will have repair how-to information and can be contacted regarding issues (ex. DeLonghi). Alternately, contact a local heater repair company regarding repair or refurbishing.

Oil-filled heaters are considered a major appliance under the Public Resources Code. Click here for DTSC's list of Certified Appliance Recyclers. Appliance recyclers have contractors to remove the mineral oil. Most bulky and curbside programs accept appliances. This metal appliance is not accepted by Household Hazardous Waste facilities, however, the drained mineral oil from the heaters is accepted in a resealable, labeled bottle. Contact a metal recycler, appliance recycler, and/or your bulky pick-up service provider for recycling of broken oil-filled heaters.

Vendors

Vendor Address City Destination Disposal Method Notes
Berkeley Recycling Center 669 Gilman St.
(corner of 2nd & Gilman)
Berkeley Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Appliance. $20 charge
Berkeley Transfer Station 1201 2nd St. Berkeley Landfill Drop-off for a Fee Appliance
Fremont Recycling & Transfer Station 41149 Boyce Rd. Fremont Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Appliance
Sims Metal (Hayward) 30104 Industrial Pkwy SW Hayward Recycle Drop-off for a Fee cord cut and mineral oil drained (goes to HHW).
Rica Recycling 27105 Industrial Blvd Hayward Recycle Drop-off for a Fee
GreenWaste of Palo Alto 2765 Lafayette St Palo Alto Recycle Pick-up for a Fee Bulky Pickup. Please consider reuse and repair before disposal. This item can be collected curbside for a fee or for no charge during your Clean Up Day.
Pleasanton Transfer Station 3110 Busch Rd. Pleasanton Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Appliance
Sims Metal (Redwood City) 699 Seaport Boulevard Redwood City Recycle Drop-off for a Fee cord cut and mineral oil drained (goes to HHW).
Sims Metal (San Jose) Office: 1800 Monterey Highway Redwood City Recycle Drop-off for a Fee cord cut and mineral oil drained (goes to HHW).
Sims Metal (Richmond) 600 S 4th Street Richmond Recycle Drop-off for a Fee cord cut and mineral oil drained (goes to HHW).
Shoreway Environmental Center (SEC) 333 Shoreway Road San Carlos Recycle Drop-off for a Fee With appliances.
Recology San Francisco Transfer Station Public Recycling and Disposal Drop Off 501 Tunnel Ave. San Francisco Recycle Drop-off for a Fee
Zanker Road Materials Processing Facility 675 Los Esteros Rd San Jose Recycle Drop-off for a Fee
Davis Street (WM) Resource Recovery Complex (Transfer Station) 2615 Davis St. San Leandro Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Drilled and drained of mineral oil (put in resealable, labeled container for drop-off at the HHW Facilities) and cord cut off. Separate for appliance or metal drop-off.
ALCO Iron & Metal (San Leandro) 2140 Davis Street
Headquarters & Metal Sales
San Leandro Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Drilled and drained of mineral oil (put in resealable, labeled container for drop-off at the HHW Facilities) and cord cut off. Separate for appliance or metal drop-off.
iFixit 1330 Monterey St San Luis Obisbo Repair Free Mail-in DIY repair instructions
Blue Line Transfer Station 500 East Jamie Court South San Francisco Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Appliance

Curbside Service

Bulky Pickup Note
Alameda
Contact ACI at (510) 483-1400 for a bulky pick-up.
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Albany
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Berkeley
Castro Valley Sanitary District
Separate and label good/working condition items for donation as part of your Bulky & Reuse Pick-up set out.
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Dublin
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Emeryville
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Fremont
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Hayward
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Hayward (Oro Loma - L2)
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Livermore
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Newark
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Oakland
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Piedmont
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Pleasanton
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San Leandro
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San Leandro (Oro Loma - L3)
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San Lorenzo (Oro Loma)
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Unincorporated Oro Loma (L1)
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Union City
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