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Household Hazardous Waste
Household Hazardous Waste

How to qualify as a VSQG business

Businesses follow these steps to drop off small amounts of hazardous waste.

Step 1: Determine if you qualify

To qualify as a Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) business:

  • You must generate less than 220 lbs or 27 gallons of hazardous waste per month, or less than 2.2 lbs of extremely hazardous waste per month.
  • Non-Profits, landlords, apartment managers, and businesses who generate hazardous waste are considered small businesses, and are not exempt from disposal fees.

For more information, see California Health and Safety Code, section 25218.1 and Code of Federal Regulations 40, Section 261.5.

Step 2: Obtain a California E.P.A. I.D. Number

All participants of the Small Business Program MUST HAVE an EPA Identification Number. 

Call the California Environmental Protection Agency (CAL EPA) at 1-800-618-6942 to apply for either a Temporary or Permanent Number. 

In the majority of cases, EPA ID numbers can be assigned over the phone. Please be patient and prepared for high call volumes.

Step 3: Submit an inventory sheet

Print out and fill in this Inventory Sheet. Follow these instructions on how to fill out the inventory sheet.

Next, call Clean Earth at (800) 207-8222 to send in your inventory.

Step 4: Schedule an appointment

Once we receive your inventory sheet, we'll produce a price quote and contact you. 

Pricing varies and is dependent on material type and container type and size. Call 800-207-8222 for inquires about pricing.  

If you agree to the price and wish to proceed, we will create an account for you. Once your account is created, we can proceed with setting up an appointment.  

We have hazardous waste collection events for businesses in San Martin and San Jose.  When you have an appointment, we'll fax or email you your copy of the waste manifest along with a map and directions to our facility.