The Irvine Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center is staying open.
The facility at 6411 Oak Canyon was slated to close at the end of 2025, but city leaders changed plans recently and area residents can continue to visit the site to dispose of paint cans, batteries and anything that contains corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive ingredients.
The center’s lease with the city was supposed to expire Dec. 31 and OC Waste & Recycling — the managing entity of the site — had initially not been given the option to extend. The city is eying an expansion of the Irvine Central Bark, the dog park next door.
But after dozens of community members lobbied and sent letters to the council in opposition to the hazardous waste collection center’s closing, councilmembers unanimously agreed to extend the existing lease.
“This is a facility that’s been used by thousands of people and got a lot of really good feedback, in regards to the upcoming closure,” Councilmember Mike Carroll said.
The collection center will continue to take hazardous waste for up to an additional year, through Dec. 31, 2026, city officials said. By then, the council wants to find the center a permanent location, possibly at the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill that is about six miles northeast of the center, officials said.
There are four household hazardous waste collection sites in Orange County spread across four cities: Anaheim, Huntington Beach, San Juan Capistrano and Irvine.
The Irvine center will continue to take waste between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays.
