San Bernardino County Fire Protection District’s (SBCoFPD) Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program was awarded the “One in a Million” award during the 2023 Used Oil/HHW Training & Symposium, sponsored by CalRecycle, on February 9, 2023. This award recognizes the most unusual item received, and/or unexpected event that took place at an HHW facility throughout California. The HHW program’s outstanding public awareness, safety training protocols, knowledge of hazardous waste, and collaboration with the SBCoFPD Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) demonstrated the strength of teamwork.
On September 1, 2022, a participant arrived at the San Bernardino Central HHW Collection Facility. The participant had taken possession of a vehicle that was previously used by a company that serviced medical and dental x-ray imaging systems. When the participant arrived at the collection facility, HHW staff noticed what appeared to be radioactive warning labels affixed to the vehicle. HHW staff contacted HMRT staff to assist with determining if the vehicle had radioactive items. The vehicle was moved to a safe location away from the public.
HMRT staff conducted radiation monitoring and observed no readings above the background after finding multiple radiation safety documents taped to the inside of the vehicle. The waste liquid was also discovered during radiation monitoring. The waste liquid had the very distinguishable odor of a photographic developer that would be expected to be found at a medical or dental office having an X-ray imaging system. HMRT staff pumped out the waste developer and managed it for proper disposal. The vehicle was then returned to the participant.
The Office of the Fire Marshal’s Household Hazardous Waste Program is committed to providing safe and efficient household hazardous waste management services. The ultimate objective for both the HHW Program and HMRT is to protect the health, natural resources, and the environment.
For a list of permanent collection locations and/or items accepted at HHW Collection Facilities, please visit: sbcfire.org/hhw.