Pest & Garden
Pest and garden products contain hazardous chemicals and should never be thrown in the trash or poured down the drain.
Disposal Options:
- Pest & garden products are accepted at all Alameda County Hazardous Waste Facilities and One-Day Events.
- Search our RE:Source guide for other locations.
Special Instructions:
- The Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Facilities accept: pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and sprays.
- Empty pesticide containers can be recycled if they are glass or plastic bottles identified by numbers 1 through 7.
Alternatives:
- Our Water Our World has comprehensive fact sheets for managing garden pests with least toxic methods. You can also find their information displays at Alameda County nurseries, hardware and big box stores.
- The Pesticide Research Institute has pest management bulletins and a Pest Smart mobile app that can help you pick low-impact solutions to common pest problems.
- University of California Integrated Pest Management Program has peer-reviewed scientific publications about specific pests.
Homemade Recipes:
Browse through our collection of homemade alternatives to toxic garden products:
- Aphid and Mite Control
- Slug Trap
- Weed Control
- Black Spot and Powdery Mildew Spray
- Attract "Nice Bugs"
- Make Your Own Fertilizer
Aphid and Mite Control
- 1 tablespoon soap
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 gallon water
Mix 1 tablespoon pure soap with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in 1 gallon of water. Spray on aphid- or mite-infested plant parts. Store unused portion in labeled container. Use pure soap only as detergent can burn plants.
Beer or Yeast Mixture:
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baker’s yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 cups warm water
Cut several 1-inch square openings in the sides of a clean covered cottage cheese container or margarine tub. Sink the container into the soil so the openings are just above the soil surface. Remove the lid and pour in 1/2-inch of beer, or use the yeast mixture above. Slugs will be attracted to the trap, fall in and drown. Empty the container every few days and refill.
- Cardboard
- Wood chips
- Compost
Sheet mulch weedy areas with layers of cardboard, wood chips, and compost. Learn more about sheet mulching.
Black Spot and Powdery Mildew Spray
- 3 tablespoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons insecticidal soap or ultra-fine horticultural oil
- 1 gallon water
Mix 3 tablespoons baking soda with 2 teaspoons insecticidal soap or ultra-fine horticultural oil in 1 gallon of water. Spray on affected plant parts.
Attract "Nice Bugs"
Introduce friendly insects such as ladybugs (natural enemies of aphids), ground beetles and praying mantises, to rid your garden of uninvited pests. Check with a nursery for plants that attract these insects.