By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Need to dispose of drugs, light bulbs & more?
recycle
You can recycle drugs in a drop box located in the Manteca Police Department lobby.

There is a reason Manteca Police Department did not participate in last month’s free drug drop off effort that was offered in Lathrop, Ripon, and other nearby cities.
That’s because you can place expired or unwanted prescription and non-prescription drugs — including medicine prescribed for pets — in a drop-off box in the Manteca Police Department lobby at the Manteca Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St., during normal business hours.
It is against the law to flush them down the toilet or to toss them into garbage. It is also illegal to put light bulbs, batteries, injection needles, pain, and electronics in the trash as well due to toxicity issues.  The city as well as local business has stepped up to provide drop off locations for those items as well.
Drug drop-off
at police station
The drug collection at the Manteca Police station also helps keep prescriptions and over the counter drugs from getting into the hands of addicts.
Police Chief Jodie Estarziau asked that people dropping off pills and such to remove them from their bottles and place them in baggies that zip before placing them in the drop box. There are two reasons why you need to do that. First, it allows the drop-off box to hold more drugs. It also prevents any personal information on prescription labels to fall into the wrong hands.
“Obviously if the medicine is in liquid form, you will want to keep it in the container but make sure you remove personal information on the prescription label,” Estarziau said.
SHARPS — the needles used for medical injections — can be dropped off in a separate box in the police station lobby. They can also be dropped off in ared SHARPS container at the Solid Waste Division office at 210 East Wetmore off of South Main Street Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. They will take your container and give you another free of charge.
The police lobby is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and every other Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Light bulbs, batteries
& other stuff
Small alkaline batteries — A, AA, AAA, C and D — can also be dropped off free of charge at the Solid Waste Division office.
They also will accept old TVs, computer monitors and electronic waste at that location from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Light bulbs can be taken to the Manteca Home Depot help desk. Kelly Moore Paints on South Main near Moffat Boulevard will take old paint up to 20 gallons from residents regardless of the brand.
Light bulbs, paint and e-waste is also accepted at the San Joaquin County Hazardous Waste facility located on the south side of Stockton Metro Airport on Bridgeford Road off Airport Way free of charge Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. They also accept pesticides, pool chemicals, and other household hazardous waste. They can be contacted at 209.468.3066 for further information.
The Solid Waste Division can provide you with a container that holds five quarters of oil. Once you have used oil in it, place the container next to your cart on the regular collection day or recycling and it will be replaced with an empty one. For information call the Solid Waste Division at 209.456.8440.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com