For purposes of this article, “household hazardous waste collection program” means a program or facility, specified in Section 25218.1, in which hazardous wastes from households and very small quantity generators are collected and ultimately transferred to an authorized hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility.

A public agency operating a household hazardous waste collection program or a person operating a household hazardous waste collection program under a written agreement with a public agency, or, for material received from the public as used oil, a person operating a certified used oil collection center as provided in Section 48660 of the Public Resources Code, shall not be held liable in a cost recovery action brought pursuant to Section 79650, including, but not limited to, an action to recover the fees imposed by Section 79105 or an action brought pursuant to Section 79670, for waste that has been properly handled and transported to an authorized hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility at a location other than that of the collection program.

Except as provided in Section 79845, this article does not affect or modify the obligations or liabilities of a person imposed pursuant to state or federal law.