County Programs
Single-Family Residential Recycling Program

What materials can I recycle at my residence?

The following materials may be placed in your commingled recycling container, whether you have a wheeled cart or a dumpster:

	•	Aluminum foil and pie plates (must not have residue from food or beverages)
	•	Cans of all types (aluminum, steel, tin, bi-metal)(and empty aerosol cans)
	•	Cardboard
	•	Glass containers, bottles, and jars
	•	Mixed paper of all colors (e.g. glossy and non-glossy paper, worksheets, office and computer paper, junk mail, magazines)
	•	Newspapers and all inserts
	•	Paper bags
	•	Paperboard (e.g., cereal and tissue boxes)
	•	Phonebooks
	•	Pots and pans (e.g. aluminum, copper, steel)
	•	#1 PETE plastic containers (Polyethylene Terephthalate)(e.g. small sport top water bottles; soft drink, mouthwash, ketchup, and salad dressing bottles; peanut butter, jelly and jam, pickle jars; food trays)
	•	#2 HDPE plastic containers (High Density Polyethylene)(e.g., milk, water, juice, cosmetic, shampoo, dish and laundry containers; yogurt and margarine tubs)
	•	#3 PVC plastic (Polyvinyl Chloride)(e.g. detergent/cleanser bottles)
	•	#4 LDPE plastic (Low Density Polyethylene)(e.g. squeezable bottles such as honey, mustard)
	•	#5 PP plastic (Polypropylene)(e.g. ketchup bottles, yogurt containers, margarine tubs, straws, lids, empty medicine bottles)
	•	#6 PS plastic (Polystyrene)(e.g. compact disc cases, plates, empty medicine bottles)
	•	#7 Other plastic (e.g. three and five-gallon reusable water bottles; ketchup, juice, and syrup bottles)

The following types of materials should not be placed in commingled recycling containers in Santa Barbara County:

• Aerosol cans (if contents are in can)*
• Automotive fluids*
• Batteries*
• Chemicals*
• Electronics
• Paints/solvents*
• Paper towels
• Plastic egg cartons and cups
• Plastic bags**
• Pottery
• Styrofoam (if clean, many packaging stores will accept the peanuts)
• Tissue and toilet paper
• Waxed cartons and paperboard (e.g. milk or juice cartons and frozen food boxes)
• Window glass and light bulbs

* Take to your local hazardous waste collection facility to be recycled. Click on this link Hazardous Waste Collection Facilities for a listing of hazardous waste collection facilties in Santa Barbara County. Household batteries may also be dropped off at stores that sell electronics, camera stores, drugstores, office supply stores, and home improvement stores. Check the Directory of Materials for Reuse and Recycling in our Recycling Resource Guide for Santa Barbara County (click on link) for a listing of places that accept household batteries.

**Generally speaking, only hard plastics may be placed in your commingled recycling container. Plastic bags may be placed in receptacles located at major grocery stores for recycling. The following types of plastic bags (must be clean and dry) are accepted at major grocery stores to be recycled:

• Grocery bags;
• Bread bags;
• Retail bags with the hard plastic and string handles removed;
• Newspaper bags;
• Dry cleaning bags;
• Clear bags labled with a #2 or #4.

Many mail and packaging stores accept packing peanuts to be reused or recycled. Contact a local store to verify that clean packing peanuts will be accepted. Electronics should be taken to a facility that collects such items for recycling or dropped off during one-day collection events held periodically throughout the County. For a list of facilities that accept electronics, please click here: http://www.lessismore.org/Programs/electronics.html

If you have green waste service at your home, you can throw the following items into your green waste container:

How do I initiate recycling service?

Contact the service provider in your area. If you are currently receiving trash collection service, you can receive a recycling container free of charge!

If I am having problems, whom do I call for help?

If you have any problems with your service (e.g. recyclables not picked up, trash not picked up) or you have a question regarding your collection schedule, please contact your service provider. If you do not receive satisfaction, then please contact the County Public Works Department, Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division, at (805) 882-3618.

Can I obtain a bigger recycling container?

In the South County’s unincorporated areas, 32-, 64-, and 95-gallon recycling containers are available. In the City of Santa Barbara, customers can receive up to three 32-gallon or one 95-gallon container free of charge. In North County unincorporated areas, as well as the cities of Buellton and Solvang, 30-, 60-, and 90-gallon recycling containers are available.

If you have any questions, please contact the County Public Works Department, Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division, at (805) 882-3600.

For information on the City of Santa Barbara's recycling programs, please visit:
http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/SolidWaste/index.htm.

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Copyright © 2000 Santa Barbara County Public Works Department
Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division

Last updated: March 26, 2008