County Announces Mandatory Commercial
Recycling Program

Effective September 1, 2003, the County of Santa Barbara will be implementing a mandatory commercial recycling program for businesses and multi-family dwellings in the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County. Under this program, materials currently accepted under the residential recycling program (excluding green waste) will be prohibited from being disposed in the trash. These materials include the following:

- Aluminum foil and pie plates;
- Cans (e.g. aluminum, steel, tin, bimetal);
- Cardboard;
- Glass containers, bottles, and jars;
- Mixed paper (all colors, glossy and non-glossy paper, worksheets, office and computer paper, junk mail, and magazines);
- Newspapers; and
- Plastic containers nos. 1 and 2.

For more information on this program pertaining to businesses, please go to the Business Recycling webpage. For more information on this program pertaining to multi-family dwellings, please go to the Multi-Family Residential Recycling webpage.

County Waste Diversion Rate at 59 Percent

On August 20, 2002, the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) approved the Waste Generation Study submitted by the County Public Works Department, Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division. The Study demonstrated that the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County are diverting (i.e. reusing or recycling) 59 percent of their generated waste, thereby exceeding the State mandate (AB 939) that all jurisdictions divert at least 50 percent of their waste from landfills by the end of 2000. Statewide, the diversion rate is 42 percent.

A wide variety of programs are offered to the community by the public and private sectors, but without the cooperation and participation of the community, the County of Santa Barbara could not have met the AB 939 mandate. Although attaining a diversion rate of 59 percent is impressive, much more can be done. Therefore, the County of Santa Barbara Public Works Department, Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division will continue working with the community to expand its existing programs and to add new programs wherever possible.

In order to maintain and increase the County's current diversion level of 59 percent, residents need to continue to recycle at home, at work, at the park, and when they are remodeling. Remember, if you need a larger recycling bin, you can obtain one for free by simply calling your service provider!

Featured Programs:

1. Backyard Composting

2. Business Recycling Program

3. California Coastal Cleanup Day

4. Christmas Tree Recycling

5. Construction & Demolition Debris Recycling

6. Electronics Recycling Program

7. Green Award Program

8. Household Hazardous Waste

9. Illegal Dumping/Abandoned Vehicle Program

10. Junk Mail Recycling

11. Multi-Family Residential Recycling

12. Recycling Market Development Zone

13. Recycling Resource Guide

14. School Recycling

15. Single- Family Residential Recycling

16. Solid Waste Facilities

17. Telephone Book Recycling

Last updated: October 20, 2004

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