Important Info 
How Much Trash do We Generate?

On a daily basis, the average Santa Barbaran generates a total of 3 pounds of waste every day in their home alone! That amounts to 2 pounds of garbage, 2/3 of a pound of recyclables, and 1/3 of a pound of green waste (leaves, grass clippings, tree branches, palm fronds).

Annually, the average Santa Barbaran generates approximately 1,370 pounds of trash at their home. That equates to 820 pounds of garbage bound for the landfill, 247 pounds of recyclables and 303 pounds of greenwaste (leaves, grass clippings, tree branches, palm fronds).

Approximately 49% of the total waste stream in Santa Barbara County is generated by residential users, while 51% is generated by businesses and industry.

National averages for solid waste generation and disposal, as reported by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, are represented by these graphs.

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

Last updated: April 3, 2008