Houses:Recycling
	Backyard and Curbside Collection ----· How Does it Work?- --- · What Can be Recycled and How Should it be Prepared? --- · How Much Does it Cost? > Recycling Centers > Recycle More Stuff ---- · Ceramics ---- · CDs, DVDs, VHS Tapes ---- · Plastic Bags ---- · Plastic Furniture, Solid Plastic Items, CDs, Tapes, Diskettes ---- · Scrap Metal-- ---- · Wood ---- · Textiles & Clothingng ---- · Toner Cartridges ---- · Miscellaneous --Non-Recyclable Stuff --Watch Our Recycling TV Commercials

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Backyard and Curbside Recycling Collection

How Does it Work?
Commingled recycling service is provided by the waste hauler. The City is divided into two zones serviced by BFI and MarBorg. Residences south or west of State Street are serviced by BFI. MarBorg services residences north and east of State. See the Trash and Recycling Service Providers Map to determine your hauler. Call your hauler to initiate or change trash, yard waste, or recycling services.

All single family residences are entitled to up to 96 gallons of free recycling and 32 gallons of free green waste recycling per week with their garbage service. If that is not enough, residents can pay for additional recycling capacity.

The waste hauler will provide either 32 gallon cans or 32, 64 or 95 gallon carts for recycling. Cans take up more space, but will be serviced from their location in the backyard. Carts can store more material in a smaller space but must be placed on the curb by the residents. They have wheels and are easy to move, even when full. Carts may be placed on the street no earlier than 12 hours before collection and must be taken in no later than 24 hours after collection.

What Can Be Recycled and How Should it Be Prepared?
This section only addresses conventional recycling that can be placed in your recycling bin such as paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metal. If you have too much stuff, bring it to a recycling center. See Recycle More Stuff for items can be recycled by bringing them to another location. For recycling of appliances, electronics, furniture, greenwaste, Christmas trees, wood, chemicals, and construction materials, hold your mouse over the menu options at the top of the page to see the sub menus for different types of materials, or click on Houses. For clothing, eyegalsses, food, styrofoam peanuts, bubblewrap, toner cartridges, and other items not listed, try the Reuse Directory.

Open the Mixed Recycling Guide in English and Spanish for a list of items that can be placed in your recycling bin. The guide is larger than 8 1/2 x 11 paper, so you can also just print the "What's Recyclable" pages.

All recyclables can be mixed together in the container. Please do not place anything in plastic bags. Please flatten cardboard boxes. Removing lids and rinsing containers is recommended because it keeps your recycling bin clean and makes the containers easier to recycle. It is not necessary to remove labels, rings, staples, paperclips or other items.

How Much Does it Cost ?
The first 96 gallons are free! Additional recycling can be purchased. If you have a cart, the price is based on the equivalent number of 32 gallon cans. Download the Single Family Rate Sheet for prices and service types.

Recycling Centers

You can also bring your recyclables to a recycling center and earn money for the bottles, cans, and scrap metals. You can drop off large quantities of paper, cardboard, and soft and hardback books for free.

Recycle More Stuff

Some things are recyclable, but not collected in the curbside program. Please bring them to the location indicated.

Ceramics (dishes, pots, misc. items)
Use broken pottery as drainage media in the bottom of potted plants. Do not use porcelain or glass products since they have sharp edges.

CDs, DVDs, VHS Tapes
The South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station at 4430 Calle Real (681-4345) will recycle these for free. They also accept electronics, so save them up and bring them all together. Hours Mon-Sat 7:00 am - 5:00 pm.

Plastic Bags
All local Vons and Albertsons supermarkets accept all #2 and #4 plastic bags for recycling (their own and others). The following types of bags are #2 or #4:

• Any plastic bag or wrapping marked with #2 a or a #4
• White plastic grocery sacks the stores use to bag your purchases
• Clear bags used for produce
• Santa Barbara News Press bags
• Drycleaner bags

Plastic bags, wrappings, and shrink wrap are called "Film Plastics". For more information on film plastics, visit www.plasticbagrecycling.org

Plastic Furniture, Playground Equipment, Solid Plastic Items
Pure plastic or plastic with small metal parts can be recyled at the MarBorg Construction Waste Recycling Facility at 119 N. Quarantina St. Call 963-1852 for details. Fee is $58 per ton or a minimum of $15.

Scrap Metal (aluminum, steel, brass, copper, stainless steel)
If an item is metal or mostly metal, it's recyclable. This includes equipment or tools with plastic pieces and non-metal parts. If it fits into your recycling bin, is not a fuel tank, and does not contain liquids or hazardous materials, put it in. If it is too big or heavy, bring it to a recycling center.

If you have an empty fuel tank, ask Santa Barbara Iron and Metal Recyclers if they will take it. If not, or if it contains liquids, look under the Paints, Batteries, & Chemicals section for disposal.

Textiles and Clothing
These are not currently recyclable, but bring usable items to a local thrift store.

Toner Cartridges
You can bring old inkjet and toner cartridges to either Staples or Office Max for recycling. Staples will accept and recycle all brands, and they will also give a $3 credit toward the purchase of new cartridges if you turn in old HP, Dell, Brother, and Lexmark cartridges. Office Max will accept, recycle, and give $3 credit for all brands except Epson. Epson offers recycling of their ink cartridges through a form on their website, but there is no explanation of how it works.

Wood
Recycle as construction waste.

Miscellaneous/Other
Many items that are not recyclable can be reused! Consult the Reuse Directory to see a list of items and where you can take them.

Stuff that is Not Recyclable or Reusable
Many durable items, especially if they are made of a mix of different materials (ie: plastic lumber with sawdust in it), are not recyclable anywhere. When you replace the item, see if a metal, paper fiber, or wood alternative exists so that when it breaks, it can be recycled. If no recyclable alternative exists, buy the most durable product available so it will last longer and be disposed less often