Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Goleta
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Bi-weekly (alternating weeks, varies by zone)
Yard Waste
Weekly on your scheduled collection day
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Waste management services in Goleta are provided and billed directly by MarBorg Industries, which includes four free bulky item pickups per year for single-family residences.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Backyard cart collection fee waivers are available for residents with documented physical limitations or disabilities.
Brown or Beige Bin (Trash)
Lids must be completely closed. All organic waste and kitchen food scraps should be put in this bin, as they are mechanically extracted and composted off-site.
Accepted Items
- ✓All household food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, fruits, veggies)
- ✓Food-soiled paper products, greasy pizza boxes, and napkins
- ✓Succulents, cacti, and palm fronds
- ✓Styrofoam packaging, cups, and food containers
- ✓Single-use plastic wrap, bags, and clean snack wrappers
- ✓Diapers, pet waste, and cat litter (must be bagged)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables. All recyclable materials must be clean, dry, and placed loosely inside the blue container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard boxes and paperboard packaging (must be flattened)
- ✓Clean, dry paper, junk mail, and newspapers
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and steel food and beverage cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (emptied and rinsed)
- ✓Rigid plastics and plastic bottles
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags, bubble wrap, or plastic film liners
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Hoses, holiday lights, wires, or extension cords
- ✕Ceramic dishware or drinking glasses
- ✕Food waste, liquids, or heavily soiled paper
Yard Waste Bin
Keep material loose. Do not include plastic bags, food scraps, succulents, palm fronds, dirt, rocks, or pet waste in this container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Flowers and weeds
- ✓Prunings and small branches under 4 inches in diameter
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
4 free annual collection appointments
Placement
Place your scheduled bulky items at your curbside by 6:00 AM on your appointed collection day, clear of parked cars or utilities. Items exceeding 5 feet in length or 60 pounds must be reported when scheduling.
Accepted
- ✓ Large home appliances (refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers)
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, mattresses, box springs)
- ✓ Tires and wooden pallets
- ✓ Electronic waste (televisions, computer monitors, electronics)
- ✓ Bundled green waste and extra bagged trash
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and remodeling materials (concrete, drywall)
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paints, household chemicals, automotive fluids)
- ✕ Boats, spas, or hot tubs
The four standard annual pickups are free of charge. Pickups exceeding the free limits must be arranged with MarBorg for a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after an observed weekday holiday, your service will be delayed by exactly one day for the rest of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organic waste, recycling, and trash services all follow the same delayed holiday schedule.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, collections run normally on weekdays without any delay.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Autumn Leaf Fall
October - JanuaryGoleta's abundant oaks and sycamores produce heavy leaf drop in late fall. Residents should sweep leaves into their green yard waste cart rather than blowing them into the road, as loose debris blocks storm drains and municipal sweepers.
Post-Holiday Tree Recycling
JanuaryDuring the first three weeks of January, natural Christmas trees are collected curbside for composting. Residents must remove all ornaments, stands, tinsel, and lights before placement next to their green bin.
Local Tips & Community Info
MarBorg Industries: Goleta’s Trusted Waste Partner
In the vibrant coastal community of Goleta, residential refuse and recycling operations are expertly managed by MarBorg Industries. Homeowners are required to have their color-coded carts positioned at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on their specific neighborhood collection day. To facilitate seamless automated pickup, it is important to leave a minimum of three feet of space between your garbage, recycling, and green waste bins. Additionally, make sure all cart lids are completely shut to prevent coastal winds from scattering debris into the streets or nearby marine environments.
State-Mandated Food Scraps and Organics Recovery
To comply with California's aggressive SB 1383 climate legislation, Goleta residents must actively participate in food waste diversion. Your green organics cart is no longer just for grass clippings and palm fronds. You must now include all kitchen scraps, including meat, dairy products, eggshells, coffee grounds, and food-soiled paper items like greasy pizza boxes. It is absolutely critical that organic materials are kept free of plastics. Even bags labeled as biodegradable are generally discouraged unless explicitly approved by MarBorg, as they often do not break down in commercial composting facilities.
Keeping the Blue Bin Contamination-Free
Recycling effectively in the Goodland means keeping contaminants out of the blue cart. Acceptable materials include clean cardboard, office paper, glass bottles, metal cans, and hard plastics. A major issue in local recycling streams is the introduction of film plastics, such as grocery bags and bubble wrap, which can jam the sorting machinery at the processing center. Tanglers like garden hoses, wire, and clothing also belong in the trash. Always remember to empty and quickly rinse your containers before tossing them in the blue bin.
Curbside Bulky Item Collections and HHW
If you are upgrading your home and need to discard large appliances, old couches, or heavy furniture, MarBorg provides convenient bulky item pickup services for residential customers. To utilize this perk, you must contact their customer service center in advance to schedule a designated pickup date. For hazardous materials like leftover paint, pool chemicals, used motor oil, and lithium-ion batteries, residents must utilize the Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center located nearby on the UCSB campus, as these items pose severe fire and environmental risks if placed in standard curbside carts.
Drop-off Facilities
Goleta Recycle Center (MarBorg Industries)
20 David Love Place, Goleta, CA 93117
Materials Accepted
Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center (at UCSB)
Henry T. Yang Drive, Building 565, Goleta, CA 93106
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the MarBorg collection schedule change during holidays?
Yes, MarBorg observes major holidays including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your normal service day falls on or after one of these holidays, your trash pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Can I put batteries directly into the blue recycling cart?
Absolutely not. Batteries, especially lithium-ion variants, are a major fire hazard in collection trucks and sorting facilities. They must be taken to a designated hazardous waste drop-off location or a participating retailer.
How do I schedule a large item pickup?
Goleta residents can easily arrange for a free bulky item collection by calling MarBorg customer service directly. You must schedule the appointment ahead of time, as the regular collection trucks cannot accommodate oversized furniture or appliances.