Grey, Black, or Brown (Legacy MarBorg carts) Bin (Trash)
Due to the Santa Barbara County ReSource Center's sorting technology, you MUST place all food waste and compostable plastics in the trash cart. Do not put food in the yard waste cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household garbage
- ✓ALL food scraps (meat, dairy, bones)
- ✓Food-soiled paper and pizza boxes
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Biodegradable or compostable plastics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be clean, dry, and loose. Do not bag items in plastic garbage bags. If recycling batteries, they must be in a clear bag placed ON TOP of the cart lid, not inside.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper boxes
- ✓Office paper, magazines, and junk mail
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Rigid plastics larger than 6 inches
Do NOT Include
- ✕Saran wrap and flexible plastic films
- ✕Biodegradable or compostable plastics
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Loose batteries or electronics
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
This cart is strictly for green yard trimmings. Do not place food waste, food-soiled paper, dirt, rocks, or compostable plastics in the green cart in the City of Santa Barbara.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and weeds
- ✓Ivy and flowers
- ✓Small branches and prunings
- ✓Plants and natural yard trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Four (4) free pickups per calendar year
Placement
Items must be placed at the roadside by 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day. Any items not communicated to MarBorg during the scheduling phone call will be left behind as illegal dumping.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Furniture (couches, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Large appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✓ Tires
- ✓ Bundled and tied green waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and remodel material
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Boats and jacuzzis
- ✕ Unbundled yard waste
- ✕ Professional tree trimmings
- ✕ Items exceeding 5 feet or 60 lbs (unless pre-approved)
The four annual collections are free for city residents. Additional pickups or loads exceeding the 5-item limit will require a paid roll-off box or a special haul fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, residential pickup of trash, recycling, and yard waste will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Monday pickup moves to Tuesday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and recycling collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard trash.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, your weekday collection schedule is completely unaffected. A reminder email is typically sent to residential customers prior to each holiday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Food Out of the Green Cart
Unlike neighboring cities, Santa Barbara's green carts are for yard trimmings only. Put all food scraps and dirty paper napkins into the regular trash cart so the ReSource Center can properly process them into compost.
Battery Fire Hazard Prevention
Never toss batteries inside any of your carts, as they cause dangerous fires in collection trucks. You must tape the positive ends of the batteries and leave them in a clear, sealed plastic bag resting on top of the blue recycling cart.
No Plastic Wrap or Film in Recycling
Saran wrap, pallet wrap, and peel-away food seals belong in the trash. Flexible plastics tangle the sorting gears at the recycling facility. Keep the blue cart restricted to clean, rigid plastics larger than 6 inches.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryMarBorg provides post-holiday Christmas tree recycling. Place your unflocked tree at the curb on your normal yard waste collection day. Ensure all lights, tinsel, ornaments, and the wooden/plastic stand are completely removed.
Fall/Winter
November - MarchDuring the rainy season or after wildfires, do not put heavy mud, contaminated soil, or rocks into your curbside bins. Heavy loads will break the trucks. Contact MarBorg for specialized debris boxes if your property experiences mudslides or severe storm damage.
About Santa Barbara Waste Management
Santa Barbara's Unique Approach to Food Waste (SB 1383)
Unlike most California cities that require residents to diligently separate food scraps into a green organics bin, the City of Santa Barbara utilizes a radically different approach. Residents are instructed to throw all food waste, plate scrapings, and food-soiled paper directly into the standard trash bin. MarBorg Industries transports this waste to the state-of-the-art Santa Barbara County ReSource Center, where advanced machinery automatically separates the organics from the garbage. The recovered food waste is then anaerobically digested to generate green energy and compost, keeping the city compliant with SB 1383 without forcing residents to change their kitchen habits.
Expanded Free Bulky Item Pickups for Renters
Santa Barbara's bulky item program is incredibly robust. While many cities restrict free pickups strictly to homeowners or property managers, all city households—including renters and tenants—can directly schedule four free bulky item cleanups per calendar year through MarBorg. Each appointment allows you to place up to five large items at the curb, including mattresses, appliances, electronics, or bundled yard waste. You no longer need to coordinate through a landlord; simply call MarBorg customer service to book your pickup.
Curbside Battery and Cell Phone Recycling
Disposing of hazardous electronic waste is exceptionally convenient for single-family residents in Santa Barbara. You don't need to drive to the Community Hazardous Waste Center at UCSB to toss out AA batteries or an old smartphone. Simply tape the positive ends of your household batteries to prevent transit fires, seal them along with any old cell phones inside a clear plastic bag (like a Ziploc), and leave the bag resting directly on top of the lid of your blue recycling cart on your normal collection day.
Handling Storm Debris and Wildfire Ash
The local coastal climate and topography make Santa Barbara susceptible to sudden heavy rainstorms and nearby wildfires. During these events, it is critical not to overload your MarBorg carts with heavy mud, rocks, or excessive wildfire ash, which can damage collection trucks. For major natural debris, residents should utilize the Santa Barbara County Material Exchange or hire a permitted unscheduled hauler for a temporary roll-off box. Always check the city's official debris management guidelines following severe weather.
Drop-off Facilities
Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center at UCSB
Bldg. 565 Henry T. Yang Drive, Isla Vista, CA 93106
Materials Accepted
MarBorg Downtown Recycling Center (ABOP)
132 Nopalitos St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Materials Accepted
South Coast Recycling & Transfer Station
4430 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I put food waste in the City of Santa Barbara?
Put all food scraps, meat, dairy, and food-soiled paper directly into your regular trash cart. Santa Barbara uses the County ReSource Center to mechanically separate organics from the garbage to create compost and energy, so you do not need to separate food into the yard waste cart.
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup in Santa Barbara?
Call MarBorg Industries at (805) 963-1852 to schedule an appointment. All city households, including renters, receive four free pickups per year. You can set out a maximum of five items per appointment, and they must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM.
How do I recycle household batteries and old cell phones?
You can recycle these directly at the curb. Tape the positive ends of the batteries, place them along with any old cell phones inside a clear plastic Ziploc bag, and set the sealed bag on top of the lid of your blue recycling cart on your normal collection day.
Where can I dispose of old paint and hazardous chemicals?
You can drop off oil-based paints and severe chemicals at the Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center at UCSB on weekends. For water-based latex paint, antifreeze, batteries, and motor oil (ABOP), you can visit the MarBorg Downtown Recycling Center on Nopalitos Street during the week.