Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Santa Maria
Trash Day
Collection runs Tuesday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on your assigned trash pickup day.
Yard Waste
Organics and green waste are collected weekly on your assigned trash pickup day.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash, recycling, water, and sewer services are combined into a single monthly municipal utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In Person
Gray or Black Bin (Trash)
All garbage should fit inside the container with the lid completely closed. Overpacked bins will not be serviced. Plastic bags of any kind must be placed in this bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Plastic bags (including compostable bags)
- ✓Yucca, bamboo, and palm fronds
- ✓Ice plant
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be clean, dry, and placed loosely in the bin. Never bag your recyclables, as plastic bags ruin the sorting machinery.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and newspaper
- ✓Junk mail and magazines
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Rigid plastic bottles
- ✓Metal cans
- ✓Aluminum foil
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film of any kind
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Hazardous materials
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses)
Yard Waste Bin
Must be completely loose. No bags of any kind are permitted, not even compostable bags. Do not include yucca, bamboo, palm fronds, or ice plant.
Accepted Items
- ✓Branches, leaves, and shrubs
- ✓Yard trimmings and weeds
- ✓Food scraps (including meat and bones)
- ✓Food-soiled paper
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
No curbside pickup available (1 free landfill pass per year)
Placement
Residents must transport bulky items themselves directly to the Santa Maria Recycling Park / Regional Landfill at 2065 East Main Street.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses (up to 5 per resident)
- ✓ Appliances (stoves, washers, refrigerators)
- ✓ Unupholstered furniture
- ✓ Scrap metal and whole tires
- ✓ Untreated wood and concrete (no rebar)
- ✓ Electronic waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste mixed with general bulk
- ✕ Commercial construction waste
- ✕ Liquid paints or motor oil (without utilizing the HHW facility)
The annual Landfill Pass allows for one free drop-off per year. Any additional drop-offs or unapproved hard-to-handle items may be subject to posted landfill gate fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday occurs on a weekday, residential collection service is delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics collection follows the exact same one-day delay schedule as trash and recycling during holiday weeks.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, your collection day will not be affected. Carts should always be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer
JulyThe free annual Landfill Pass for eligible residential trash customers resets every July. Make sure to claim and use your pass for any major summer cleanouts or furniture disposal.
Winter
December - JanuaryWith the potential for high winds during winter storms, ensure your cart lids are pressed down completely flat. Bins with propped-open lids create massive neighborhood litter problems and may not be serviced.
Local Tips & Community Info
Santa Maria Trash and Recycling Collection Overview
The City of Santa Maria operates an efficient automated three-cart collection system to manage residential solid waste. Every neighborhood is assigned a specific weekly collection day where trash, recycling, and organic waste are picked up by the Solid Waste Division. By adhering to the local trash pickup schedule, residents help keep the community clean and ensure compliance with California's environmental regulations. Your residential service includes a black or gray cart for regular refuse, a blue cart for recyclables, and a green cart for yard waste and food scraps.
Proper Cart Placement Rules
To guarantee your bins are emptied, you must place your carts at the curb by 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day. The automated trucks require adequate clearance to operate safely. Keep all carts at least three feet apart from one another and ensure they are at least three feet away from parked vehicles, mailboxes, and utility poles. The wheels should be placed against the curb with the lid opening facing the street. Promptly remove your empty bins from the curb by 8:00 PM on the day of service to comply with local municipal codes.
Sorting Your Waste: Blue and Green Bins
Santa Maria strongly encourages proper sorting to divert waste from the Santa Maria Regional Landfill. Your blue recycling bin is reserved for clean cardboard, paper, glass bottles, aluminum cans, and rigid plastics. Never bag your recyclables; keep them loose in the cart. The green organics cart is designed for landscape debris like grass clippings, leaves, and branches, as well as kitchen food scraps. Keeping food waste out of the landfill is a crucial part of meeting statewide SB 1383 mandates.
Bulky Item Disposal and Landfill Services
If you are doing a home cleanout or replacing furniture, do not leave large items on the curb without making prior arrangements. Santa Maria residents can schedule a bulky item pickup for a nominal fee by contacting the Solid Waste Division. Acceptable items include mattresses, old appliances, and broken furniture. Alternatively, residents can transport their excess waste, construction debris, or household hazardous waste directly to the Santa Maria Regional Landfill located on East Main Street. Be sure to secure your load with a tarp before driving to the facility.
Holiday Schedule Delays and Missed Pickups
The Santa Maria sanitation schedule shifts slightly during major national holidays. The city typically observes New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If your normal service day falls on or after one of these holidays, your trash and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. If it is not a holiday and you experience a missed pickup, leave your carts at the curb and contact the city's customer service desk immediately to report the issue and arrange a recovery collection.
Drop-off Facilities
Santa Maria Regional Landfill & Recycling Park
2065 East Main Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Materials Accepted
Santa Maria Household Hazardous Waste Facility
2065 East Main Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the City of Santa Maria offer curbside bulky item pickup?
No. Unlike many neighboring cities, Santa Maria does not offer curbside pickup for large items. Instead, eligible residential customers receive a free annual Landfill Pass (valid from July through June) to haul bulky items like furniture and appliances to the Santa Maria Regional Landfill themselves.
Can I use compostable bags for my kitchen food waste?
No. The Utilities Department strictly prohibits bags of any kind in the green organics container. Even certified compostable bags must be thrown in the regular trash. All food scraps and yard waste must be placed completely loose inside the bin.
How should I dispose of palm fronds and yucca?
Due to their tough and fibrous nature, palm fronds, yucca, bamboo, and ice plant cannot be processed in the city's organics program. You must place these specific plant types in your regular black/gray trash container.
What are the rules for placing my trash carts on the street?
Residents must set out their containers by 6:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection day. The automated trucks require you to place the carts at least five feet apart from each other and away from parked vehicles. All cart lids must be fully closed to prevent spills and neighborhood litter.