Paper is made from natural fibers, mostly wood. In addition to being easily recyclable, many paper products are also compostable and reusable. However, some papers are contaminated with food and other debris, making them non-recyclable. Take a peek below for specifics.

Recycle these:

• Mixed paper (office paper, paper bags, junk mail and colored paper)
• Magazines, newspapers, and phonebooks
• Corrugated cardboard and paperboard
• NEW MATERIALS ACCEPTED:  Tetra-pak (look for wording on package) or aseptic containers, such as those for soy milk and soup and refrigerated cartons, such as those containing milk or juice. Ensure that the containers are emptied before being deposited into a recycling container.
• Old or damaged paperback books

Reduce and Reuse these:

• Reuse books, both hardback and paperback
• Donate recent magazines and newspapers
• Stop your junkmail
• Reuse cardboard boxes

Compost these:

• Black and white newsprint makes good worm composting bedding, but avoid color inks
• Some food-contaminated paper products can be composted or vermicomposted

Trash these:

• Paper towels, tissue, and toilet paper
• Food-contaminated cardboard (pizza) boxes and paper plates and cups
• ATM receipts and carbon paper
• Read more about why these are trash

Why recycle paper?

All recycling conserves materials and energy. To learn more about these benefits, check out our Why Recycle page.

Where to go

• All of Santa Barbara County (2)

  • Craigslist
  • Junk Recyclers — 6520 Platt Avenue #650

• Santa Barbara Area (4)

  • *South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station — 4430 Calle Real
  • MarBorg Industries — 119 North Quarantina Street
  • MarBorg Industries' Recycling /ABOP Center — 725 Cacique Street
  • South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station — 4430 Calle Real

• Goleta & UCSB Area (2)

  • *South Coast Recycling & Transfer Station — 4430 Calle Real
  • MarBorg Industries Recycling/ABOP Center — 20 David Love Place

• Santa Ynez Valley (2)

  • *Santa Ynez Valley Recycling and Transfer Station — 4004 Foxen Canyon Road
  • Waste Management — 97 Commerce Drive

• Lompoc Valley & VAFB (2)

  • City of Lompoc Recycling Drop-off Facility — 1585 North "V" St
  • Drive-In Recycling — 2126 1/2 North "H" Street

• Santa Maria Valley (3)

  • City of Santa Maria Landfill, aka City of Santa Maria Regional Landfill — 2065 East Main Street
  • VTC Enterprises Thrift Store — 2445 "A" Street
  • Waste Management — 1850 West Betteravia Road

• Cuyama Valley (2)

  • *New Cuyama Transfer Station — 5073 Highway 166
  • *Ventucopa Transfer Station — Highway 33

• Outside Santa Barbara County (3)

  • Earth911.com - Information Only — 1375 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 140
  • RecycleMatch — 3375 Westpark Drive, Suite 321
  • Waste Management Incorporated, Think Green from Home