
Yard Waste Recycling
Yard waste recycling is the unsung hero of recycling programs. Putting waste into your green bin at home or work is a great way to divert waste from the landfill. Check out the info below on what can and can't go in your green bin.
This recycling loop starts by putting your yard trimmings in a green waste container. Clean green materials are taken to county facilities where they’re processed and ground into mulch. The loop is completed when you use that mulch around your plants to return nutrients to the soil.
Give your yard waste a second chance at life – Recycle it!
We also have Award Winning Songs that can help you figure out what can and can’t go in your green waste bin. You’ll need Windows Media Player or a similar program to listen to them:
Green Waste Blues.WMA
Green Waste Ragtime.WMA
What can I put in the Green Bin?
Green waste consists of leaves, grass clippings, other yard trimmings, and plant materials. No food waste, wood ash, soil, or old plant pots and hoses, please! Some types of plants are also unacceptable and must go in the trash. Learn more by reading our Green Waste Do’s and Don’ts. Here’s the short version: Please note that eucalyptus and oleander are no longer accepted in our green waste program and must go into the trash.Yes:
- Grass clippings (but you can also leave these on the lawn)
- Leaves
- Small branches
- Flowers
- Ivy
- Plants
No (Trash these):
- Agave
- Bamboo
- Cactus
- Caster bean
- Invasive species
- Palm fronds
- Pampas grass
- Poison oak
- Thistle
- Yucca
- Eucalyptus
- Oleander
- Animal waste
- Food (compost it at home instead!)
- Plastic bags or pots
- Dirt, rocks, or smelly socks!
Our Greenwaste Songs!

What if I self-haul?
The sites listed below accept self-hauled yard waste. Please call ahead for hours of operation and applicable fees. If you have any questions about yard waste recycling, please contact us or call (805) 882-3600.Where to go
-
Santa Barbara Area (2)
- *South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station — 4430 Calle Real
- MarBorg Industries — 119 North Quarantina Street
-
Goleta & UCSB Area (1)
- *South Coast Recycling & Transfer Station — 4430 Calle Real
-
Santa Ynez Valley (1)
- *Santa Ynez Valley Recycling and Transfer Station — 4004 Foxen Canyon Road
-
Lompoc Valley & VAFB (1)
- City of Lompoc Landfill (Scalehouse) — Avalon Rd (south end)
-
Santa Maria Valley (5)
- Bedford Enterprises, Inc. — 1940 West Betteravia Road
- City of Santa Maria Landfill, aka City of Santa Maria Regional Landfill — 2065 East Main Street
- Engel and Gray, Inc. — 745 West Betteravia Road
- Santa Maria Area Recycling Terminal (SMART) — 1940 West Betteravia Road
- Waste Management — 1850 West Betteravia Road
-
Cuyama Valley (2)
- *New Cuyama Transfer Station — 5073 Highway 166
- *Ventucopa Transfer Station — Highway 33
Related Materials
- Green Franchises
- Yard Waste Reduction
- Agricultural Waste Recycling
- Outreach Materials
- Recycling Resource Guide
- Agricultural Plastic Recycling
- Home Composting
- Manure Recycling Program
- Mulch Program
- Untreated Wood & Pallets Recycling
- Construction Waste Recycling
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