Protecting the public health and environment of our community by efficiently managing waste products and utilities with a focus on resource conservation.
Free Composting Workshops in May and June 2013
Have you ever wondered how to make compost? Do you want to learn how to avoid creating a bad odor from the material? What steps can be taken to minimize the attraction of flies? If you want answers to these and other questions, we encourage you to attend one of the free composting workshops that will be held in Santa Barbara County in May and June 2013. The workshops will be conducted by staff from the Resource Recovery & Waste Management Division at the following locations and on the following dates:
Solvang Branch Library
1745 Mission Drive
May 18th (for more information click on this flyer: Santa Ynez Valley Composting Workshop May 2013)
Santa Barbara City College
Lifescape Garden, east campus entrance past stadium
June 1st(for more information click on this flyer: Santa Barbara Composting Workshop Flyer June 2013)
Santa Maria Valley Sustainable Garden
624 West Foster Road, Santa Maria
June 8th (for more information click on this flyer: Santa Maria Composting Workshop Flyer June 2013)
Discounted Composting Bins Available Year-Round
The Resource Recovery & Waste Management Division offers Earth Machine composting bins for sale year-round at a cost of $40.00, which is over 50 percent off the retail price. These composting bins may be purchased between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, at the South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station, located at 4430 Calle Real in Santa Barbara. In the North County, these composting bins may be purchased between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the North County Public Works Building, located at 620 West Foster Road in Santa Maria. For more information about the Earth Machine, visit the County's recycling website: http://lessismore.org/materials/71-discount-compost-bins
Summary of Regional Solid Waste Management Services for Fiscal Year 2011-12
A summary of solid waste management services provided during fiscal year 2011-12 (July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012) to the cities of Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Solvang, as well as the unincorporated areas is now available. The summary notes that some services were also provided to the cities of Buellton, Lompoc, and Santa Maria. To read the summary, please click here.
Availability of 2012-13 Recycling Resource Guide
The 2012-13 edition of the Recycling Resource Guide for Santa Barbara County is now available in hard copy and on-line at the County's recycling website, LessIsMore.org: 2012-13 Recycling Resource Guide for Santa Barbara County
To request a hard copy, please call (805) 882-3600.
Availability of 2011-12 Report on County's Hazardous Waste Collection Programs
The annual report describing the accomplishments of the County's Hazardous Waste Collection Programs for households and businesses, covering fiscal year 2011-12 (July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012), is now available by clicking here.
The Division at a Glance
The Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division is one of several divisions within the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department, and is responsible for the cost-effective management of solid waste and utilities in the County. (See: Mission Statement)
The Division's comprehensive program for the management of solid waste includes the collection, recycling, and disposal of solid waste, and also the abatement of illegal dumping of waste.
The Division is headed by a Deputy Director and has approximately 110 full-time employees. There are four sections within the Division, each responsible for performing a unique series of functions. The Administration building, where the Collection and Materials Management and Engineering sections of the Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division reside, is located at the above address.
Main Office: 
130 East Victoria Street, Suite 100,
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Tel (805) 882-3600 Fax (805) 882-3601
Office hours: 8:00am - 12:00pm and 1:00pm - 5:00pm Monday - Friday
Collection and Materials Management
This section manages the County's resource recovery and waste diversion programs (community programs), reviews and manages long-range solid waste management plans, and oversees the County's solid waste collection franchises for regularly generated solid waste. This section also oversees the permitting of unscheduled solid waste collection in the unincorporated areas of the County.
The Collection Services web page summarizes the history of solid waste collection in the County and offers a listing of resources for contacting your service provider if you wish to initiate service or change your current service contact.
Operations
This section manages waste processing and disposal operations at the County's transfer stations and active landfills.
Engineering
This section prepares all engineering and geologic plans and documents for the County's solid waste facilities, and monitors all active and closed landfills currently or previously owned by the County to ensure ongoing compliance with the many State and Federal regulations governing the environmental safety of each facility.
Utilities
This section manages and operates the Laguna Wastewater Treatment Facility, which serves Orcutt, an unincorporated area in northern Santa Barbara County. It also provides engineering support and administrative support (i.e., billing) to the County's underground utilities program and the County-administered wastewater, water and street lighting districts located throughout the unincorporated areas of the County.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division is to protect the public health and environment of our community by efficiently managing waste products and utilities with a focus on resource conservation.
Goals of the Division
- Maintain a minimum 15-Year disposal capacity
- Meet or exceed all regulatory requirements at each solid waste and utilities facility
- Constantly improve Division performance
- Reduce costs and user fees in Resource Recovery and Waste Management Programs and pursue additional revenue sources
- Enhance community understanding of Resource Recovery and Waste Management Programs
- Provide a safe environment for employees and the public
Conversion Technology -- Resource Recovery Project
The goal of this project is to establish a long term plan for the disposal of our community’s waste. Conversion Technology may be a way to reduce the environmental impact of our community’s waste, reduce our landfill dependence and provide green energy for our community. Read more about this at www.conversiontechnologystudy.com/.
Effective April 19, 2012, the following environmental documents pertaining to the proposed Resource Recovery Project at the Tajiguas Landfill have been released:
Notice of Preparation for Resource Recovery Project Released
Notice of Preparation.pdf 61.87 KB
Environmental Impact Report Scoping Document Released
TJ RRP NOP SCOPING 4_11_12 FINAL with figures.pdf 3.04 MB
Last updated: May 13, 2013
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