Trash & Recycling in Santa Barbara, CA (2026)
5 verified trash & recycling rules for Santa Barbara, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
The City of Santa Barbara requires all single-family (1-4 unit) and multi-family (5+ unit) residential properties to subscribe to trash, recycling and yard waste service through franchised hauler MarBorg Industries. Since July 1, 2025, carts must be wheeled curbside by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled service day.
Santa Barbara Trash Pickup & Mandatory Service Rules
Heavy RestrictionsBin Placement Rules
City of Santa Barbara residents must place MarBorg carts curbside by 6:00 a.m. on the service day (no earlier than the night before), keep at least 12 inches of clearance between carts and obstacles, orient handles toward the house with lids opening to the street, and return carts to on-property storage by noon the next day.
Santa Barbara Cart Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsBulk Item Disposal
All City of Santa Barbara residences are eligible for four (4) bulky item pickups each calendar year through franchised hauler MarBorg Industries. MarBorg also offers free curbside household battery collection, free sharps containers, and a year-round household hazardous waste collection center at UCSB for City residents.
Santa Barbara Bulky Item Pickup
Few RestrictionsRecycling Requirements
All City of Santa Barbara residential properties must subscribe to recycling service, and unlimited recycling and yard-waste carts are provided at no extra charge. Under California's AB 341, businesses generating 4+ cubic yards of waste and multi-unit buildings of 5+ units must subscribe to recycling service. Recycling carts are blue to meet SB-1383 color rules.
Santa Barbara Recycling Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsMandatory Organics Recycling
Santa Barbara has a population over 70,000 and is NOT rural-exempt from SB-1383. The City takes a distinctive approach: single-family residents put food waste in the trash cart, which is processed for organics recovery at the County ReSource Center. Commercial customers must subscribe to dedicated foodscraps (organics) service, and large food generators must arrange edible food recovery.
Santa Barbara Organics (SB-1383) Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsLooking for Santa Barbara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Barbara city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Santa Barbara County →