Chloe Zhang
The City of Santa Barbara, California, provides a comprehensive set of waste and recycling services to its residents and businesses. The city's recycling services are coordinated by MarBorg Industries, which collects recyclables in blue bins and processes them at the Gold Coast Recycling and Transfer Station in Ventura County. While the city accepts a wide range of recyclables, including plastics, there are specific numbers of plastics that are recyclable. The acceptable types of plastics for recycling in Santa Barbara, California, include plastics #1 and #2, as well as some hard and soft plastics, such as clean, dry, retail, and carryout bags. Additionally, the city has specific guidelines for recycling plastic bags and film plastics, with dedicated drop-off locations like Ablitt's Fine Cleaners, the Community Environmental Council (CEC), and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic Numbers Recyclable | 1, 2, and 7 |
| Plastic Numbers Not Recyclable | Plastic bags, plastic wrap, Styrofoam, peanut butter jars, and other plastic food containers |
| Plastic Numbers Recyclable at UCSB | 1-7 |
| Other Accepted Recyclables | Metal, paper, glass, food scraps, yard waste |
| Bins | Blue for recycling, green for yard waste, yellow for food scraps |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic bags and plastic wrap are not accepted in blue bins and should be placed in brown trash bins
- Plastic pots can be recycled
- Plastic numbers 1 and 2 are recycled and melted at a facility in California
- Plastic numbers 1-7 are recycled at the University of California, Santa Barbara
- Plastic bags can be recycled at Ablitt's Fine Cleaners, Community Environmental Council (CEC), and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
Plastic bags and plastic wrap are not accepted in blue bins and should be placed in brown trash bins
In Santa Barbara, California, the City provides a comprehensive set of waste and recycling services through MarBorg Industries. The City's recycling services are 50% the cost of trash disposal.
The City of Santa Barbara uses a blue bin for recycling, a green bin for yard waste, and a yellow bin for food scraps. Trash is defined as anything that cannot be placed in the blue, green, or yellow bins and which also cannot be given away.
Plastic bags and plastic wrap are not accepted in the blue recycling bins and should be placed in brown trash bins. This is because the market for recycling these plastics has vanished, and they must be sent to landfills. Plastic bags and plastic wrap can also snag and pull recyclable items off the sorting line, such as cans and cardboard, creating additional work and time to sort it out.
While plastic bags are not accepted in the blue recycling bins, there are some plastic items that are accepted. These include plastic pots, plastic bottles, and rigid plastics greater than 6". Additionally, Santa Barbara has a film plastics recycling program where community members can drop off certain types of plastic bags and film packaging for recycling. These include retail, carryout, newspaper, and dry cleaning bags, as well as bread bags, bubble wrap, and product wrap.
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Plastic pots can be recycled
In Santa Barbara, California, the City of Santa Barbara provides waste and recycling services through the citywide waste hauler, MarBorg Industries. The city offers different services to residential and business customers.
In Santa Barbara, plastic bags should be placed in the trash bin, but plastic pots can be placed in the recycling bin. The city's recycling program includes blue bins for recycling, green bins for yard waste, and yellow bins for food scraps.
While plastic pots can be recycled in Santa Barbara, it is important to note that the rules for plastic recycling have become stricter in recent years. China, which was once a major recycling partner for the United States, has set higher standards for the types of plastics it will accept, leading to changes in local recycling practices.
To ensure that plastic pots are properly recycled, it is important to separate them from other types of plastic and to keep them clean and dry. Some retailers, like Home Depot, also offer plant pots made from recycled plastic, providing an option for individuals looking to purchase sustainable products. Additionally, some organizations in Santa Barbara, such as Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and the Community Environmental Council (CEC), have partnered with local businesses to create public drop-off centers for film plastic recycling. These programs help to ensure that plastic waste is properly sorted, recycled, and reused.
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Plastic numbers 1 and 2 are recycled and melted at a facility in California
Plastic recycling is a complex process, and it can be challenging to determine which plastic types can be recycled. In Santa Barbara, California, the city provides comprehensive waste and recycling services through MarBorg Industries, the citywide waste hauler. While the city offers recycling services, it is important to understand the types of plastics that are recyclable.
Plastics with the numbers 1 and 2 are among the most commonly recycled types. These plastics are considered safe and are widely accepted at recycling plants. In Santa Barbara, plastics #1 and #2 are collected and then melted at a facility in California. This process allows for the creation of new items, such as plastic clam-shell berry boxes or playground equipment.
Plastic #1, also known as PETE or polyethylene terephthalate, should not be heated as it can release toxic chemicals. However, it is easily recyclable and accepted at most recycling plants. The plastic is shredded into tiny pallets and repurposed into new bottles or polyester fibre for clothing, carpets, sleeping bags, and more.
Plastic #2, or HDPE (high-density polyethylene), is highly durable and reliable. It has a high strength-to-density ratio, making it resistant to wear and tear. HDPE products can withstand heating and freezing, making them suitable for various weather conditions. This type of plastic is safe to reuse and is often used in cosmetic bottles and household cleaners.
In addition to plastics #1 and #2, other plastic numbers, such as #4 and #5, are also considered relatively safe for use and recycling. However, it is important to note that not all recycling programs accept all types of plastics. It is always advisable to check with local recycling guidelines, such as those provided by the City of Santa Barbara, to ensure proper disposal and recycling of plastic materials.
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Plastic numbers 1-7 are recycled at the University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) has a robust recycling program that includes a variety of materials, and plastic numbers 1-7 are among the accepted recyclables. UCSB promotes both commingled recycling and multi-stream recycling where appropriate, with blue as the designated color for recycling across the campus.
Plastic recycling in Santa Barbara has seen some changes in recent years, with a focus on reducing landfill waste and improving the quality of recyclables. While the city's recycling services are coordinated by MarBorg Industries, UCSB takes a proactive approach to managing its waste and recyclables.
Plastic numbers 1 and 2 are commonly recycled in Santa Barbara and are melted at a facility in California to create new items such as playground equipment. However, it's important to note that not all plastics are recyclable, and some specific types, like peanut butter jars, should be placed in the trash due to food contamination concerns.
UCSB provides easily accessible recycling receptacles across its campus to encourage the participation of the UCSB community in recycling efforts. This includes the recycling of plastic numbers 1-7, which encompass both hard and some soft plastics. "Compostable" plastics, such as PLA7, are not accepted in the recycling waste stream at UCSB.
The university's commitment to recycling extends beyond plastics, as they also recycle metal, aluminum, steel, tin, bi-metal, and other select scrap and precious metals. Additionally, UCSB accepts clean and unsoiled office paper for recycling, contributing to their comprehensive waste management strategy.
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Plastic bags can be recycled at Ablitt's Fine Cleaners, Community Environmental Council (CEC), and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
Plastic bags cannot be placed in the blue recycling bins in Santa Barbara, California. The city and county recycling programs no longer accept plastic bags. However, residents can recycle plastic bags at Ablitt's Fine Cleaners, Community Environmental Council (CEC), and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. These organizations provide drop-off locations for plastic bags and film plastics.
Ablitt's Fine Cleaners has been taking back soft, thin-film plastic dry-cleaning bags for years. The company has partnered with Trex to have the plastic picked up and converted into plastic decking.
The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is a decades-long leader in recycling. They worked with Channelkeeper to ban Styrofoam, plastic straws, and plastic stirrers and cutlery in the city.
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper has resumed film plastic collection at their office, now available by appointment only. They hand-sort the plastic and perform quality control checks to ensure that the materials are of high quality and can be recycled.
It is important to note that only certain types of plastic bags and film plastics are accepted for recycling at these locations. The plastic should be clean, dry, and free of any contaminants such as receipts, clothes hangers, or food crumbs. Bread bags, tortilla bags, plastic shipping envelopes, bubble wrap, air pillows, product wrap, ziplock bags, and retail, carryout, and newspaper bags are some of the accepted items.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastics #1 and #2 are accepted for recycling in Santa Barbara. Plastics #1 - #7, including all hard plastics and some soft plastics, can be recycled at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Plastic bags and plastic wrap are no longer accepted by Santa Barbara's city and county recycling programs. Peanut butter jars and other plastic food containers should also be placed in the trash.
Plastic bags can be recycled at Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners, the Community Environmental Council (CEC), and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper.
