Trash and Recycling Collection in Santa Maria, CA

The City of Santa Maria provides trash, recycling, and green waste collection services for residents and businesses. This guide covers trash and recycling schedules, guidelines, and how to look up your collection days in Santa Maria.

Overview of Trash Service in Santa Maria

Trash collection services in Santa Maria are mandatory for all residential and commercial properties. The City of Santa Maria Utilities Department handles trash, recycling, and green waste pickup.

Residential collection is provided once per week. Recycling and green waste alternate on bi-weekly schedules.

Commercial collection frequency varies based on needs, from daily to weekly service.

Customers are responsible for providing their own trash bins and keeping them maintained. The City provides recycling and green waste bins for residential service.

Residential Collection Schedule

Residential trash is collected weekly on the same designated day each week. Check the online lookup tool or call the Utility Department to find your collection day.

Recycling is picked up every other week on the same day as your regular trash.

Green waste collection alternates with recycling, also every other week.

Place all bins at the curb by 6AM on your collection day. Retrieve bins within 12 hours after pickup. Bins must be 3 feet apart from each other.

Collection is suspended on major holidays:

• New Year’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

Recycling and Green Waste Services

The City provides free recycling bins and bi-weekly pickup to all residential customers upon request. To get a recycling bin:

• Call 805-925-0951 x7270
• Email: [email protected]
• Provide your address

Recycling accepts clean paper, cardboard, bottles, cans, and plastic containers marked #1-5 or #7. Do not bag recyclables.

Green waste bins collect yard debris like leaves, grass, branches, and prunings for composting.

Commercial Trash Collection

Businesses and multi-family housing with 5+ units must arrange private collection services through an approved hauler licensed to operate in Santa Maria. View list of licensed haulers.

Commercial collection frequency depends on the property’s needs, from daily to weekly service. Bins must be kept enclosed or screened from public view.

Bulky Items, E-Waste, and Household Hazardous Waste

Santa Maria residents can utilize free disposal programs for bulky items, e-waste, and household hazardous waste (HHW). Drop off locations include:

• Bulky items/mattresses: Santa Maria Regional Landfill
• E-Waste: Landfill HHW Facility (Wednesdays and Saturdays)
• HHW: Landfill HHW Facility (Wednesdays 10AM-1PM, Saturdays 9AM-3PM)

Learn more about HHW disposal

Looking Up Your Trash and Recycling Schedule

To find your assigned collection days:

• Call 805-925-0951 x7270
• Email [email protected]
• Provide your address

You’ll be given your weekly trash day plus the alternating recycling/green waste schedule.

The City can also mail you a paper collection calendar upon request.

Trash Guidelines and Tips

Follow these guidelines for smooth waste and recycling collection:

• Place bins curbside by 6AM on collection days
• Retrieve bins within 12 hours of pickup
• Keep 3 feet clearance between bins
• Avoid overfilling containers
• Close lids completely
• Keep bins away from storm drains and out of bike lanes when possible
• Alternate side parking downtown may limit curb space – place bins on curb if able
• No early setout or street storage – place curbside up to 12 hours before pickup
• Properly store bins on your property in between collection days

Crush and flatten items in your recycling bin to maximize space. Rinse food residue from cans and bottles.

Contact Information for Santa Maria Waste Services

Contact the City of Santa Maria Utility Department for any questions related to trash, recycling, or billing:

Phone: 805-925-0951 x7270

Email: [email protected]

Website: cityofsantamaria.org/utilities

By following your collection schedule, using the available recycling/disposal programs, and abiding by the guidelines, Santa Maria residents and businesses can keep the community clean while reducing waste sent to the landfill. Check your collection calendar regularly and reach out to the Utility Department with any service issues.