Free Hazardous Waste Collection Days

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) – Tired of seeing old paint cans in the garage or that old jug of used motor oil in the back shed? Bring them to an upcoming household hazardous waste collection event.  The Santa Barbara County Public Works Department will hold two events in early October – on Sunday, October 1 in the Santa Ynez Valley and on Saturday, October 7 in New Cuyama. The County offers free hazardous waste collection events biannually in the Santa Ynez Valley and annually in Cuyama. 

The Santa Ynez event will be held at the Santa Ynez Valley Recycling and Transfer Station located at 4004 Foxen Canyon Road in Los Olivos. This event will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.and is free for residents in the unincorporated area and the City of Solvang. The New Cuyama event will be held at the New Cuyama Transfer Station located at 5073 Highway 166. This event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is free for residents in unincorporated Santa Barbara County. Residents can drop off common household items, including automotive fluids, cleaners, paint, pesticides, and batteries, as well as unwanted electronics like computers and TVs.  Residents can even recycle old CDs, DVDs, and video and cassette tapes. For more details, visit www.LessIsMore.org.

Residents can also bring unwanted household medications and home-generated “sharps” (e.g. needles and syringes).  Sharps must be delivered in rigid, puncture-proof containers.  Controlled substances, such as narcotics and some prescription medications, will not be accepted and should instead be disposed of through Operation Medicine Cabinet.

Outside of these events, there are other ways to recycle hazardous waste. The County’s “ABOP” facility located at the Santa Ynez Valley Recycling and Transfer Station accepts antifreeze, auto batteries, motor oil, oil filters, and latex paint every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. County transfer stations accept electronic waste free of charge for residents. There are also countywide collection centers operated by County Public Works, local cities, or private waste management companies.  For more information about local hazardous waste collection programs, call 882-3615 or visit the County’s recycling website, www.LessIsMore.org.