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Recycling & Solid Waste Menu

Compost and Mulch

Organic materials make up a large percentage of the waste stream.  Methods for keeping those materials out of the waste stream are an important part of the County’s strategy as we strived to reach a goal of 75 percent diversion by 2010. Our diversion efforts continue as we search for new ways to improve our processes.

The County of Santa Cruz contracts with Green Waste Recovery to collect curbside yard trimmings and wood waste in green carts.  Only “clean green” yard trimmings and unpainted, untreated wood are accepted, and there are size limitations.  Green cart service is included in the services offered to cart collection customers at no additional cost, and to bin service customers for a modest fee.  Material collected is transported to processing sites at Santa Cruz County’s Buena Vista Landfill and Ben Lomond Transfer Station.

Food scraps, soiled paper and other organic materials collected by GreenWaste Recovery from selected businesses are processed at a composting facility through the Food Waste Collection Pilot Program.

2024 Holiday Schedule

Buena Vista Location 

1231 Buena Vista Dr.,
Watsonville, CA

(831) 454-2430 or
(831) 454-5153

County Landfill
Open every Mon.,

Tues., Thurs.,
Fri., & Sat.
7:30 am - 3:30 pm

Open every Wed.,
7:30 am - 2:30 pm

Buena Vista Household
Hazardous Waste
Open every Wed.,
7:30 am - 2:30 pm
Open every Fri., & Sat.
7:30 am - 3:30 pm

(831) 454-2606


Ben Lomond Location 

9835 Newell Creek Rd.,
Ben Lomond, CA

(831) 454-2430 or

(831) 454-3951

 

County Transfer Station
Open every Mon.,

Tues., Thurs.,
Fri., & Sat.
7:30 am - 3:30 pm

Open every Wed.,
7:30 am - 2:30 pm

Ben Lomond Household Hazardous Waste
Open every Thurs.
7:30 am - 3:30 pm

(831) 454-2606


Other Household Hazardous Waste 

City of Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Facility
Open every Sat.
7:30 am - 3:30 pm

605 Dimeo Lane
Santa Cruz, CA

(831) 420-6270


Santa Cruz County
Solid Waste & Recycling
Main Office

701 Ocean St., Room 410
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 454-2160

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