This year’s free Annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection event for the residents of Carpinteria will be held on Saturday, April 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. Residents are invited to drive through and drop off items for disposal in the City’s Public Works Yard. Most items are accepted, though the following are NOT: biohazards, nuclear waste, explosives, and tires.
The City invites the community to its Annual Household Goods and Hazardous Waste Day on Saturday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. At the free event, Carpinteria residents can dispose of almost anything: household hazardous waste, household goods such as furniture, used appliances, mattresses, clothing, fluorescent light bulbs, pesticides, herbicides, mercury thermometers, aerosol cans, cleaning products and e-waste (anything with a plug or a battery). Not accepted at the event are the following: tires, explosives, biohazards, and radioactive materials. Modifications have been made to the event to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Participants must remain in their vehicles, and items for disposal must be kept in the trunk or truck bed where staff can easily access them. Staff will not enter the vehicle cabin. For more information, contact Environmental Program Manager Erin Maker at 805-880-3415 or erinm@ci.carpinteria.ca.us.
The Solid Waste Program includes collection services for trash, recycling, green waste and other organic waste for both residential and commercial customers, as well as street sweeping services.
The City contracts with E.J. Harrison and Sons, Inc. under a franchise agreement, and Sweeping Corporation of America, LLC for street sweeping. This program also provides for the collection of antifreeze, batteries, oil, and paint (ABOP); and the annual household hazardous waste and household goods including electronic waste (E-Waste).
The Solid Waste Program is funded by Assembly Bill (AB) 939 fees which are collected by E. J. Harrison and Sons, Inc. and remitted to the City as part of the contract. The cost of the program is also offset with the Oil Payment Program Funds from the California Department of Resource, Recovery and Recycling (CalRecycle).
The City adopted the most recent Franchise Agreement with E.J. Harrison and Sons, Inc. for regular solid waste handling services in May of 2022. The Agreement provides regular waste services for trash, recycling, and organic waste, as well as a free medical sharps mail-back program, a certain number free bulky item collection services for all residential customers (see more below), servicing of two household batter drop off locations, and providing assistance for the annual household hazardous waste day.
The City accepts used motor oil and oil filters Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) at 5775 Carpinteria Avenue, Carpinteria CA 93013. This is a self service oil disposal center located at the ABOP containment area adjacent to the west parking lot and Public Works. There is a five gallon liquid maximum per household. Please contact 805.880.3415, erinm@ci.carpinteria.ca.us for questions about this facility.
The City collects antifreeze*, batteries*, oil*, and paint* on the second and fourth Saturday of the month January through October from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. During the months of November and December, the event is held only on the second Saturday of the month. In addition to the above items, the City accepts up to three small household electronics (for example, microwaves, televisions, handheld devices), compact fluorescent lightbulbs, and fluorescent light tubes (limit six) and mercury based thermostats. This event is free of charge to residents.
Please keep items separated and ONLY bring those items that are accepted. If you have items not listed above, please visit lessismore.org or hold them until the annual Household Goods and Hazardous Waste Day.
*There is a 5 gallon total liquid maximum
The City operates a once a year free hazardous waste collection event for the residents of Carpinteria. The Annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection event is held at City Hall and operated as a drive through drop off in the City’s Public Works Yard. Most items are accepted at this yearly event. The following items are NOT accepted: biohazards, nuclear waste, explosives, and tires.
The Annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection event is conducted on the second Saturday in April between the times of 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
For hazardous waste disposal the rest of the year, you can look up approved hazardous waste haulers at Less is More, or find information on recycling specific items here.
The recycling center located behind Albertson’s supermarket in Casitas Plaza accepts beverage containers eligible for redemption. The center is operated by Ponce Recycling, and open hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Customers will be paid for glass, aluminum and plastic beverage containers labeled for California redemption.
As part of the Franchise Agreement, residential trash collection services include two free bulky item pickups each calendar year. To schedule, please call E.J. Harrison & Sons at 805-647-1414. If you are located outside of City limits, contact your waste hauler for more information.
Multi-family customers (dwellings with five or more units) are also eligible for a certain number of free bulky item pickups each year. Tenants should work with their property manager or landlord to arrange for pickup.
Commercial customers may arrange for bulky item collection for a fee. If you are a multi-family or commercial customer, please contact the account holder or property manager and have them arrange for bulky item pickup.
Please do not flush medications! It is important that medications are properly disposed of. Wastewater treatment facilities are not able to remove many of the chemicals that make up pharmaceutical products. If released into water bodies, these pharmaceutical byproducts can adversely impact wildlife and the environment. Currently there are two programs that operate take-back programs at convenient locations throughout the City. Visit Med-Project and the California Drug Take-Back Program for locations.
Home-generated sharps, or simply “sharps”, are needles, syringes with needles, and disposable lancets like the type diabetics use to test their insulin levels. These items should be disposed of in an approved container made of rigid, thick-walled plastic. The containers should be clearly marked with a biohazards label. Please download this helpful Sharps brochure for more information.
E.J. Harrison & Sons provides free, postage-paid mail-back containers for home-generated sharps. To order a container, simply call E.J. Harrison & Sons at 805-647-1414. If you are located outside of City limits, contact your waste hauler for more information.
California Senate Bill (SB) 1383 requires all residents, businesses, and multi-family properties to recycle all organic waste, including food waste, paper, cardboard, yard waste. The law aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting the amount of organic waste sent to landfills through collection of material and recovery of edible food. When organic material is landfilled, it breaks down and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas (GHG).
To get more education on this information, check out the following link by clicking the SB 1383 Education and Outreach.
Know what’s required: New state legislation requires all businesses, multi-family properties and residents to participate in a recycling and organics recycling collection program*. Assembly Bill (AB) 341, AB 1826 also apply to businesses and multi-family properties. These requirements are codified via amendments to Carpinteria Municipal Code Chapter 8.08.800.
Residential Customers: Bag food scraps and food-soiled paper and dispose of it in your yard waste container. Items can be bagged in paper (preferred) or plastic. Food waste posters are available in English and Espanol.
Commercial and Multi-Family Customers: Businesses may also choose to self-haul or back-haul their organic waste to a processing facility if they meet specific tracking requirements. If your business self-hauls or backhauls organic waste, submit a Third Party Reporting Form (required annually) to provide documentation of self-hauling or back-hauling.
Contact the City’s waste hauler: Determine what service levels are best for your property by calling Donald Sealund with EJ Harrison & Sons at (805) 647-1414 ext. 4318. Eligible commercial customers can apply for a Waiver.
SB 1383 Edible Food Recovery
Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) is a bill designed to keep organics out of the landfill. Part of this bill includes reducing edible food that goes to waste, and feeding hungry people. SB 1383 states that edible food waste generators must donate surplus food to food recovery organizations. Edible food waste generators are separated into two tiers, Tier 1 and Tier 2. Tier 1 generators must donate starting January 1, 2022, and Tier 2 generators must donate beginning January 1, 2024. The City of Carpinteria has partnered with other local agencies to implement the Santa Barbara County Regional SB 1383 Food Recovery Plan.
There are two requirements for edible food donors:
Establishing Contracts and Written Agreements with Food Recovery Organizations and Services
To ensure that the maximum amount of edible food is recovered, the regulations require that mandated food donors establish contracts or written agreements with food recovery organizations and services. Food recovery organizations and services vary in the amount and types of food they can receive, so mandated food donors may need to establish contracts or written agreements with multiple food recovery organizations and services to be in compliance.
Recordkeeping
The law requires mandated food donors to maintain records on-site of their food donation activities. Jurisdictions will monitor compliance by requesting the following types of records:
• Contract or written agreement for food recovery organizations and services
• Schedules for food donation deliveries or collections
• Quantity of food donated in pounds per month
• Types of food each food recovery organization will receive or collect
We want to help! If you’d like to start donating food from your business, please email erinm@carpinteriaca.gov
The City contracts with Sweeping Corporation of America to sweep all publicly owned streets monthly basis. Commercial districts are serviced every Tuesday, and residential neighborhoods are swept on the first and third Wednesday every month. For the complete schedule, please view our street sweeping maps.
The City of Carpinteria has withstood the storm system of Jan. 9 and 10 with some flooding but little damage overall. In total, Carpinteria has received over 4 inches of rain in the last 48 hours, which has increased our total for the rain year to 12.49 inches. Significantly more rain has fallen in our nearby foothills and mountains, which of course contribute significantly to creek flows.
The City of Carpinteria will hold its final ABOP Collection event of 2022 on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. At ABOP, residents can bring antifreeze, batteries, oil and paint for free disposal. Additionally, the City accepts up to three small household electronics (for example, microwaves, televisions, handheld devices), compact fluorescent lightbulbs, and fluorescent light tubes (limit six) and mercury based thermostats. This event is free of charge to residents. Please keep items separated and only bring those items that are accepted. If you have items not listed above, please visit lessismore.org or hold them until the City’s annual Household Goods and Hazardous Waste Day.
The Watershed Management Program oversees implementation of the Phase II Municipally Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit. This program includes education programs and polluted water investigations, as well as construction project management and development review as it relates to surface water quality.
Activities include public outreach and education of water quality; tracking of illegal discharges of materials into the storm drain system and local waterways; water quality testing at storm drain inlets or discharge areas; implementation and enforcement of best management practices (BMPs) for development, redevelopment, and City operations; regional coordination; and the overall stewardship of local watersheds by regulating storm water runoff into creeks and the Carpinteria Salt Marsh.
The City of Carpinteria takes an active role in preventing pollution and responding to reports of pollution and spills. There are many types of spills or discharges that cause pollution and can create an environmental health hazard. If a spill is suspected to be hazardous waste, call 911. For non hazardous materials, reports can be filed online (fastest response) or by calling 805-880-3415.
The City strives to provide appropriately trained staff to reports of pollution as quickly as possible. When reporting a spill or pollution, providing key information can help get the right staff to the scene.
Where? Provide a complete address (if possible) and describe the location (The location of the spill could be ‘in the street’ or ‘on the road shoulder’ or ‘into a storm drain on the southbound side’). Photos are very helpful and allow us to more easily issue administrative citations.
When? Is the report for an actively occurring event or for something that has already taken place?
What? What do you know about the polluting materials? Please tell us if you know or suspect the material is hazardous and poses an immediate threat to health and safety.
The City of Carpinteria is a partner in the Our Water, Our World program, which offers safer, less toxic, alternatives to common pest and gardening problems. Visit Our Water Our World to find information on easy, non-toxic solutions to dealing with problems like ants, fleas, snails and slugs, and other household and garden pests. You can also find information about healthy gardens and find information on the safe use and disposal of pesticides.
Creek Week is an annual celebration of our creeks, watersheds, and the ocean, with many organizations hosting events to help build awareness and stewardship of the natural treasures of Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Carpinteria.
Development projects must prevent sediment and other construction related pollutants from entering the storm drain, as detailed in Carpinteria Municipal Code Chapter 8.10, Watershed Management. The City regulates discharges from construction activities through permits issued by the Community Development Department and Public Works. This includes development permits and engineering/grading permits.
Permits that include earthwork require submittal of an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan, or in the case where a project is also subject to General Permit for Discharges of Storm Water Associated with Construction Activity (Construction General Permit, 99-08-DWQ), a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan or SWPPP can be submitted instead.
The Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (or SWPPP) addresses pollution prevention through the use of Best Management Practices to control erosion and non-stormwater discharges such as fueling, saw cutting, placing concrete, painting, etc. BMPs appropriate for the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (or SWPPP) can be selected from the resources listed below.
New and redevelopment projects in the City of Carpinteria must be designed to prevent water quality impacts from occurring, not just during construction, but throughout the life of the project.
City staff review project applications to determine mitigating conditions consistent with requirements in Section E.12 of the Statewide NPDES Municipal General Permit and, for projects located in the NPDES Permit Area, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board’s Post-Construction Stormwater Management Requirements.
All regulated projects shall follow the Santa Barbara County Stormwater Technical Guide
The Stormwater Technical Guide explains how to design bioretention for development projects. Bioretention is the recommended solution for addressing the County’s stormwater requirements. Additional resources including bioretention construction specifications, plant selection, and a vendor list, can be found on the Central Coast Low Impact Development Initiative website.
An example Stormwater Control Plan for a commercial project is here; an example Stormwater Control Plan for a residential subdivision is here. In addition, the owner must sign a formal agreement – Maintenance Agreement (PDF) – with the Public Works Department for the long-term operation and maintenance of stormwater control facilities described in the Stormwater Control Plan. The owner’s signature must be notarized.
The maintenance plan is Exhibit C of the Maintenance Agreement. The maintenance plan describes the specific activities that must be performed to maintain the particular performance objectives stated in the Storm Water Control Plan. It must include:
The document should be easy-to-use for any future owner, written in simple and plain language. The site plan must be legible and reproducible per County Recorder, which means black-and-white, with no small fonts or faint marks such as topo lines on a paper size of 8 by 11. View an example Maintenance Plan For Commercial Projects (PDF), and an example Maintenance Plan For a Residential Subdivision (PDF).
This is an example of an Inspection and Maintenance Log (PDF) that could be used in a Maintenance Plan if multiple facilities need to be inspected. Revise this template as appropriate for your project site, using language consistent with the Maintenance Plan.
Once the project is constructed, prior to Occupancy Clearance, the owner must provide certification by the project engineer that the stormwater control facilities were installed per approved plans or as approved by Project Clean Water.
If your project is conditioned to install storm drain markers, the County currently uses 4-inch round stainless metal markers in red and blue, that read “No Dumping – No Tire Basura”. They are manufactured by Almetec. Contact us at 805-880-3415 for details. View the Storm Drain Markers (PDF) for more information.
Signage is required. If you have a bioswale or bioretention area, signage must be visible and legible to alert landscape staff, installed above the height of the feature/mature vegetation, and constructed of a material that is weather resistant. For underground facilities, the marker must be located as close as possible to the inspection/maintenance portal(s), mounted on a post, or affixed directly to concrete. See examples provided and in the BIOSWALES Sign Draft (PDF).
Bioretention soils shall be specified on the plans as a mixture of washed sand (60 to 70%) and compost (30 to 40%). The specification developed by the Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies ( https://basmaa.org/ BASMAA website) is recommended. Information on how that specification was developed is found on the Flows to Bay website. For potential suppliers of the soil, or any of the other components of bioretention (permeable gravel layer, plants), see the Low Impact Development Initiative and download the list of vendors on the Central Coast Low Income Development Initiative website. For bioretention with tree planting, consider the recommendations found in the Biotreatment Soil Media and Specification (PDF).
Soil percolation rates are critical in the sizing of retention-based Stormwater Control Measures. The default option in the Stormwater Technical Guide (PDF), and provided in the Stormwater Control Measure Sizing Calculator (XLSM), is 0.75 inches per hour for soils in the Hydrologic Soil Group (HSG) A/B, and 0.25 inches per hour for HSG C/D. These values are well-established and based on empirical data developed for the Contra Costa Clean Water Program. Should you wish to submit your own percolation rate from on-site testing, please refer to Native Soil Assessment for Small Infiltration-Based Storm Water Control Measures (PDF) for test methods. This document was prepared for the Central Coast Low Impact Development Initiative by Earth Systems Pacific and is available on the Central Coast Water Board website. Because of limitations in the precision of infiltration rate testing at very low rates, this option may be used only to support an infiltration rate of 0.5 inches per hour or greater; otherwise, the default 0.25 inches per hour will apply.
A November 20, 2015 workshop presentation describes how to use the Stormwater Technical Guide and Calculator. That presentation is available on YouTube, with accompanying slides, Requirements for Land Development Projects (PDF).
A January 9, 2014, presentation provides additional depth on the Low Impact Development design approach for meeting the Post-Construction Requirements. That presentation is available in a stand-alone viewer.
© 2023 City of Carpinteria. All Rights Reserved.
