Recycling Guidelines

Beverage Container Recycling Center

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.

Organics Waste Recycling

California Senate Bill (SB) 1383 is aimed at reducing methane emissions through the increased recycling of organic waste. The regulations require a 75% reduction by 2025 by requiring all residents, businesses, and multi-family properties to recycle all organic waste, including food waste, paper, cardboard, yard waste. Additionally, SB 1383 mandates that 20% of currently disposed edible food be recovered for human consumption by 2025.

To get more education on this information, check out the following link by clicking the SB 1383 Education and Outreach and watching CalRecycle’s SB 1383 video – California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy

Getting Started

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.

Food Recovery

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

Food Recovery Resources

Food Recovery Tools Packet (PDF)
Food Recovery Packet 2023 (PDF)
Food Recovery Schedule Template (PDF)
Food Recovery Agreement Template (PDF)
Food Recovery Donation Tracking Template (PDF)
Online Recordkeeping System FAQs

Free Tools and Resources

For Residents

  • Recycling Guideline Posters: Help tenants understand what bins should be used for trash, organics, and recyclable materials by posting recycling signs in common areas or near disposal sites.  Available in English and Espanol.
  • Customizable Lease Addendum: Use a customizable recycling addendum for lease agreements to encourage new residents to recycle and establish recycling habits.
  • Program Poster for Tenants: Help tenants understand the basics of the food waste recycling program and how to participate.
  • Schedule a City sponsored pop-up event: Provide resources and educate tenants through a small community event in partnership with City staff. Send an email to: erinm@carpinteriaca.gov.
  • Request kitchen collection pails: Free kitchen collection pails are available for pickup at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Avenue during normal business hours.

For Businesses

  • Request Indoor Food Waste Bins: Request free indoor bins to help make separating food waste from other materials a breeze. ONLY for businesses diverting food waste.
  • Request Container Stickers: Order free stickers and place them on new and existing indoor waste and recycling containers.
  • Customizable Employee Memo: Use a customizable employee memo to help notify and remind employees about business recycling practices.
  • Flyers for Employees: Remind employees about recycling practices with a helpful diagram.
  • Recycling Guideline Posters: Help employees understand what bins should be used for trash, organics, and recyclable materials by posting recycling signs in common areas or near disposal sites. Available in English and Espanol.

Other Useful Links