FAQ

Is Styrofoam Recyclable in Santa Barbara County?
Styrofoam, or polystyrene to be more correct, is NOT recyclable in Santa Barbara County if you’re planning on just dumping it into your curbside or campus bins.
                                    BUT…
Keep it as packing, and out of the waste stream for as long as possible.
                                    OR…
If you're in the USA, there's a search function at the top of the Earth911 web site where you can enter the term "polystyrene" and then in the box on the right, enter your location. The search results will provide listings of companies and organizations in your local area that will take polystyrene

Why can’t I recycle my glass, aluminum, and plastic inside buildings?
Soda cans and bottles easily attract pests! In an effort to adhere to environmentally sound practices outlined by the Integrated Pest Management (IPM), UCSB recycles its aluminum, plastic and glass outside. Make that recycling trip to the closest Bertha an excuse to get out of the office and breathe some sweet Santa Barbara air!

Can I recycle shredded documents?
Yes, however shredded documents undermine quality of the recycled material. A piece of paper recycled whole can be made into another piece of paper up to 7 or 8 times. Once a piece of paper is shredded the fibers get cut and the quality is lowered and can only be used for cardboard fill, or other low-grade paper usage.

Why are the recycling dumpsters locked?
The dumpsters are locked to keep out any unwanted pests, avoid contamination, and to prevent any retrieval of office pack containing secure information. You don’t want those raccoons getting out your files!

What can I do with my old phone books?
For faculty and staff, Central Stores delivers new phone books to a main office or stock room fall quarter every year. Approximately one week later they will pick up old phone books at the same location. Ask your MSOs when that’s happening in an office near you!

Where does my Recycling Go?
All your recycling from campus is collected and taken to Marborg’s Goleta Buyback Center at 20 David Love Place Goleta CA, 93117. MarBorg Industries recycles over 150,000 tons or 300,000,000 pounds of material per year. That's equivalent to 20,000 trash truck-loads every year that do not go to the landfill. That's enough trash trucks to fill the highway bumper to bumper from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles!