Specialty Waste
If you're unsure how to safely dispose of an unwanted item, don't just throw it away! Certain items are especially dangerous to the environment, humans, and animals when not disposed of properly.
See the drop-downs below to learn what category your item falls under and disposal options.
Hazardous Waste (paint, batteries, vapes, and more)
Hazardous waste includes but is not limited to: paint, batteries, cleaning products, printer cartridges, vapes, e-cigarettes, and more.
It is against California Law to dispose of hazardous waste and electronics in your curbside trash or recycling bins. Failing to dispose of this waste properly will result in air, water, and soil contamination.
See disposal options below:
- Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center: Drop off hazardous waste on-campus. Click here for detailed driving directions, hours of operation, acceptable items, and more. Electronic waste is not accepted at this location.
- Marborg Industries Recycling Center: Drop off hazardous waste in Goleta. Click here for the address, hours of operation, acceptable items, and more.
- Batteries: Batteries may be placed in a ziplock bag on top of your recycling bin in order to be disposed of ONLY IF you live in a location where you are confident that the batteries will remain on top of your recycling bin undisturbed until the trash servicers arrive.
- Vapes & E-Cigarettes: Vapes and e-cigarettes are considered hazardous trash and should NOT be disposed of in the trash. Please take these items to the Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center, listed above.
Electronic Waste (unwanted or broken items that charge or use batteries)
Electronic waste includes broken and unwanted items that charge up, plug in, or take a battery. It is against California Law to dispose of electronics in your curbside trash or recycling bins. Failing to dispose of this waste properly will result in air, water, and soil contamination.
Please remove batteries from electronic devices and dispose of them as hazardous waste when possible.
See disposal options below:
- South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station (SCRTS): This location takes all kinds of electronic waste and both small and large appliances. SCRTS accepts automotive batteries and fluorescent tubes, but absolutely no other hazardous wastes. Click here for detailed driving directions, hours of operation, acceptable items, and more. This location also takes many other types of household waste, like trash, commingled recyclables, green waste, mattresses, and other bulky items.
- Large electronics, like TVs, can also be accepted through MarBorg’s bulky item collection listed above. These items are separated from the rest of the bulky items being sent to landfill and are recycled with other electronic waste.
Pharmaceuticals (unwanted or expired medications)
Prescription medications that are not properly disposed of will contaminate air, water, and soil.
- Isla Vista Foot Patrol Office: Drop off prescriptions at the Isla Vista Foot Patrol Office at 6504 Trigo rd. Monday-Thursday from 8am-4pm. For more information, click here.
- Mail-back medication containers are available for free. Check out the County’s page on medication to learn more about this program.
Sharps (needles, syringes, disposable lancets)
"Sharps" refers to items such as needles, syringes with needles, and disposable lancets. Sharps can easily injure people and animals if littered or not disposed of correctly!
- Sharps disposal containers are available for free! Check out the County’s page on sharps to learn how to request a free container.
Green Waste (leaves or brush)
Green waste is any organic waste like leaves or brush, can be disposed of in GREEN bins.
Click HERE for special information on disposing of eucalyptus and oleander.
Textiles (unusable fabric items)
If you have unusable textiles that cannot be donated, such as towels, scrap fabric, very old clothing, shoes, etc. please use the resource below.
- For textiles that can not be donated, please see the Santa Barbara County Resource & Recovery Management's Less is More Program for detailed instructions on how to donate your textiles to be reused.
For textiles in good condition, please donate them!