The City of Santa Monica Recycling Division has created several programs to capture recyclable materials in the city. Many programs reflect the effort to recycle beverage containers from restaurants and other gathering places. Food recycling efforts are in process in several restaurants on the Promenade, and Main Street eateries, as well. Also, cardboard recycling in downtown helps the environment, and helps businesses defray the cost of trash collection.

Commingled residential recycling is citywide, and together with the Santa Monica Recycling and Buy Back Center, many tons of clean recyclables are sorted and sifted from the residential and business efforts to keep trash from being deposited in landfills.

Single-Family Collection Services
Multi-Family Collection Services
Waste Reduction Programs & Tips
Special & Bulky Item Collection Services
Drop-Off Services for Residents


EXTRA RECYCLING MATERIALS
There is no additional charge for extra recycling containers. If you have more recyclable materials than your container(s) can hold, please contact the Solid Waste Management Division at 1 (310) 458-2223 to obtain more containers for your materials. However, if the materials are not in the designated container the materials will not be collected.

NON-RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
Please do not put plastic materials—including Styrofoam, flower pots, hoses, PVC pipe, pool covers, etc.—in your recycling containers. They are not recyclable, but they are often reusable. Many nurseries are happy to take back plastic flowerpots, while many mailing and packaging stores, including The UPS Store Etc. and Kinko's, welcome donations of clean Styrofoam packaging peanuts. If you can't find an outlet to re-use these materials, please secure them in a bag and place them in your refuse container.

RECYCLING PROGRAM SUMMARY
Curbside: The City of Santa Monica offers, since 1982, curbside recycling to 7,500 single family homes and 5,000 low density, multi family homes. Residents are provided with three, 14 gallon plastic recycling containers. Materials collected include:

• Newsprint
• Cans, glass, & plastic: glass bottles and jars, tin and aluminum cans, plastic bottles (with necks) and plastic shopping bags.
• Mixed waste paper (cardboard, phone books, magazines, "junk mail", office paper, brown bags).
• Used motor oil & filters

Drop off zones: One hundred drop off recycling zones operated by the City serve 34,000 high density, multi family units. Recycling bins are two cubic yard metal dumpsters placed on public property throughout the City. Materials collected include the same as above except motor oil and filters. (Program initiated in January 1982)

"Mini" recycling zones: "Mini" recycling zones are available for apartment buildings with ten or more units. Each mini zone consists of three 68 gallon recycling carts placed on private property. Currently 150 locations are now being served. (Program initiated August 1991)

Mixed paper recycling: A mixed paper recycling program is offered at no charge to commercial businesses. The program is operated under a contract with American Waste Industries. 260 tons of mixed paper is collected monthly. (Program initiated in December 1994)

Recycling Center: A buy back and drop off Recycling Center is operated on City property under a lease agreement with Allan Company. The Center accepts newspaper, cardboard, brown paper bags, office paper, "junk mail", magazines, phone books, glass bottles and jars, tin and aluminum cans, plastics (1 through 7, no styrofoam), video tapes, and high grade scrap metals. Approximately 14,000 tons are recycled annually through the drop off and buy back Center. (Program initiated in January 1982)

Cash Back: Receive cash for your recyclable materials at the Santa Monica Community Recycling Center.
Call for details at: (310) 453 9677.
2411 Delaware Avenue.
Hours: Mon. Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Used Motor Oil: Recycle used motor oil at more than a dozen locations throughout Santa Monica (link: oil recycling page)