Santa Barbara County (County) and the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) officials celebrated the completion of two major public works projects at a ribbon cutting ceremony in Isla Vista on Friday.

Residents can help reduce the amount of unsightly illegal dumping that takes place in the County by requesting a free bulky item collection. Residential trash customers are entitled to bulky item collections twice per year at no charge.

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors awarded the 2015-16 North County Road Rehabilitation Project in the Third and Fifth Supervisorial Districts to Granite Construction Company. Santa Barbara County Public Works will inspect and administer the construction of this project as part of its annual Pavement Preservation Program.

Santa Barbara County Public Works and Explore Ecology will teach students at several Goleta Union School District campuses about composting and reducing the production of methane in our landfills.

If you're tired of seeing old paint cans in the garage or that old jug of used motor oil in the back shed, bring them to an upcoming household hazardous waste collection event. The Santa Barbara County Public Works Department is holding two events the first weekend of October – on Saturday, October 1 in New Cuyama and on Sunday, October 2 in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Santa Barbara County Public Works staff will be in Isla Vista this week placing tags on abandoned bicycles. Bikes parked along the streets in downtown Isla Vista will receive a notification to move the bicycle within 48 hours or it will be impounded by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff.

The Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) today to dedicate nearly $600,000 of Measure A regional funds towards county-sponsored transportation projects and programs. Measure A is a transportation measure that was approved by 79 percent of Santa Barbara County voters in November 2008.

Construction of the final phase of the Las Vegas and San Pedro Creeks Capacity Improvement Project, a multi-jurisdictional project to reduce severe and chronic flooding that has occurred in the area, will begin June 13, 2016.

Proper Disposal Required for Materials That May Contain Mercury (SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) -- Spring is the time of year when many residents clean out hazardous chemicals from their homes and garages. Often forgotten in the long list of materials considered to be hazardous are fluorescent lamps which contain mercury.

The County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors has awarded the construction contract for the Rehabilitation of Jalama Road Bridge to R. Burke Corporation.

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has awarded the 2015/2016 Countywide Preventive Maintenance Application of Scrub Seal and Micro Surfacing to Telfer Pavement Technologies for $986,060.

Water Wise Santa Barbara County and The Network of Santa Barbara County Water Providers (RWEP) is holding a series of Water Wise Landscaping workshops tailored to homeowners on June 18th and 25th at Shepard Hall of the Santa Maria Public Library located at 421 South McClelland St., Santa Maria CA.

Water Wise Santa Barbara County and The Network of Santa Barbara County Water Providers (RWEP) is holding a series of Water Wise Landscaping workshops tailored to homeowners on June 4th and 11th at the Westside Community Center located at 423 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara CA.

Water Wise SB offers certified training at subsidized cost to landscapers

The Santa Barbara County Water Agency is pleased to announce the winners of the 2016 Water Wise High School Video Contest with 22 videos submitted from 10 different High Schools throughout the County.

Celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week 2016 - Five Clean-Air Tips

The Santa Barbara County Water Agency is announcing that voting is underway for a "People's Choice Award" for the annual 2016 Water Wise High School Video Contest. The public is invited to view all twenty-two of the 30-second videos submitted.

With spring upon us, it's a great time to clean up around the house. Maybe you have some old paint cans in the garage or used motor oil in the back shed. Drop them off at Santa Barbara County's next Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Collection Event on Sunday, April 10 at the Santa Ynez Valley Recycling and Transfer Station, located at 4004 Foxen Canyon Road in Los Olivos.

The Santa Barbara County Public Works Department supports alternatives to throwing food scraps and yard waste into the landfill – one of the largest generators of methane gas.

With March being Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month in California, the County's Public Works Department wants to remind the community about safe disposal options for unused and unwanted medications.

The County of Santa Barbara, Board of Supervisors has awarded CDBG Calle Real Sidewalk Phase 2, for $237,000.00 as part of its ADA Safety Compliant access to County Facilities for the local residents.

The County of Santa Barbara, Board of Supervisors has awarded the 2015/16 North County Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Overlay in the First, Second and Third, Supervisorial Districts for $915,814.00 as part of its annual Pavement Preservation Program.

The County of Santa Barbara, Board of Supervisors has awarded the 2015/16 Construction of Miscellaneous Concrete Repairs in the 2nd Supervisorial District of Santa Barbara County for $98,892.94 as a pedestrian safety issue and in preparation for part of its annual Pavement Preservation Program.

The County of Santa Barbara, Board of Supervisors has awarded the 2015/16 North County Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Overlay in the First, Third, Fourth and Fifth Supervisorial Districts for $1.3 million, as part of its annual Pavement Preservation Program.

Most people associate needles with a hospital or clinic setting, but many of us now use "sharps" – needles, syringes with needles, and lancets like the kind used to test insulin levels – at home. Because of their potential to accidentally puncture a family member, pet, or sanitation worker, sharps should always be safely stored and never thrown in trash or recycling bins.

Construction of the Cathedral Oaks Road Bridge has been completed on schedule. The contract for the bridge replacement was awarded to Granite Construction by the Board of Supervisors on April 1, 2014 and work began on April 28, 2014.

Construction of the Jalama Road Bridge Replacement has been completed months ahead of schedule. The contract for the bridge replacement was awarded to Souza Construction by the Board of Supervisors on March 24, 2015 and work began on April 16, 2015.

During this holiday season, help our environment by recycling your Christmas tree. No matter where you live in Santa Barbara County, it's free and easy!