Santa Barbara County Public Works Department

Protecting the public health and environment of our community by efficiently managing waste products and utilities with a focus on resource conservation.

Main Office:
130 East Victoria Street, Suite 100,
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Tel (805) 882-3600 Fax (805) 882-3601
Office hours: 8:00am - 12:00pm and 1:00pm - 5:00pm Monday - Friday

The Division at a Glance

The Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division is one of several divisions within the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department, and is responsible for the cost-effective management of solid waste and utilities in the County. (See: Mission Statement)

The Division's comprehensive program for the management of solid waste includes the collection, recycling, and disposal of solid waste, and also the abatement of illegal dumping of waste.

The Division is headed by a Deputy Director and has approximately 110 full-time employees. There are four sections within the Division, each responsible for performing a unique series of functions. The Administration building, where the Collection and Materials Management and Engineering sections of the Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division reside, is located at the above address.

Collection and Materials Management

This section manages the County's resource recovery and waste diversion programs (community programs), reviews and manages long-range solid waste management plans, and oversees the County's solid waste collection franchises for regularly generated solid waste. This section also oversees the permitting of unscheduled solid waste collection in the unincorporated areas of the County.

The Collection Services web page summarizes the history of solid waste collection in the County and offers a listing of resources for contacting your service provider if you wish to initiate service or change your current service contact.

Operations

This section manages waste processing and disposal operations at the County's transfer stations and active landfills.

Engineering

This section prepares all engineering and geologic plans and documents for the County's solid waste facilities, and monitors all active and closed landfills currently or previously owned by the County to ensure ongoing compliance with the many State and Federal regulations governing the environmental safety of each facility.

Utilities

This section manages and operates the Laguna Wastewater Treatment Facility, which serves Orcutt, an unincorporated area in northern Santa Barbara County. It also provides engineering support and administrative support (i.e., billing) to the County's underground utilities program and the County-administered wastewater, water and street lighting districts located throughout the unincorporated areas of the County.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division is to protect the public health and environment of our community by efficiently managing waste products and utilities with a focus on resource conservation.

Goals of the Division

Maintain a minimum 15-Year disposal capacity
Meet or exceed all regulatory requirements at each solid waste and utilities facility
Achieve AB 939 50% diversion mandate by the year 2000
Constantly improve Division performance
Reduce costs and user fees in Resource Recovery and Waste Management Programs and pursue additional revenue sources
Enhance community understanding of Resource Recovery and Waste Management Programs
Provide a safe environment for employees and the public