Recycle Right

Waste collector dumping trash and recycling into truck.

Disposal, Recycling & Composting Guides

Find your local resource guides for proper disposal in your area:

Monterey County (all cities)

Santa Cruz County (Unincorporated areas)

City of Capitola

City of Monterey

City of Santa Cruz – Recycle Right

City of Santa Cruz – Organics

City of Scotts Valley

City of Watsonville

San Benito County

Free Recycling App for Monterey County (Download App AndroidApple iOS)

If you have questions about your recycling program, or to receive free assistance to get the most out of your local program for your business or residence, follow the link to your city or curbside service.

Mattresses

Yes! You can recycle your mattresses and box springs for free.

The State of California participates in a mattress recycling program called Bye Bye Mattress. The program was established by law and is operated by Mattress Recycling Council, a nonprofit that uses a recycling fee collected with each new mattress and box spring sold ($11), to make recycling easier in our communities. Recycling your mattress and box springs saves resources by recycling your old products into new, useful products and extends landfill life.

Three options for free mattress and box spring recycling include:

1. Retailer takes your old one away when they deliver your new mattress.

Retailers that are delivering new mattresses are required to offer consumers the option to have a used mattress picked up at the time of delivery, at no additional cost. Mattresses delivered by carriers like UPS or FedEx are not under this obligation. Retailers can refuse to take back a used mattress if it poses a health or safety risk.

2. Curbside Bulky Waste Pickup Service.

Do you subscribe to a regular weekly garbage and recycling pick up service? They may offer pickup of bulky items, free or for a small fee right from your curb.:
GreenWaste Recovery
Republic Services
Recology 
Monterey City Disposal
City of Santa Cruz
City of Watsonville
Waste Management, Inc.
Tri-Cities Disposal

3. Take it to a participating recycling facility, or community-sponsored event.

Residents can drop off their old mattress at no cost at a participating collection site or recycling facility. Limits per resident and fees for businesses may apply.

MONTEREY COUNTY

Johnson Canyon Landfill & Recycling Center
31400 Johnson Canyon Road, Gonzales

Madison Lane Recycling Center
1104 Madison Lane, Salinas

Jolon Road Transfer Station
52654 Jolon Road, King City

ReGen Monterey
14201 Del Monte Blvd., Monterey County

SAN BENITO COUNTY

The John Smith Road Landfill
2650 John Smith Road, Hollister

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Ben Lomond Transfer Station
9835 Newell Creek Road, Ben Lomond

Dimeo Lane Resource Recovery Facility
605 Dimeo Lane, Santa Cruz

City of Watsonville Waste & Recycling Drop-Off Center
320 Harvest Drive, Watsonville

Buena Vista Landfill
1231 Buena Vista Drive, Watsonville

Mattresses
Mattresses

Mattresses

Yes! You can recycle your mattresses and box springs for free.

The State of California participates in a mattress recycling program called Bye Bye Mattress. The program was established by law and is operated by Mattress Recycling Council, a nonprofit that uses a recycling fee collected with each new mattress and box spring sold ($11), to make recycling easier in our communities. Recycling your mattress and box springs saves resources by recycling your old products into new, useful products and extends landfill life.

3 options for free mattress and box spring recycling include:

1. Retailer takes your old one away when they deliver your new mattress.

Retailers that are delivering new mattresses are required to offer consumers the option to have a used mattress picked up at the time of delivery, at no additional cost. Mattresses delivered by carriers like UPS or FedEx are not under this obligation. Retailers can refuse to take back a used mattress if it poses a health or safety risk.

2. Curbside Bulky Waste Pickup Service.

Do you subscribe to a regular weekly garbage and recycling pick up service? They may offer pickup of bulky items, free or for a small fee right from your curb.:
GreenWaste Recovery
Republic Services
Recology 
Monterey City Disposal
City of Santa Cruz
City of Watsonville
Waste Management, Inc.
Tri-Cities Disposal

3. Take it to a participating recycling facility, or community-sponsored event.

Residents can drop off their old mattress at no cost at a participating collection site or recycling facility. Limits per resident and fees for businesses may apply.

MONTEREY COUNTY

Johnson Canyon Landfill & Recycling Center
31400 Johnson Canyon Road, Gonzales

Madison Lane Recycling Center
1104 Madison Lane, Salinas

Jolon Road Transfer Station
52654 Jolon Road, King City

ReGen Monterey
14201 Del Monte Blvd., Monterey County

SAN BENITO COUNTY

The John Smith Road Landfill
2650 John Smith Road, Hollister

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Ben Lomond Transfer Station
9835 Newell Creek Road, Ben Lomond

Dimeo Lane Resource Recovery Facility
605 Dimeo Lane, Santa Cruz

City of Watsonville Waste & Recycling Drop-Off Center
320 Harvest Drive, Watsonville

Buena Vista Landfill
1231 Buena Vista Drive, Watsonville

Bulky Items

Bulky items like furniture, water heaters and major appliances can take up considerable landfill space, and many of these items have valuable resources that can be recovered through recycling.

Whenever possible, donate items with useful remaining life. Your donation can help someone else make a more comfortable home, while freeing up your space. Donate to a local reuse organization, or your favorite charitable cause.

Grey Bears
Habitat For Humanity ReStore (store locator on this site)
Goodwill
Last Chance Mercantile

Your weekly curbside pickup service may offer a free pickup of bulky items, right from your curb.

Old appliances
Old appliances

Bulky Items

Bulky items like furniture, water heaters and major appliances can take up considerable landfill space, and many of these items have valuable resources that can be recovered through recycling.

Whenever possible, donate items with useful remaining life. Your donation can help someone else make a more comfortable home, while freeing up your space. Donate to a local reuse organization, or your favorite charitable cause.

Grey Bears
Habitat For Humanity ReStore (store locator on this site)
Goodwill
Last Chance Mercantile

Your weekly curbside pickup service may offer a free pickup of bulky items, right from your curb.

Electronic waste

Electronics

Computing equipment, small appliances and other electronic devices can contain components that are harmful to our earth, air and water if disposed of improperly. Consider donating items that are still functional, or check with your local curbside or disposal site for proper disposal of electronic waste.

Batteries

Household batteries are considered hazardous waste; they are not allowed in the trash, recycling or organics carts. Did you know improperly disposed batteries could spark fires in garbage trucks, recycling facilities and landfills? Not only does that put your home at risk, it also can put waste workers and your entire community in danger.

Many retailers will take back regular AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, button lithium and other batteries.

Your curbside service may also offer pickup of batteries, so check with your local program to see what is available.

Batteries are also accepted free of charge for disposal through your local household hazardous waste (HHW) facilities.

Batteries

Household batteries are considered hazardous waste; they are not allowed in the trash, recycling or organics carts. Did you know improperly disposed batteries could spark fires in garbage trucks, recycling facilities and landfills? Not only does that put your home at risk, it also can put waste workers and your entire community in danger.

Many retailers will take back regular AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, button lithium and other batteries.

Your curbside service may also offer pickup of batteries, so check with your local program to see what is available.

Batteries are also accepted free of charge for disposal through your local household hazardous waste (HHW) facilities.

Household Hazardous Waste

If a product contains a warning like danger, hazard, caution, poison, or other alerts, it is likely considered hazardous waste, and requires special care for disposal. It is illegal to dispose of hazardous materials in the trash, recycling or organics carts.  HHW includes many household, landscape and industrial products that contain chemicals, poisons and combustibles. The good news is, HHW disposal is free (within limitations), and widely available in each of our Central Coast areas.

Madison Lane Recycling Center
1104 Madison Lane, Salinas

ReGen Monterey
14201 Del Monte Blvd., Monterey County

Dimeo Lane Resource Recovery Facility
605 Dimeo Lane, Santa Cruz

Buena Vista Landfill
1231 Buena Vista Drive, Watsonville

The John Smith Road Landfill
2650 John Smith Road, Suite HHW, Hollister

Man holding propane tank
Man holding propane tank

Household Hazardous Waste

If a product contains a warning like danger, hazard, caution, poison, or other alerts, it is likely considered hazardous waste, and requires special care for disposal. It is illegal to dispose of hazardous materials in the trash, recycling or organics carts.  HHW includes many household, landscape and industrial products that contain chemicals, poisons and combustibles. The good news is, HHW disposal is free (within limitations), and widely available in each of our Central Coast areas.

Madison Lane Recycling Center
1104 Madison Lane, Salinas

ReGen Monterey
14201 Del Monte Blvd., Monterey County

Dimeo Lane Resource Recovery Facility
605 Dimeo Lane, Santa Cruz

Buena Vista Landfill
1231 Buena Vista Drive, Watsonville

The John Smith Road Landfill
2650 John Smith Road, Suite HHW, Hollister

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