Compost and Mulch

Organic materials make up a large percentage of the waste stream.  Methods for keeping those materials out of the waste stream are an important part of the County’s strategy as we strived to reach a goal of 75 percent diversion by 2010. Our diversion efforts continue as we search for new ways to improve our processes.

The County of Santa Cruz contracts with Green Waste Recovery to collect curbside yard trimmings and wood waste in green carts.  Only “clean green” yard trimmings and unpainted, untreated wood are accepted, and there are size limitations.  Green cart service is included in the services offered to cart collection customers at no additional cost, and to bin service customers for a modest fee.  Material collected is transported to processing sites at Santa Cruz County’s Buena Vista Landfill and Ben Lomond Transfer Station.

Food scraps, soiled paper and other organic materials collected by GreenWaste Recovery from selected businesses are processed at a composting facility through the Food Waste Collection Pilot Program.