Recycling and Waste Reduction

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Master Recycler Volunteer Training Program

Classes begin February 2020- Complete an application by clicking here (Submit your application by January 22nd for consideration for the 25 available seats. Preference given to those who live and work within the Santa Cruz City Limits)

Confused about Recycling? Passionate about Zero Waste? Ready to share what you learn? Join your fellow residents for seven evening classes and two Saturday morning field trips where you will learn about the 6 R's of Discard Management- REFUSE, RETHINK, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE and ROT. Participants agree to miss no more than 1 class and to complete 20 hours of volunteer community service within the City of Santa Cruz over the course of 12 months. Volunteer opportunities include staffing an outreach table at the Earth Day Santa Cruz Celebration, weekly Downtown and West side Farmers Markets, and special events. You will learn up to date information from Industry experts and gain the tools to educate and empower friends, neighbors, schools, and businesses to Waste Less and Recycle Right!

Bottles and Cans Buy Back Center Closure.

On Tuesday, August 6, 2019, the California Redemption collection and processing company, rePlanet announced the closing of all 284 of its California Redemption Buy Back centers effective immediately. This is the company that operated the public buy-back center at Costco Wholesale, 220 Sylvania Ave. Santa Cruz. This is not a City operated program and does not affect the collection services provided by the City of Santa Cruz Curbside Collection program. Residents are encouraged to continue to place their clean and empty bottles and cans in the blue recycling cart.

For those interested in redeeming their bottles and cans for the CRV value, there are still 3 redemption locations in Santa Cruz County that remain open. They are:

A & S Metals 1080 W. Beach St. Watsonville Phone: (831) 722-3597

State Steel Co 56 Porter Watsonville Phone: (831) 724-7111

Watsonville Metals Co 213 Dias Lane Watsonville Phone: (831) 728-1551

For more information about the State operated California Redemption Program, consumers are encouraged to contact Cal Recycle at: https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/BevContainer/RecyclingCenters/

Public Tours of the City of Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Facility

The City of Santa Cruz offer free tours of its recycling center, the Resource Recovery Facility, 605 Dimeo Lane,to groups of at least 10 people by appointment. Please contact Waste Reduction Staff: lomalley@cityofsantacruz.com for more information.

Visitors will see what happens to the 30 to 50 tons of material that Santa Cruzans place into their blue recycle bins every single day. They will learn why it is important to “recycle right” and avoid “wish-cycling.”

Reservations are required. Tours are limited to 20 people. Children must be at least 8 years old. Youth ages 8 to 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited.