♻️ From Curb to Coast: How Santa Cruz Can Stop Waste from Reaching the Ocean
As Surfriders, we’re on the front lines of protecting the ocean from pollution. Every plastic wrapper, bottle cap, and piece of trash that escapes our waste system has the potential to end up in the Monterey Bay. Understanding how our local recycling and waste systems work — and using them properly — is one of the most effective ways we can protect our coast.
Refuse: The First Line of Defense
The first of the six R’s is Refuse — and for good reason. By refusing single-use plastics, we stop pollution before it begins. Next time you leave the house, pack a reusable water bottle, coffee cup, utensils, and takeout container in your bag. These small daily choices add up and send a powerful message that we don’t need throwaway plastics in our community.
The Recycling Reality
The City of Santa Cruz processes about 35 tons of recycling every single day. But here’s the challenge: nearly 28% of what goes into the blue bin is not recyclable. That contamination drives up costs, threatens the entire curbside program, and sends tons of would-be recyclables straight to the landfill.
Here’s how you can help:
- No tanglers! Items like wires, hoses, rope, and coat hangers can jam sorting machines and shut down recycling operations for days at a time.
- Check before you toss. Recycling rules change — always look at the sticker on your bin or the latest city newsletter.
- Keep it clean. Food residue contaminates loads and lowers the value of recycled materials, making it harder for processors to keep the system viable.
When in doubt, throw it out. A smaller, cleaner recycling stream is far better than a large, contaminated one.
Food Waste: A Hidden Polluter
Surprisingly, 27% of landfill waste is food scraps. Once trapped in a landfill, food waste doesn’t compost naturally — it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas that accelerates climate change.
The solution is simple, and every household can be part of it:
- Home composting: City of Santa Cruz residents qualify for a $40 rebate on compost bins.
- Curbside composting: Use the small brown bin (city) or the green bin (county) for food waste and compostables.
By composting instead of landfilling, we reduce emissions and return nutrients back to the soil — a win for the climate and for our local ecosystems.
Extra Resources You Might Not Know
Bulky Item Pickup: City residents can schedule free curbside bulky item pickup up to four times per year by calling 831-420-5220. Don’t let that old mattress or couch become illegal dumping near our creeks or beaches.
Master Recycler Training: Want to go deeper? The City’s Master Recycler Training Program kicks off again on February 6, 2026. Graduates become community leaders who help educate neighbors, schools, and businesses about smarter waste practices. Learn more here.
Take Action With Surfrider
Knowledge is power — but action is even better. You can put these waste-reduction practices into action immediately by joining Surfrider and thousands of volunteers for International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 20.
We’ll be leading a cleanup at Rio Del Mar State Beach from 9:00am - 11:00am. It’s a global movement with a powerful local impact. Every cigarette butt, bottle cap, and piece of plastic you remove is one less item that can harm marine life.
🧹 Rio Del Mar State Beach
🕘 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
👉 Sign up here.
Can’t make that event, check a list of other cleanups here.
Together, we can keep Santa Cruz’s waste out of the landfill, out of our waterways, and out of the ocean we all love.
As always, thank you for joining us in protecting what we love,
Surfrider Foundation Santa Cruz Chapter