Santa Monica's Community Recycling Center Closed on June 15, 2019

June 11, 2019 10:00 AM
by Yvonne Yeung

(En español: El Centro de Reciclaje de la Comunidad de Santa Mónica Cierra el 15 de junio)

The Santa Monica Community Recycling Center, commonly known as the Buyback Center, closed on June 15, 2019, until further notice.

Curbside Recycling will continue as scheduled. There is no impact to curbside recycling collection for residential and commercial customers. The City will continue to collect and process all recyclables as usual. Santa Monica residents who wish to recycle empty California Refund Value (CRV) bottles and cans may continue to place their recyclables in their recycling containers.

Below are frequently asked questions about the closure of the Recycling Center. For more information about this closure, please visit www.smgov.net/R3 or call 310-458-2223.

For questions or concerns about the closure, please e-mail Recycling@smgov.net.

Q: What is happening to the Buyback Center?

A: The Santa Monica Community Recycling Center, commonly known as the Buyback Center, located at 2411 Delaware Avenue closed effective June 15, 2019, until further notice. The drop-off recycling area outside of the Buyback Center will also close effective June 15, 2019.  

Q: Will the Buyback Center re-open?

A: There is no immediate plan to re-open the BuyBack Center at the Delaware Avenue location or another location in Santa Monica at this time. The City is actively considering alternative options.

Q: Why is the Buyback Center closing?

A: The City of Santa Monica’s contract with Allan Company, the operator of the Buyback Center, was not renewed by City Council. This means in the foreseeable future separation of Santa Monica’s recyclable materials will occur off-site. Staff will return to City Council this Fall with a recommendation about how to move forward with a long-term approach to provide recycling services, including potential Buyback Center options. All curbside recycling collections will continue without interruption to our customers and the City remains fully committed to our Zero Waste goals.

Q:  Should I continue to recycle?
A: Yes. The City continues to be committed to recycling and you should, too. There is no change to the City of Santa Monica’s curbside recycling collection. Santa Monica residents are strongly encouraged to continue to place clean recyclables, including empty California Refund Value (CRV) bottles and cans, into their recycling containers. Items that do not belong in the recycling containers, such as pizza boxes that still have food inside or half-full yogurt cups, may contaminate the rest of the recyclables and contaminated recyclables are sent to landfills. So please do your part and recycle the right way. Visit www.smgov.net/r3 to learn more.

Q:  Will everything being placed in the recycling containers, which are typically blue, continue to be recycled?
A: Yes. There is no impact to the City’s curbside recycling collection for residential and commercial customers. The City continues to collect and process all recyclables from the recycling containers as usual.  

Q: Where do I go to redeem items that have California Refund Value (CRV), such as cans and bottles, for cash?

A: Customers who want to redeem their CRV beverage containers for cash can bring their items to the nearest redemption centers at the following locations:

  • Ponce Recycling, 6040 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90034 – (323) 533-4862
  • Vasquez Recycling, 5744 Manchester Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045 – (310) 754-0648

Some local grocery stores may accept a limited number of bottles and cans at the cash register. Please contact your local grocery store for more details.

Q: Where do the recyclables go after I place them in my recycling containers?
A: Items placed in the recycling containers are collected by the City and delivered to a recyclable materials company for sorting and processing before the valuables are sold and repurposed for further manufacturing uses.

Q: What should I do with electronic waste (e-waste) and household hazardous waste?

A: Three easy solutions:

  1. All Los Angeles County residents can bring their e-waste and other hazardous household materials to a S.A.F.E. collection center. The closest S.A.F.E. collection center is located in West Los Angeles near UCLA. Visit dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/hhw for details. Addresses and opening hours are listed under “Permanent Centers.”
  2. If you are a Santa Monica resident, attend an e-waste collection and paper shredding event, which is hosted by the City four times a year. The next event is scheduled for July 27, 2019. Call (310) 458-2223 for details.
  3. If you are a Santa Monica resident, call (800) 714-1195 or complete an online request form at stericycleenvironmental.com/santa-monica to schedule a free pickup from your home.

Community notice posted at the Recycling Center: 

FAQ:

For more information about this closure, please visit www.smgov.net/R3 or call 310-458-2223. If you have questions or concerns about the Recycling Center closing, please e-mail Recycling@smgov.net.

Authored By

Yvonne Yeung
Resource Recovery and Recycling Administrator