Santa Ynez Valley Recycling & Transfer Station

Small county recycling center in the Santa Ynez Valley used by residents hauling household recyclables and yard trimmings. Located on Foxen Canyon Road in Los Olivos, it’s the kind of place neighbors swing by with a pickup or a trunk full of cardboard. California rules mean many people come already sorting recyclables and organics before they get out of the car.

Expect a scale and an entrance booth like most transfer/recycling sites - loads are typically weighed so there’s a stop on the way in and again on the way out. Vehicles pull up, drop off at a row of labeled bins or containers, and then exit past the scale; it’s not a giant industrial complex but not tiny either. Weekends and spring-cleanup days get busy and lines can form, so there’s often a bit of waiting. Common materials people bring include paper and cardboard, glass, metals, plastics, electronics, and yard waste, and some programs for special items are usually available at local centers.