Tajiguas Sanitary Landfill

Tajiguas Sanitary Landfill is the big disposal site out on Calle Real in Gaviota that people from Goleta use when trash won’t go in curbside bins. Both residential pickups and commercial trucks turn up here for material that gets buried rather than recycled.

Pull up to a gated entrance with an attendant booth and a visible scale - landfills typically charge by weight, so expect to stop on the scale and again after dumping. The site looks industrial: large compacted mounds, heavy equipment working, and gravel ramps that lead to the tip areas. Commercial trucks are common, and lines can form, especially on weekends or during spring cleanup. Because California often requires separating organics and recyclables, having materials partially sorted before getting there makes unloading quicker.