Santa Cruz County Recycling and Solid Waste Services is responsible for the operation and administration of solid waste diversion and disposal in the unincorporated area of the County and Scotts Valley. We operate the County’s two solid waste facilities, the Buena Vista Landfill west of Watsonville and the Ben Lomond Transfer Station in the San Lorenzo Valley. We collaborate with local non-profit agencies to carry out community public education and waste reduction programs. We are charged with many public service responsibilities including:

	Operation of landfill and transfer station disposal and recycling services and household hazardous waste collection
	Development of programs designed to meet AB 939 diversion goals and the County's enhanced objectives (75% reduction in landfill disposal by year 2010)
	Landfill design and engineering
	Liaison and reporting to a variety of state and federal agencies regarding solid waste facilities compliance and pollution control programs
	Heavy equipment fleet maintenance
	Administration of garbage and recycling collection franchise services
	Advance planning for future solid waste and recycling programs and facilities including implementation of the County's Integrated Waste Management Recovery Plan

Recycling and Solid Waste employs 58 operations and administration staff who are dedicated to providing quality service to the general public.The Buena Vista Landfill was the 1997 recipient of the Silver Award for Excellence in Landfill Operations from the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA). The Ben Lomond Transfer Station was the 1998 recipient of the Bronze Award for Excellence in Transfer Station Operations, also from SWANA. The recipients of these awards are selected through a nationwide program dedicated to recognizing outstanding achievement in solid waste and recycling program operations.