Goleta Solid Waste Rate Increase Begins July 1

June 29, 2023

Starting in July, you will see your Solid Waste Collection Rates charged by MarBorg Industries for franchise residential and commercial waste collection services in the city of Goleta increase. Effective July 1, 2023, collection rates will go up 5.95%.

This is an annual increase due to:

Increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
County of Santa Barbara’s tipping fees at the Tajiguas landfill and ReSource Center

Rate increases due to CPI and Santa Barbara County tipping fees are allowed as part of the City’s franchise agreement with MarBorg. The Goleta City Council approved the collection rate increase at its meeting on June 6, 2023. A recording of the meeting is available here: https://tinyurl.com/ybs8frww.

The rate increase allows MarBorg to continue providing efficient solid waste and recyclables collection services to the City of Goleta. In addition to solid waste collection, services include collection of green waste, recyclables, and commercial food waste, which are all recycled or reused. MarBorg services also include free residential household hazardous waste drop off, free bulky items pickups, textiles recycling, unlimited free electronics pickups and recycling, and many other programs. The revenue generated by the rate increase will help MarBorg to cover the increasing costs of collection, transport, processing, recycling, and disposal of materials.

The new rates are listed below and become effective on July 1, 2023. For the full rate sheet go to https://tinyurl.com/5n84yraa.

	Monthly Maximum Solid Waste Collection Rates for July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
Service Level	Current rates	5.95% Rate Increase	$ Change
35-gallon Single Family Residential Cart Service	$35.29	$37.39	$2.10
65-gallon Single Family Residential Cart Service	$39.53	$41.88	$2.35
95-gallon Single Family Residential Cart Service	$45.67	$48.39	$2.71
35-gallon Multi Family Residential Cart Service	$29.95	$31.73	$1.78
65-gallon Multi Family Residential Cart Service	$33.40	$35.38	$1.98
95-gallon Multi Family Residential Cart Service	$38.76	$41.07	$2.31

Job Opportunities with #TeamGoleta

June 29, 2023

Be a part of something rewarding– apply for a job at the City of Goleta. We are looking for people to fill the following positions:

Community Center Event Monitor/Building Attendant
Custodian – Community Center
Facilities & Fleet Coordinator
Library Technician (PT) – Goleta Valley Library
Management Analyst – Parks & Open Space
Office Specialist – Code Compliance
Principal Civil Engineer/Senior Engineer

More information about these positions is available here.

Plastic Free July Expo on July 27

June 29, 2023

The 2^nd Annual Plastic Free July Expo in Santa Barbara is coming up on July 27th! From 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at 1219 State Street in Santa Barbara, you can learn all about reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable living. It’s a great opportunity to explore eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastics and discover ways to reduce your carbon footprint. At the Plastic Free July Expo, you’ll find a variety of exhibits showcasing products and services that can help you live a more sustainable lifestyle. You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations that share the same passion for environmental sustainability. Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people “be the solution to plastic pollution”. The movement, begun by one woman in Australia in 2011, has since reached over 100 million participants in 190 countries.

The event is sponsored by local nonprofits Community Environmental Council (CEC) and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper (SBCK), longtime advocates for Goleta’s own plastic reduction policy, known as Plastic Free Goleta. CEC and SBCK have successfully advocated for eight regional laws (including Goleta’s) reducing distribution of single use plastic items. Both groups also mentor students doing plastic reduction projects and continue to advocate for local regulations.

This Plastic Free July is particularly relevant, as Goleta’s own plastic policy came into full effect at the beginning of June. The policy requires single-use items like utensils and straws to be made from non-plastic materials to reduce the presence of plastic in our community and keep plastic out of our environment. Reusable foodware for dining onsite is required to further prevent the use of single-use plastic. It also prohibits polystyrene (also known as Styrofoam) products, which frequently make their way into marine habitat and cause harm to wildlife that mistake them for food, causing injury and death. Balloon releases are regulated for similar reasons – latex balloon and plastic ribbon can entangle wildlife on terrestrial and marine habitats. Mylar balloons are completely banned in Goleta to prevent harm to the environment and avoid damage to power lines.

We welcome the Goleta community to be a part of the solution to plastic pollution and celebrate this latest step in Goleta’s plastic free journey. We hope to see you at the Plastic Free July Expo Thursday July 27!

Platform Holly Town Hall Rebroadcast Available

June 29, 2023

Plans to decommission Platform Holly, an oil platform off the Goleta coast, remain in the works. It was a packed room for the Town Hall in City Council Chambers on June 7, hosted by the City of Goleta and California State Lands Commission. Attendees heard an update on the status and timeline to decommission Platform Holly. Mayor Pro Tempore Kyle Richards welcomed the audience and turned the meeting over to Jennifer Lucchesi, Executive Officer of the California State Lands Commission.

In addition to discussing the Platform Holly Decommissioning, the Town Hall also covered the Ellwood Onshore Oil and Gas Processing Facility Status Update, PRC 421 Decommissioning Project, Ellwood Marine Terminal Decommissioning, and Summerland Beach Legacy Wells. The Town Hall wrapped up with an open forum for attendees to provide comments and ask questions about the project.

If you were not able to attend, you can watch the Town Hall here: https://tinyurl.com/ybm5hju5. It is also being rebroadcast on Goleta TV Channel 19 Fridays at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Pictured top right: Town Hall audience

Pictured left-to-right California State Lands Commission staff: Seth Blackmon (Chief Counsel), Jennifer Lucchesi (Executive Officer) and Peter Regan (Assistant Chief of Marine Environmental Protection)