The Free Residential Yard Waste Program is available to eligible residential properties in unincorporated Santa Cruz County Supervisorial Districts 1 and 5.

To qualify, your property must:

• Be located in a participating Supervisorial District.
• Have a GreenWaste Customer ID, Summit Account Number, or Self-Hauler ID.

Not sure which district you live in? View the District 1 or District 5 map to confirm eligibility.

Eligible residents can obtain a free yard waste voucher through the County's online voucher system.

You will need:

1. Your street address number.
2. Your GreenWaste Customer ID, Summit Account Number, or Self-Hauler ID.
3. Your ZIP code.

Once issued, your voucher can be printed or downloaded and presented at the Ben Lomond Transfer Station or Buena Vista Landfill during regular business hours.

Voucher application.

GreenWaste Customer ID: A six-digit number located in the upper-right corner of your paper or online bill. It may also appear in emails from responder@greenwaste.com.

Summit Account Number: A four-digit number available on bills issued beginning October 9, 2026.

Self-Hauler ID: A five-digit number located on your Self-Hauler ID card.

If you cannot locate your ID, contact Recycling and Solid Waste Services at 831-454-2160.

The voucher consists of both a QR code with an 8-digit voucher code. If you cannot print/download your voucher, you can simply write down the 8-digit voucher code and provide it to the cashier at the transfer station or landfill.

Yes, if you have all the necessary information ready, call Recycling and Solid Waste Services at 831-454-2160 to obtain a voucher code over the phone.

Each eligible participant may receive up to five vouchers during the program year (June 2026 - June 2027).

Only one voucher may be issued at a time.

No, a participant can have only one (1) issued voucher at a time but can obtain another voucher as soon as the first is redeemed, provided the participant has not reached the maximum of five vouchers and program funds remain available.

Limiting participants to one active voucher at a time helps ensure vouchers remain available to other eligible residents who are ready to use them.

Vouchers are valid for two weeks from the date of issuance. Expired, unredeemed vouchers do not count against a participant’s voucher total; you can get another one by filling out the form again.

Yard waste includes yard trimmings, leaves, branches, brush, and other vegetative material. Poison oak, pampas grass, bamboo, yucca, palm, or root balls are NOT accepted as green waste.

No treated or painted wood, trash, dirt, or construction debris will be accepted. Standard size restrictions apply (see below).

See a full list of what is considered Yard Waste (aka Organics) here.

Untreated and unpainted wood, including branches and logs, is accepted but must not exceed the following size restrictions: 8 feet long by 2 feet in diameter, 4 feet long by 3 feet in diameter, or 2 feet long by 4 feet in diameter..

Yes. Each voucher is good for up to 1 ton of material.

Each voucher is good for up to 1 ton of material; if you bring in more than 1 ton in a load, you will need to pay the difference. If you are collaborating with neighbors, you may combine individual vouchers to cover a larger load.

Yes. If you’re using a landscaper or hauler, you’ll simply need to provide them with a printout of the voucher or the 8-digit voucher code to be redeemed at the disposal site.

Bring your yard waste and voucher code, and be prepared to provide the ZIP code of the property generating the yard waste. Please be sure to have a voucher secured before coming to the disposal site; cashiers cannot assist with the issuance of vouchers.

Yes, but this program covers yard waste only. If you bring other types of materials, you will be charged regular disposal fees for those items. Non-yard waste refuse and recyclable items must be separated and dropped off in designated areas at the transfer station according to standard procedures.