San Diego is the heaven where you’ll find everything at your fingertips. The only problem that residents face is finding out their San Diego trash day, which seems a difficult task. 

But not anymore!

This is the guide you all have been waiting for. We’ll talk about your residential garbage collection day, recycling schedule and bulk pickup. So, fasten your belts and sit back because it’s going to be an enchanted ride.

San Diego Garbage Schedule

1. San Diego Trash Collection Schedule 2024

Residential trash is collected once a week. The curbside pickup begins at 06:00 am. For that, the city of San Diego waste management has divided the city into several zones. Here’s how to find your assigned day:

  • Navigate to the city’s official website (click here)
  • Type your address and then tap on enter button
  • Your trash day will pop up along with the recycling day

From there, you can also download your yearly trash calendar by clicking on “PDF Calender.” 

Trash Pick Up San Deigo – Key Points To Remember

  • Curbside regular garbage is collected weekly.
  • Recyclables and green waste is picked up every other week
  • The collection begins at 06:00 am on your assigned day

How To Report Missed Trash Collection In San Deigo?

If you’ve placed your carts as per the rules and on time, but your bins are not emptied, call 858 -694 -7000 or fill out an online form for a special pickup. 

Meanwhile, read our detailed guide on what to do if you missed trash day for better solutions for this problem. 

2. San Diego Recycling Schedule 2024

As mentioned earlier that the recyclables are collected every other week. Click here to find your San Deigo recycling day. 

San Diego Recycling Rules 

Apart from it, you can also download your curbside recycling and green waste calendar. For the yearly calendar, click here

How To Know What To Recycle In San Deigo?

If you’re confused about what to put in your blue bin, we’ve got you covered. Here’s the list of acceptable items:

  • Aluminium cans
  • Steel bottles
  • Aluminium Foil and trays
  • Glass Bottles and jars
  • Boxes and cardboard
  • Mixed paper or shredded paper
  • Food and beverage paper cartons

Keep in mind that you must wash and dry all the bottles, jars and trays before placing them in your recycling bin. 

Unacceptable Items: Plastic bottles, Styrofoam, large toys, small batteries, cups, utensils, residential garbage, ceramic, yard waste, and wax boxes.

San Diego Recycling Rules 

There are five simple rules that you must consider before putting anything in your blue bin.

  • Always wash and dry glass bottles.
  • Don’t flatten your aluminium soda cans.
  • Ensure to flatten cardboard and food containers.
  • Keep your recyclables loosely. Don’t segregate them in separate bags.
  • The lid of your container must close properly.

Apart from it, keep in mind that you must place your carts in such a way that they don’t block roads and never place them near water meters or mailboxes.

3. San Deigo Yard Waste Pickup

Yard waste, a.k.a; the green bin, is collected every other week. Generally, there are two types of green bins depending on the weight, i.e. 32 or 45 gallons.

What Can Go In Green Waste Bin?

Grass clippings, leaves, flowers, clean and unpainted wood, shrub and tree trimmings (no more than 4 feet long, 6 inches diameter), palm fronds, banana trees and bird-of-paradise.

San Deigo Yard Waste Pickup

Flowers, tree trimmings, fruits and vegetable scrap, coffee grounds and eggshells are best for a home composting bin, even though you can also put them in your yard waste cart.

What Not To Put In Your Green Waste Bin?

Glass, plastic bags, animal poop, cardboard plant pots, dirt, rocks, plant tags, large branches, or any recyclable material.

4. City Of San Diego Bulky Item Pickup

The concept of bulk collection in San Diego is totally different from the rest of California. Usually, all of the bulky items end up in landfill, which is harmful to the planet.

  • The city does not offer any home-to-home bulk collection service
  • The city arranges community cleanup events
  • Around 50 cleanup events happen each year
  •  Each area has a specific assigned day to put out large items at curbside

Once an area is selected, the Solid Waste Code Compliance staff member will work with the participating neighbourhood group to distribute detailed flyers to residents in the chosen cleanup area.

Accepted Items For Community Cleanup: Appliances, carpeting (don’t cut it), electronics (e.g. TVs, computer monitors, VCRs, CPUs), junk furniture, mattresses, lawnmowers (free of oil/gas), metals, and light bulbs or tubes.

Unaccepted Items For Community Cleanup: Dirt, construction or demolition rubble, household hazardous wastes (e.g. paint, batteries, motor oil), propane tanks or gas cylinders and tires.

5. Where To Dump Excessive Bulk Trash? What Are My Options?

If you have more than accepted large items that are accepted by community cleanup events. Then, you only have two options. 

  • Hire Private Junk Haulers
  • San Deigo Dump

These two are your only options because you can put your large items on the road or in front of any other home, as it is a violation and will result in a fine. 

Where To Dump Excessive Bulk Trash

San Diego Junk Removal Services

Here’s the list of the top 7 junk removal companies in San Diego that will take your trash away at a small fee. The cherry on top is that due to the close proximity of Chula Vista City, you can also hire haulers from there.

Company NameContact Info
Junkinator Hauling Services(858 -200 -7130)
JunkMD(858 -869 -9448)
Junk King San Diego Downtown(619 -404 -0315)
24/7 Junk Removal LLC(760 -820 -5865)
College Hunks Hauling Junk(619 -651 -9687)
Priority Hauling(619 -363 -2581)
Cleanup Guys(619 -329 -5750)

Miramar Landfill – San Deigo Dump

At the Miramar landfill, self-dumping is allowed, and you can dump all of your excessive trash there.

Miramar landfill hours: Business hours are Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Self-dumping vehicles are accepted until 4:30 p.m

Miramar landfill rates: Usually, the fee is $31 per ton. But for residents with way less bulky weight, the fee varies.

6. San Diego Trash Collection Holidays

On holidays, the San Deigo garbage collection is delayed. The pickup day is pushed to the next day on all observed holidays.

HolidayDate
Memorial DayMonday, May 27
Independence DayThursday, July 4
Labor DayMonday, September 2
Thanksgiving DayThursday, November 28
Christmas DayWednesday, December 25
Near Year’s DayWednesday, January 1

7. Important Contacts To Remember

How do I contact waste management in San Diego: Call 858 -694 -7000 or send all your queries by mail to trash@sandiego.gov.

For the latest Information: Follow the city of San Diego official Twitter account for updates on any changes in the pickup schedule.

San Diego Trash Schedule FAQs

How much is trash pickup in San Diego? 

The city charged $70 as a user fee and $25 as delivery charges per container. In November 2022, a bill was proposed to charge all residents and commercial businesses for their trash.

So far, city budget analysts have estimated that a monthly fee of between $23-$29/month per residential address. 

Is trash pickup delayed this week in San Diego?

No, the trash collection service is not delayed. If your trash is not picked up, call 858 -694 -7000.

Wrapping It Up!

Curbside carts are collected weekly, while the recyclables and green bins are picked up biweekly. On holidays, the collection is delayed and pushed to the next day.

Bulk waste services are not provided. Yet all residents can participate in community cleanup events and get rid of unwanted stuff.

Keep in mind that dumping your garbage in front of empty properties or on the road is a violation and will result in a penalty. If you can’t wait for the community cleanup event, then dump all unwanted stuff at the Miramar landfill.

Resources:

Author

Jimmy Carter specializes in providing up-to-date information on trash schedules for cities and states across the USA. With a passion for community service and sustainability, Jimmy is committed to helping people reduce their environmental impact and keep their neighborhoods clean.

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