San Diego, CA — Trash & Recycling Pickup

San Diego Trash & Recycling Pickup Schedule (2025)

Complete guide for San Diego, CA: weekly trash & organics (green bin), every-other-week blue-bin recycling, holiday changes, HHW at Miramar, drop-offs and how to report issues.

Updated:

Find My Pickup Day
Recycling Guide
Green Bin (Organics)

Trash (Black Bin)

Weekly, Mon–Fri 6:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; set bins out by 6:00 a.m.

Recycling (Blue Bin)

Every other week, same service window; place items empty, dry and loose (no bags).

Organics (Green Bin)

Weekly; food scraps + food-soiled paper + yard trimmings (no plastic/“compostable” bags).

📍 Address Lookup (Official)

Find your exact pickup days and download a personalized calendar using the City’s tool.

Find Your Collection Day — Get It Done

Trash & organics are weekly; blue recycling is every other week.

🗓️ Weekly Pickup & Set-out Rules

  • Set carts out by 6:00 a.m. on collection day; curb or alley per your route.
  • Trash (black) — weekly; keep lids closed to prevent litter.
  • Recycling (blue) — every other week; empty, dry, loose; no plastic bags.
  • Organics (green) — weekly; no plastic liners (incl. “compostable” bags). Use paper bag if needed.
  • Service hours Mon–Fri 6:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

♻️ Recycling — Accepted & Not Accepted

Accepted (Blue Bin)

  • Paper & cardboard (flattened)
  • Glass bottles & jars
  • Metal cans (aluminum/steel)
  • Rigid plastics #1–#7 (bottles, jugs, tubs, trays, buckets, toys)

Not Accepted

  • Plastic bags/film; tanglers (hoses/cords)
  • Food or liquids
  • Hazardous/e-waste
Official recycling rules and “Recycle Right” tips.

City Recycling Requirements

🌿 Green Bin / Organics (SB 1383)

  • What goes in: food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard trimmings, non-hazardous wood. No plastic or “compostable” bags.
  • Keep bin clean: Alternate layers of food scraps with yard trimmings, or use a paper bag.
The city is replacing containers (including green ones) and removing old ones; check for updates.

📦 Bulk / Large Items

  • For City-served households, there is currently no on-demand curbside bulk pickup; use drop-off centers or community events (see WasteFreeSD).
  • With the new rate program, the City has indicated phased improvements; starting in FY2028, curbside bulky pickup is expected as part of service expansions.

Find Bulk Options — WasteFreeSD

⚠️ Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

HHW is accepted by appointment only and for City residents only at the Miramar facility (landfill entrance). Address: 5161 Convoy St., 92111; Saturdays 9 a.m.–3 p.m. (except holidays).

Never dispose of HHW in the trash, sewer, or storm drains. Info and contact: 858-694-7000. 1717

🏗️ Drop-off Sites & Facilities

Site Address / Hours Notes
Miramar Recycling Center 5165 Convoy St. — Mon–Sat 7:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (cerrado en festivos clave) Municipal recycling center; check accepted materials.
Miramar Landfill & Greenery 5180 Convoy St. — Mon–Sat 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Greenery for yard trimmings; landfill and self-service.

🎉 Holiday Schedule (2025)

  • No collection on: New Year’s Day (Jan 1), Memorial Day (May 26), Independence Day (Jul 4), Labor Day (Sep 1), Thanksgiving (Nov 27), Christmas (Dec 25). The rest of the week runs one day later.
For timely notices, check the Holiday Schedule / City Blog and the calendar search tool.

🚚 Missed Pickup — What to Do

  1. Confirm set-out time (before 6:00 a.m.), access, and correct materials (no bags in the blue cart; no plastics in the green cart).
  2. If it still isn’t collected, report it via Get It Done (Missed Collection).

Report a Missed Collection

💲 New Trash Fee (Measure B Implementation)

The City Council approved a cost-of-service rate for residential collection in June 2025; implementation began on July 1, 2025, with charges appearing on the October 2025 tax roll. Use the Fee Calculator to estimate your amount based on your cart size.

Coverage and pricing may be adjusted annually (FY2026–FY2028); see announcements and cost studies.

Open Fee Calculator

📞 Contacts (City of San Diego)

  • Environmental Services Dept. Customer Service: 858-694-7000 (Mon–Fri 6:30 a.m.–5 p.m.).
  • Get It Done Portal: calendars, reports, requests

🔗 Data Sources