Gray Bin (Trash)
Use the gray cart for material that cannot be reused, recycled, or composted. Trash must be placed at the curb the night before or prior to 6:00 a.m. on your collection day with the lid completely closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
- ✓Soiled disposable plates and cups
- ✓Plastic grocery bags and chip bags
- ✓Ceramics and broken drinking glasses
- ✓Styrofoam packing peanuts
- ✓Pet waste and diapers
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Keep recyclables loose, clean, and dry. Do not use plastic bags to bundle your recyclables, as the film tangles the sorting machinery. Shredded paper is the only item that should be bagged before being placed in the blue cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper and cardboard
- ✓Rigid plastics (#1 - #7)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (clear and colored)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clean Styrofoam (blocks, cups, meat trays)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags (grocery, newspaper, snack bags)
- ✕Styrofoam packing peanuts
- ✕Tanglers (cords, wires, hoses)
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Batteries and light bulbs
Yard Waste Bin
In compliance with SB 1383, all organic waste must be placed in the green cart. Keep organics loose; do not use plastic bags, compostable bags, or petroleum-based liners.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, weeds, and leaves
- ✓Tree branches and prunings
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, produce)
- ✓Food-soiled paper
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
4 free pickups per year (up to 6 items each)
Placement
Once your appointment is confirmed, place approved bulky items safely at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection date.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Water heaters and large appliances
- ✓ Televisions
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Construction and demolition materials
- ✕ Dirt, rock, and concrete
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
Residents are allowed four free collections per year, with a maximum of six items (equivalent to three cubic yards) per pickup. Additional pickups may incur a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday (Monday through Friday), residential collection services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and yard waste collection follow the exact same one-day holiday delay schedule as standard trash and recycling.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is absolutely no delay to the regular weekday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
Never bundle your clean recyclables inside a plastic garbage or grocery bag. Plastic film wraps around the gears at EDCO's material recovery facility, causing major mechanical jams. Keep recyclables loose.
Blocks Yes, Peanuts No
While El Cajon uniquely accepts clean Styrofoam blocks and foam cups in the blue recycling cart, Styrofoam packing peanuts are too lightweight and messy to sort. Peanuts must always go into your gray trash cart.
Hazardous Materials Cause Fires
Household batteries and electronic waste spark dangerous fires inside collection trucks when crushed. Never throw them in any cart. Bring them to the O'Connor Street HHW drop-off facility on Saturdays.
Seasonal Information
Spring/Fall
Varies (e.g., April/October)Twice a year, EDCO hosts FREE Bulky-Item Drop-Off Cleanup Events for El Cajon residents. The city also frequently partners with EDCO to provide free paper shredding, e-waste collection, and mulch/compost giveaway events.
Winter (Post-Holiday)
Late December to early JanuaryEDCO provides curbside Christmas tree recycling. Remove all stands, lights, tinsel, and ornaments. Flocked trees (sprayed with fake snow) cannot be composted and must be cut to fit inside the gray trash cart.
About El Cajon Waste Management
Exceeding State Diversion Goals with EDCO
The City of El Cajon has partnered with EDCO to manage its integrated solid waste and recycling programs [1.1.3]. El Cajon residents utilize a standardized three-cart system—featuring a gray trash cart, a blue recycling cart, and a green organics cart. Thanks to community participation, El Cajon currently diverts approximately 61% of its waste away from local landfills, exceeding CalRecycle's mandated 50% diversion rate.
SB 1383 Compliance: The Green Organics Cart
In compliance with California’s SB 1383 organic waste mandates, all El Cajon residents are required to divert food scraps and yard trimmings away from the landfill. The green organics cart is designated for all yard waste, food scraps (including meat, dairy, and bones), and 100% fiber-based food-soiled paper. Residents must keep these materials free of plastic liners—do not use plastic grocery bags or bioplastics to contain your organics, as they contaminate the commercial composting process.
A Unique Win: Recycling Styrofoam in El Cajon
Unlike many neighboring cities that strictly ban expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) from curbside recycling, EDCO’s advanced processing facilities allow El Cajon residents to recycle specific foam items. Clean foam cups, meat trays, egg cartons, rigid polystyrene, and large block packaging can all be tossed securely into your blue recycling cart. However, lightweight Styrofoam packing peanuts remain strictly prohibited and must be bagged and thrown into the gray trash cart.
Four Free Bulky Item Pickups Annually
Getting rid of an old mattress, broken couch, or outdated water heater is incredibly easy in El Cajon. Single-family residential customers are entitled to four FREE bulky-item pickups per calendar year. During each scheduled appointment, residents can dispose of up to six large items (equivalent to three cubic yards). Pickups must be scheduled in advance through EDCO’s customer service portal or by calling their main office. Construction debris and hazardous waste are excluded from this program.
Saturdays at the O'Connor HHW Drop-off
Lithium-ion batteries, motor oil, and wet paint pose severe fire risks to collection trucks and are explicitly banned from all three curbside carts. To provide a safe disposal route, El Cajon residents have access to a dedicated Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off site located at 950 O'Connor Street. This facility operates on Saturdays by appointment only. Residents can book a timeslot online or call to secure their free drop-off appointment.
Drop-off Facilities
El Cajon Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-Off
950 O'Connor St., El Cajon, CA 92020
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does El Cajon recycle Styrofoam?
Yes! EDCO accepts clean expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) in the blue recycling cart. This includes foam cups, meat trays, egg cartons, and large block packaging. However, Styrofoam packing peanuts are NOT accepted and must go in the gray trash cart.
How do I throw away large furniture in El Cajon?
El Cajon single-family residents are eligible for four free bulky-item pickups per calendar year. You can dispose of up to six large items per collection (like mattresses, appliances, or couches). You must contact EDCO in advance to schedule the pickup.
What goes in my green organics cart?
In compliance with California's SB 1383, you must place all food waste (including meat, bones, and dairy), food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings into your green cart. Do not use plastic bags to hold your organics.
Where can I safely dispose of old paint and batteries?
Hazardous materials like paint, batteries, and motor oil cannot go in your curbside bins. El Cajon residents can drop off HHW for free at the facility located at 950 O'Connor Street on Saturdays. You must make an appointment with EDCO online or by calling first.