Gray Bin (Trash)
Place carts at street level with the wheels against the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled service day. Ensure the lid is completely closed to avoid litter and pests.
Accepted Items
- ✓Styrofoam packing peanuts
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Ceramics and drinking glasses
- ✓Mirrors and window glass
- ✓Clothing and shoes (if not donatable)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely in the blue cart. Never bag your recyclables. Containers should be empty and free of heavy food liquids.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1-7 (bottles, jugs, jars)
- ✓Clean paper, newspaper, and junk mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard and clean food boxes
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Aseptic cartons (milk, juice, soup)
- ✓Styrofoam packaging blocks (must be cut to fit)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam packing peanuts
- ✕Food residue and liquids
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Light bulbs and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use any type of plastic bag (including compostable or biodegradable bags). Wrap food scraps in newspaper or use an uncoated paper bag to absorb moisture.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and small branches
- ✓Meat, fish, poultry, and bones
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and dairy products
- ✓Coffee grounds and filters
- ✓Food-soiled paper products and pizza boxes
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Upon request (subject to a nominal fee)
Placement
You must call EDCO at (760) 436-4151 to schedule and pay for your bulky item pickup. Do not place large items on the curb until your appointment date is confirmed.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and large furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Water heaters
- ✓ Large household appliances (non-freon)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Construction and demolition materials
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or rock
- ✕ Explosives or ammunition
A nominal fee applies for standard curbside bulk item pickups. Alternatively, EDCO occasionally hosts free bulky-item drop-off cleanup events for the community.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, waste removal services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday service moves to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
This one-day delay applies uniformly to all EDCO residential services, including the gray, blue, and green carts.
Holidays that fall on a Saturday or Sunday do not delay waste removal services for the regular weekday schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
No 'Compostable' Plastics in the Green Cart
Even if a plastic bag is marketed as 'compostable' or 'biodegradable,' it is strictly banned from the green organics cart in Encinitas because it cannot break down in EDCO's anaerobic digester. Use a paper bag instead.
Styrofoam Blocks vs. Packing Peanuts
Large Styrofoam packaging blocks can actually be recycled in your blue cart if you cut or flatten them to fit comfortably. However, Styrofoam packing peanuts are not recyclable and must always go in the gray trash cart.
Aseptic Cartons are Recyclable
Unlike some municipalities, Encinitas accepts aseptic cartons in the blue recycling cart. Make sure your milk cartons, juice boxes, and soup broth cartons are completely empty before tossing them in loosely.
Seasonal Information
Summer
June to SeptemberTo minimize strong odors and pests in your green cart during warm coastal summers, keep the cart in a shaded area and freeze meat or dairy scraps in a paper bag until the morning of your collection day.
Winter
DecemberDuring the holiday season, practice 'precycling' by opting for reusable gift bags or recyclable wrapping paper. Remember that metallic wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows cannot be recycled and must go in the gray trash cart.
About Encinitas Waste Management
Encinitas Zero Waste Goals and EDCO Partnership
Encinitas is deeply committed to a Zero Waste future, emphasizing maximum diversion from landfills to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the local coastal environment. Through an exclusive franchise agreement with EDCO, residents are provided a comprehensive three-cart automated collection system. This program actively supports the city's Climate Action Plan, ensuring that recyclable and organic materials are efficiently processed to sustain a circular economy and keep neighborhoods pristine.
SB 1383 Compliance and Anaerobic Digestion
To comply with California's SB 1383 organics mandate, Encinitas residents must separate all yard trimmings, food scraps, and food-soiled paper into their green organics cart. EDCO processes these materials at an advanced anaerobic digestion facility where they are converted into renewable natural gas and nutrient-rich fertilizer. To maintain the integrity of this specialized process, residents are strictly prohibited from using any plastic bags—even those labeled as 'compostable' or 'biodegradable'. Food scraps should be wrapped in newspaper or paper bags instead.
Precycling to Protect the Coastline
In addition to standard recycling, the City of Encinitas strongly encourages residents to practice 'precycling.' This proactive approach involves making environmentally conscious choices at the grocery store by purchasing items with minimal or highly recyclable packaging. By actively avoiding single-use disposables and multi-layered packaging, residents can drastically reduce the volume of waste generated at the source, ultimately helping to keep local beaches, storm drains, and marine habitats free from plastic pollution.
Convenient Household Hazardous Waste Services
Keeping toxic materials out of the landfill is critical for a healthy community. Encinitas residents can take advantage of a specialized Household Hazardous Waste Collection Service, which offers home pickup of U-Waste, E-Waste, and medical sharps. While home pickups that include comingled items like paints, motor oil, or pesticides require a nominal $10 copay, this fee is generously waived for senior citizens aged 65 and older. Alternatively, residents can utilize free regional drop-off facilities on Saturdays.
Drop-off Facilities
City of Vista Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility
1145 E. Taylor Street, Vista, CA 92084
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put my food scraps in a compostable plastic bag before throwing them in the green cart?
No. EDCO strictly prohibits all types of plastic bags, including those labeled 'compostable' or 'biodegradable,' in the green organics cart. They cannot break down in the anaerobic digester. You should use a paper bag or wrap your scraps in newspaper instead.
How do I dispose of a broken television or old paint in Encinitas?
E-waste and household hazardous waste (HHW) cannot go in your curbside carts. You can drop them off for free at the Vista HHW Facility on Saturdays, or schedule a home pickup through EDCO. Pickups involving paint or chemicals require a $10 copay, which is waived for seniors 65 and older.
Are milk and juice cartons recyclable in Encinitas?
Yes. Aseptic cartons, including milk cartons, juice boxes, and soup or wine cartons, are fully recyclable. Make sure they are empty and place them loosely in your blue recycling cart.
What time do I need to put my trash carts on the curb?
You must place your gray, blue, and green automated carts at street level with the wheels against the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled service day. Ensure there is at least two feet of distance between the carts and three feet from any parked cars or mailboxes.