Gray Bin (Trash)
All household garbage should be bagged securely before placement in the gray cart. Do not place any hazardous waste, electronics, or recyclable materials in this bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable household waste
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Pet waste
- ✓Broken ceramics
- ✓Treated wood (small amounts)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place all commingled recyclables loosely in the blue cart. Never put recyclables inside plastic garbage bags, as this causes severe issues at the EDCO sorting facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Cardboard and broken-down boxes
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Rigid plastics (Types 1-7)
- ✓Newspaper and mixed paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Single-use plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam packing peanuts
- ✕Food-soiled paper and plates
- ✕Window glass or mirrors
Yard Waste Bin
Use the green cart for all organics. No plastic bags, biodegradable bags, or dirt/rocks are allowed. Kitchen food scraps should go directly into the green cart alongside yard debris.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and weeds
- ✓Branches and prunings
- ✓Fruit and vegetable scraps
- ✓Meat, dairy, and bones
- ✓Food-soiled paper (e.g., pizza boxes)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two FREE curbside bulky item pickups per year
Placement
On your scheduled collection day, place the accepted large items at the curb or the end of your driveway by 6:00 a.m. Ensure they are clear of vehicles and your regular carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Couches and large furniture
- ✓ Refrigerators and large appliances
- ✓ Televisions and e-waste
- ✓ Water heaters
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, rock, or concrete
- ✕ Liquid paint
If you need more than your two allotted free pickups annually, or if you are a commercial property with different limits, additional bulk collections can be arranged for a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, residential collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday service moves to Friday). If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no service delay.
Yard Waste Exception
Your green organics cart and blue recycling cart will follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as your gray trash cart.
Minor holidays like Veterans Day, Presidents' Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day do NOT cause any delays in EDCO waste removal services. Place your bins out on your normal scheduled day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
Single-use plastic grocery bags and newspaper delivery sleeves are strictly prohibited in your recycling cart. They wrap around the sorting gears at EDCO's facility. Instead, return them to local grocery store drop-offs.
Food-Soiled Paper Goes in the Green Cart
Used paper plates, greasy pizza boxes, and soiled paper towels cannot be recycled into new paper. However, they are perfect for your green organics cart since they safely break down during the composting process.
Say No to Styrofoam Peanuts
While large, molded Styrofoam packaging blocks can sometimes be broken down and recycled, loose Styrofoam packing peanuts are not accepted in the blue cart. Bag them and place them in your gray trash cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter/Post-Holiday
December to JanuaryEDCO provides special curbside Christmas tree recycling following the holidays. Ensure that all ornaments, tinsel, lights, and tree stands are completely removed before placing your natural tree out on your collection day.
Spring
March to MaySpring cleaning is a great time to clear out the garage, but remember that old paint, pesticides, and automotive fluids are illegal to throw in your trash. Take these to the South Bay HHW facility in nearby Chula Vista.
Summer
July to SeptemberHigh coastal temperatures can cause your green organics cart to smell. To combat odors and pests, store your food scraps in a container in your freezer during the week and dump them into the green bin on the morning of pickup.
About Imperial Beach Waste Management
Exclusive Waste Franchise with EDCO
In Imperial Beach, all residential and commercial solid waste disposal is managed exclusively through a franchise agreement with EDCO Disposal. This centralized system ensures that every neighborhood receives streamlined, reliable weekly collection for trash, commingled recycling, and organics, while keeping the community clean and compliant with state waste mandates.
Mandatory Organics Recycling (SB 1383)
To meet California’s aggressive SB 1383 environmental targets, Imperial Beach has successfully rolled out a comprehensive organics recycling program. Residents are required to use their green roll-out carts for both traditional yard trimmings and kitchen food scraps, turning what used to be landfill waste into valuable compost and renewable energy.
Marine and Beach Protection Focus
Given its identity as a classic Southern California coastal town, Imperial Beach takes ocean pollution very seriously. The city enforces strict local ordinances, including a prohibition on single-use plastic food packaging and expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) at restaurants. This focus on waste reduction at the source directly reduces the amount of windblown litter reaching the Pacific Ocean.
Coordinated Street Sweeping Operations
To further protect the local watershed and coastal environment, the City of Imperial Beach sweeps approximately 130 curb miles per month. EDCO operates this service, complementing the residential cart pickup schedule to ensure that heavy debris, leaves, and litter are kept out of the storm drains and away from the shoreline.
Drop-off Facilities
South Bay Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility
1800 Maxwell Road, Chula Vista, CA 91911
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides residential trash pickup in Imperial Beach?
The City of Imperial Beach has an exclusive franchise agreement with EDCO Disposal to manage all residential and commercial solid waste, recycling, and organics collection.
Can I throw food waste into my yard waste bin?
Yes. In compliance with California's SB 1383, Imperial Beach residents are required to place all organic food scraps, including meat and dairy, into the green organics cart along with traditional yard trimmings.
How do I get rid of an old mattress or couch?
Imperial Beach residential customers are entitled to two free bulky item pickups per year through EDCO. You must call (619) 287-7555 ahead of time to schedule the collection for large items generated from your home.
Will my trash pickup be delayed on Presidents' Day or Veterans Day?
No. EDCO only observes six major holidays (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). Minor holidays do not disrupt the regular collection schedule.