Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Poway
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday on assigned neighborhood service days.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as trash.
Yard Waste
Organics and yard waste are collected weekly in green carts on your regular collection day.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (and no earlier than sunset the day before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash and recycling services are billed directly by EDCO Disposal bi-monthly (due on the 20th of the second month) rather than through the City water bill.
Billing Cycle
Bi-monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, Phone
Gray (35-gallon or 95-gallon "toter") Bin (Trash)
Trash must be placed completely inside the gray toter. Set out by 7:00 a.m. on collection day, but no earlier than sunset the night before.
Accepted Items
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Flocked Christmas trees
- ✓Broken ceramics and mirrors
Blue (64-gallon "toter") Bin (Recycling)
Items must be rinsed out, completely dry, and tossed loosely into the blue cart. Never bag your recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7
- ✓Junk mail and catalogs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film wrap
- ✕Food-soiled paper or pizza boxes
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags. Place all organic materials, including food scraps and yard debris, directly into the green toter. Residents are provided up to three commingled green carts.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Tree trimmings and small branches
- ✓Food scraps (fruits, veggies, meat, dairy)
- ✓Food-soiled paper
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Available on an on-call basis (fee applies).
Placement
Schedule your pickup with EDCO prior to setting items out. Place approved items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Major appliances
- ✓ Large household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil)
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, rock, or concrete
A fee applies for each item. The standard bulky item rate is approximately $20.42 per item. Items requiring freon extraction (like refrigerators or AC units) carry a surcharge, costing approximately $61.36 per item.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, residential collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
The one-day holiday delay applies equally to all carts: trash, recycling, and organics.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no service delay and your regular pickup schedule remains unchanged.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryEDCO provides curbside holiday tree recycling for two weeks immediately following Christmas Day [1.2.4]. Remove all lights, stands, and tinsel, and cut trees over 4 feet in half. Place the tree inside your green waste cart with the lid closed. After the two-week period, you must cut and bundle your tree with twine.
Spring
March - MayDuring spring cleaning, remember that you can take advantage of the permanent HHW facility on Crosthwaite Circle every Saturday from 9am to 3pm to dispose of old paint, cleaners, and e-waste without an appointment.
Autumn
September - NovemberDuring heavy fall trimming, remember that Poway residents can request up to two additional green waste toters at no extra charge from EDCO to accommodate extra leaves and yard clippings.
Local Tips & Community Info
EDCO Disposal: Poway's Exclusive Franchised Hauler
Residential refuse and recycling logistics in the 'City in the Country' are exclusively operated by EDCO Disposal. This family-owned waste management company works in tandem with the local government to provide single-family homes and multi-family complexes with automated weekly collections. When you purchase or lease a property in Poway, contacting EDCO directly is essential to initiate your weekly service and request your designated cart sizes. They offer various barrel dimensions to accommodate different household sizes, ensuring you only pay for the capacity you truly need.
Spatial Requirements for Curbside Carts
To facilitate a seamless automated pickup process, EDCO requires strict adherence to container placement guidelines. On your assigned collection day, all carts must be wheeled to the curb by 6:00 a.m. Ensure that the wheels are resting against the edge of the street, with the lid opening facing the roadway. A critical rule is to leave a minimum of two feet of clearance between each cart, as well as keeping them entirely clear of parked vehicles, low-hanging tree canopy, and basketball hoops to avoid structural damage from the mechanical truck arms.
Composting at Home: The Green Cart Rules
Poway actively enforces the state's organics recycling mandate, meaning that all food scraps must be diverted from the general landfill. The green yard waste container is the required destination for organic matter, including fruit peels, meat, dairy, and coffee filters, alongside standard grass clippings and branches. EDCO strictly prohibits the use of traditional plastic bags for containing food waste. If you wish to bag your kitchen scraps, you must use paper bags or simply layer the food directly into the green cart between dry yard trimmings to control moisture and odors.
Recycling Best Practices and Acceptable Materials
The blue recycling barrel is reserved for dry, unsoiled commodities. Poway residents are encouraged to recycle cardboard, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and rigid plastics. All cardboard boxes must be completely flattened to maximize space inside the cart. It is vital to leave all recyclables loose; never tie them up in garbage bags, as bagged recyclables are often discarded at the sorting facility due to machinery tangling risks. Items like styrofoam, garden hoses, and window glass are strictly prohibited and will contaminate the entire load.
Scheduling Your Free Bulky Waste Collections
A major benefit for EDCO customers in Poway is the bulky item pickup program. Instead of hauling a broken refrigerator or a torn sofa to a regional dump, residents can schedule a free curbside collection. Homeowners simply need to call EDCO's customer service desk a few days prior to their normal trash day to log the request. Acceptable items include large appliances, furniture, and bundled branches. Hazardous waste, construction debris, and heavy automotive parts are not permitted under this specific program and require alternative disposal methods.
Holiday Route Adjustments
EDCO observes a handful of major federal holidays, which can slightly alter your typical pickup routine. If holidays like New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas fall on a standard weekday, all subsequent collections for that week will be delayed by one full day. For example, a Thursday pickup will shift to Friday, and Friday routes will be completed on Saturday. Standard schedules resume the following Monday.
Drop-off Facilities
Poway Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility
12325 Crosthwaite Circle, Poway, CA 92064
Materials Accepted
EDCO Recycling & Transfer Collection Center
224 S. Las Posas Rd., San Marcos, CA 92078
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel my trash service if I don't produce much waste in Poway?
Weekly trash and recycling collection is a City Code requirement for health and safety reasons. However, if you can prove you have a legitimate disposal alternative for both your trash and recyclables, you can apply for an annual exemption by contacting the Poway Public Works Department.
Does Poway offer free bulky item pickups for old furniture?
No, free bulky item pickups are not included in the standard residential rates. Poway residents can schedule a special on-call bulky item pickup with EDCO, but it carries a fee of approximately $20.42 per standard item, and around $61.36 for appliances containing freon.
Where can I safely dispose of an old TV or computer in Poway?
Electronic waste should never go in your gray or blue toters. Poway residents can drop off e-waste, along with other household hazardous waste like paint and batteries, for free at the Poway HHW Facility located at 12325 Crosthwaite Circle every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
What should I do with my moving boxes when I first move into my Poway home?
EDCO offers a one-time courtesy pickup of large quantities of broken-down cardboard moving boxes for new move-in customers. You must call EDCO at 858-748-7769 to arrange this service, which typically coincides with your very first day of collection.