Gray or Black Bin (Trash)
Bag all trash securely before placing it in the cart to prevent littering. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day with the lid fully closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene)
- ✓Treated or painted wood
- ✓Plastic bags and film
- ✓Broken ceramics and glass
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables; place them loosely in the cart. Ensure all containers are empty and reasonably clean of food residue.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Mixed paper, junk mail, and magazines
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Rigid plastic containers (#1-#7)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or wrap
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food or liquid waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, wires)
- ✕Batteries and electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags. You may wrap food scraps in newspaper or place them in a paper bag to control odors and pests.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Tree branches and prunings
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, produce)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (napkins, pizza boxes)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two free pickups per year
Placement
Contact Waste Management at least 24 hours in advance to schedule. Place approved items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated bulky item collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture (sofas, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances
- ✓ Carpet (bundled securely)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and chemicals
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
- ✕ Items exceeding 300 lbs or requiring more than two people to lift
If you exceed your annual limit of two free pickups or three items per pickup, additional items can be collected for a fee. Refrigerators and AC units may also incur a Freon recovery fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collection services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling carts follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the trash cart.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there will be no delay in your regular curbside collection service.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
The number one recycling contaminant is plastic film. Never place plastic grocery bags or garbage bags in your blue cart, as they wrap around sorting machinery and halt operations.
Styrofoam Belongs in the Trash
Waste Management's sorting facilities serving Rancho San Diego do not process expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam). All Styrofoam packaging and takeout containers must go in the gray trash cart.
Pathogens Survive Composting
While pet waste is technically organic, it carries harmful pathogens that commercial composting facilities cannot safely break down. Always bag dog waste and kitty litter and throw it in the trash.
Seasonal Information
Fire Season
May to OctoberAs Santa Ana winds increase fire danger, property owners must clear dead vegetation. Place unbagged brush and branches directly into your green cart, ensuring the lid can close completely.
Winter Holidays
Late December to Mid-JanuaryWaste Management provides free curbside Christmas tree recycling for the first two weeks following Christmas. Trees over 4 feet tall must be cut in half. Remove all lights, ornaments, and stands, and ensure the tree is un-flocked before placing it near your green cart.
About Rancho San Diego Waste Management
Navigating San Diego County's Unincorporated Waste Mandates
Because Rancho San Diego is an unincorporated community, its residential waste collection is governed directly by San Diego County's Solid Waste Ordinance rather than a city council. The county relies on exclusive franchise haulers like Waste Management to execute its aggressive sustainability goals, which include reaching an 80% waste diversion rate by 2030. Residents must actively separate their waste into a compliant three-cart system to avoid fines and support local environmental targets.
Mandatory Organics Recycling (SB 1383)
In compliance with California's SB 1383, Rancho San Diego households are required to divert organic material from the landfill. The green organics cart is no longer just for grass clippings; it is the designated bin for all food scraps, including meat, bones, dairy, and food-soiled paper products. Keeping these organics out of the landfill significantly reduces the generation of short-lived climate pollutants like methane.
Defensible Space and Brush Management
Situated in a region prone to seasonal wildfires, Rancho San Diego residents play a crucial role in community safety by maintaining defensible space around their homes. When clearing dry brush, weeds, and tree branches, use your green organics cart for disposal. If you generate more green waste than your cart can hold, contact Waste Management to request additional capacity or schedule a specialized brush pickup during peak fire season.
Strict Rules on Blue Bin Contamination
Waste Management utilizes advanced sorting facilities, but contamination remains a primary obstacle to effective recycling. In Rancho San Diego, residents must ensure that no plastic film, grocery bags, or expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) enters the blue recycling cart. Even if a Styrofoam container has a recycling symbol on the bottom, it must be placed in the gray landfill cart or taken to a specialized drop-off center.
Drop-off Facilities
Sycamore Canyon Landfill
8514 Mast Blvd, Santee, CA 92071
Materials Accepted
EDCO Station (La Mesa)
8184 Commercial St, La Mesa, CA 91942
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up a bulky item pickup in Rancho San Diego?
Residents are entitled to two free bulk item pickups per year (up to three items each). You must schedule this in advance by calling Waste Management Customer Service at (619) 596-5100 or using your online WM account.
Can I put greasy pizza boxes in my recycling bin?
No. Grease ruins the recycling process for clean paper. However, because Rancho San Diego participates in the county's organics recycling program, you can place food-soiled paper and greasy pizza boxes directly into your green organics cart.
What should I do with my old television and electronics?
Electronic waste is strictly prohibited in California landfills and cannot be placed in your curbside bins. You can schedule a bulky item pickup for e-waste or drop it off for free at specialized recycling centers like the EDCO Station in La Mesa.
Are plastic produce bags compostable in the green cart?
No. Even if a plastic bag claims to be 'biodegradable' or 'compostable,' San Diego County's commercial composting facilities cannot process them, and they are considered contamination. Use paper bags or simply place food scraps loosely in the green cart.