Gray with Black Lid Bin (Trash)
Place all non-recyclable, non-compostable household refuse in the black-lidded cart. Ensure the lid completely closes; extra bags placed outside the cart will not be collected without prior authorization.
Accepted Items
- ✓Styrofoam packaging and peanuts
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Plastic grocery bags and wrappers
- ✓Treated or painted wood
- ✓Broken ceramics, mirrors, and safety glass
- ✓Heavily waxed paper or coated coffee cups
- ✓Tanglers (garden hoses, electrical cords, clothing)
Gray with Blue Lid Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables. All paper, glass, plastic, and metal must be placed loosely into the blue-lidded cart to ensure the sorting machinery at the MRF functions properly.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Mixed paper, mail, and newspaper
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Empty aerosol cans (dry)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Clean plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (#1-#7)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)
- ✕Clothing and textiles
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Scrap metal and automotive parts
Yard Waste Bin
Place organic material loosely in the green-lidded cart or wrap food scraps in a paper bag. Do not use plastic bags, even those labeled 'compostable' or 'biodegradable'.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, fruits, veggies)
- ✓Coffee grounds and eggshells
- ✓100% fiber-based food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins)
- ✓Grass clippings, weeds, and leaves
- ✓Tree branches and shrubbery trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Four (4) free pickups per calendar year.
Placement
You must call Waste Management at (619) 596-5100 to schedule your bulky item pickup. Items must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your regular service day.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and large furniture
- ✓ Washers, dryers, and appliances
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Toilets and porcelain items
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, monitors)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste and chemicals
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Paints and motor oils
- ✕ Dirt, sand, gravel, and rocks
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
If you exceed your annual limit of four pickups, or if you need to dispose of more than six items at once, you may be subject to additional hauling fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after an observed holiday during the workweek, your waste collection service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
The one-day holiday delay applies to all three carts, including organics and recycling.
If a designated holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays to residential weekday service.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Skip the Plastic Film
Never place plastic grocery bags or cling wrap in the blue recycling cart or the green organics cart. Plastic bags wrap around the sorting gears at the recycling facility and ruin compost batches.
Freeze Scraps to Reduce Odors
To prevent foul odors and pests in your green-lidded organics cart during hot San Diego summers, store your meat and dairy scraps in a paper bag in the freezer until your collection morning.
Keep Batteries Out of Bins
Lithium-ion and alkaline batteries frequently spark fires inside Waste Management collection trucks. Never throw any batteries in your curbside carts; take them to the El Cajon drop-off center instead.
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December through JanuarySantee residents can cut their natural Christmas trees into smaller pieces to fit entirely inside the green-lidded organics cart (lid must close completely) or drop them off for free at the WM Recycle Center in El Cajon during the first two weeks following Christmas.
Year-Round
ContinuousDuring occasional periods of high Santa Ana winds, wait until the morning of your collection (before 6:00 a.m.) to place your carts at the curb to prevent them from blowing over and littering the neighborhood.
About Santee Waste Management
Waste Management Services in Santee
Residential solid waste collection in Santee is managed by Waste Management (WM) through an exclusive franchise agreement with the city. To help residents effectively sort their waste, WM utilizes a standardized cart system featuring gray bodies with colored lids to designate their specific use: black for landfill trash, blue for recycling, and green for combined organics. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day, spaced at least three feet apart.
Free Sycamore Landfill Passes for Homeowners
One of the most unique and valuable perks for Santee homeowners is the city's annual landfill pass program. Every year, eligible residents can obtain two free passes to dispose of up to one ton of bulky items, concrete, or other non-hazardous solid waste at the local Sycamore Landfill on Mast Boulevard. Passes can be requested at the landfill office Monday through Friday by presenting a valid ID and a recent utility bill.
Generous Curbside Bulky Item Collections
If hauling items to the landfill isn't an option, WM provides excellent curbside service. Santee residents with standard cart service are entitled to request four free bulky item pickups per calendar year. Each pickup allows for the removal of up to six large items, such as sofas, washers, dryers, and electronic waste. You must call WM in advance at (619) 596-5100 to schedule your pickup on your regularly scheduled service day.
Complying with SB 1383 Organics Mandates
In alignment with California's SB 1383 climate law, Santee strictly enforces the separation of all food waste. Residents must place their food scraps (including meat, dairy, bones, and leftovers) alongside food-soiled paper products and standard yard trimmings into the green-lidded organics cart. Keeping these materials out of the local landfill helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and allows the organic matter to be composted into nutrient-rich soil.
Disposing of Hazardous Materials in East County
Chemicals, motor oil, and batteries pose significant fire risks and environmental hazards and are strictly prohibited from curbside carts. Santee residents can safely dispose of these toxic materials at the Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Collection facility located at the WM Recycling Center in neighboring El Cajon. Appointments are required for full HHW drop-offs on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.
Drop-off Facilities
Waste Management East County Recycling Center
925 O'Conner Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
Materials Accepted
Sycamore Landfill
8514 Mast Blvd, Santee, CA 92071
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my free Sycamore Landfill passes in Santee?
Santee homeowners are eligible for two free landfill passes per year, valid for up to one ton of solid waste each. You can pick these up directly at the Sycamore Landfill office (8514 Mast Blvd) Monday through Friday by showing your valid driver's license and a residential water or electric bill.
Does Waste Management charge for bulky item pickups in Santee?
No, standard bulky item collection is free up to four times per calendar year for Santee residents. Each pickup appointment allows you to dispose of up to six large items, such as old furniture, e-waste, or mattresses. You must call (619) 596-5100 to schedule.
Can I put food waste in my green-lidded yard waste cart?
Yes. Under state law SB 1383, all organic waste—including meat, dairy, bones, vegetable scraps, and food-soiled paper—must be placed in your green-lidded organics cart alongside your normal yard trimmings. Please keep it loose or use a paper bag; do not use plastic bags.
What happens if a holiday falls on my trash day?
If your trash day falls on or after New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, your pickup will be delayed by one day for the rest of that week. Weekend holidays do not cause collection delays.