Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Santee
Trash Day
Trash is collected weekly Monday through Friday, with specific pickup days determined by your neighborhood.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Organics and yard waste are collected weekly on your regular collection day.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash and recycling services are contracted through Waste Management and billed directly on a quarterly basis. Santee homeowners also qualify for annual bulky item pickups and Sycamore Landfill drop-off passes.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
Waste Management offers a senior discount for eligible residents aged 65 and older upon verification.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Santee Trash & Recycling Schedule Guidelines
In Santee, California, residential and commercial waste collection is managed through an exclusive franchise agreement with Waste Management (WM). Proper waste disposal is a community-wide effort, and all residents are expected to follow local ordinances for separating their recyclables from regular solid waste. Your specific curbside pickup day depends on the neighborhood you live in. To verify your current collection schedule, you can easily use the Waste Management online portal or contact their customer service department. For the most reliable service, it is highly recommended to place your bins on the curb by 6:00 AM on your designated pickup morning to avoid any missed collections.
Understanding Recycling and Organic Waste
The City of Santee takes environmental sustainability seriously, adhering to California's strict recycling regulations, including AB 341 and AB 1826. Residents are required to separate everyday household recyclables—like clean paper, cardboard, rigid plastics, and glass—into their designated recycling carts. Furthermore, organic waste recycling is now mandatory across the state. This means all food scraps, yard trimmings, leaves, and grass clippings must be disposed of in your green organics bin. Keeping non-recyclable contaminants out of these bins is crucial for maintaining a green community. If you have questions about acceptable materials, you can always reach out to the Santee Recycles team at City Hall.
Bulk Waste and Large Item Disposal
Sometimes residents have large household items that simply will not fit into standard curbside carts. For these large items, such as broken household appliances, old mattresses, or bulky furniture pieces, Waste Management provides convenient bulk waste pickup services for Santee residents. You will need to contact the provider to schedule this heavy lifting service in advance, rather than just leaving the large items on the sidewalk. Additionally, the city occasionally provides landfill passes and promotes special community clean-up events, giving locals alternative ways to dispose of extra household debris responsibly.
Holiday Schedule Delays and Missed Pickups
During major recognized holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, your regular trash, recycling, and yard waste collection may be delayed by one day. If your standard pickup day falls on or after a major holiday during the workweek, you should expect the garbage trucks to arrive a day later than usual. In the event that your bins are ever missed on a regular service day despite being placed out correctly and on time, there is an easy fix. Simply contact Waste Management directly at 619-596-5100 within 24 hours to report the missed pickup and arrange for a prompt recovery collection.
Best Practices for Bin Placement
To ensure a smooth, safe, and efficient automated collection process, properly placing your garbage carts on the street is essential. Always keep all bins at least three feet apart from one another and position them safely away from obstacles like parked cars, mailboxes, or fire hydrants. The handles and wheels should be facing your home, and the lids must be completely closed so that no debris spills out into the street. Overfilled or improperly placed bins may not be serviced by the drivers, so make sure all your trash and recycling fit comfortably inside before wheeling them out.
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.