Gray or Black Bin (Trash)
All landfill refuse must be bagged and placed inside the cart with the lid completely closed. Carts must be set out at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection day.
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 all items loosely into the blue cart. Ensure all containers are empty and reasonably free 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 grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food or liquid waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, wires)
- ✕Batteries and electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags, even those labeled 'compostable'. Food scraps can be placed loosely in the cart or wrapped in newspaper or a plain paper bag.
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 (2) free pickups per calendar year
Placement
You must contact your specific franchised hauler (e.g., EDCO) to schedule your pickup at least 24 hours in advance. Place approved items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled day.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture (sofas, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
- ✕ Items requiring more than two people to lift
Exceeding your annual limit of two free pickups or placing unauthorized, excessively heavy items out may result in additional bulky item disposal fees.
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 schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Plastic Bags Cause MRF Shutdowns
The number one contaminant in the blue recycling cart is plastic film. Never place garbage bags or plastic grocery sacks in your recycling cart, as they wrap around the gears of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs).
Pet Waste is Landfill Only
Although dog waste and kitty litter are organic materials, they carry harmful pathogens that commercial composting facilities cannot safely break down. Always bag pet waste and place it in the gray trash cart.
Styrofoam is Not Curbside Recyclable
Expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) cups, blocks, and takeout containers cannot be processed curbside in San Diego County. Regardless of the recycling symbol on the bottom, Styrofoam must go in the gray trash cart.
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-JanuaryFranchised haulers provide free curbside Christmas tree recycling for the first two to three weeks following Christmas. Remove all lights, ornaments, and stands, and ensure the tree is un-flocked.
About Winter Gardens Waste Management
Waste Management in Unincorporated San Diego County
Because Winter Gardens is an unincorporated census-designated place (CDP) adjacent to Lakeside and El Cajon, it does not operate a municipal trash department. Instead, residential solid waste collection is regulated by the San Diego County Department of Public Works' Non-Exclusive Franchise Agreement system. Franchised haulers—predominantly EDCO Disposal in the Winter Gardens and Lakeside zones—provide standardized, three-cart collection services designed to help the county reach an 80% waste diversion goal by 2030.
Strict Adherence to SB 1383 Organics Recycling
In compliance with California’s aggressive climate legislation (SB 1383), residents of Winter Gardens are required to use a green organics cart to divert all food and yard waste from local landfills. This means that meat, dairy, bones, vegetable peels, and food-soiled paper products must be comingled with regular yard trimmings. The county prohibits the use of plastic bags in these green carts; residents should toss organics in loose or wrap them in plain paper.
Defensible Space and Green Waste Disposal
Nestled near open, semi-rural terrain, Winter Gardens is susceptible to Southern California's seasonal wildfire threats. Maintaining defensible space around your property is a legal requirement and a community necessity. When clearing dry brush and dead vegetation, residents should maximize the use of their green organics cart. If a property generates excessive brush, franchise haulers allow you to request additional green carts or schedule specialized excess yard waste pickups.
Proper Handling of Household Hazardous Waste
Protecting the local ecosystem—including nearby Lake Jennings and the San Diego River watershed—means keeping toxic materials out of the standard curbside bins. Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) such as motor oil, wet paint, pesticides, and lithium-ion batteries cannot be discarded in gray, blue, or green carts. Winter Gardens residents are encouraged to utilize San Diego County's mobile HHW collection events or regional facilities like the EDCO Station in La Mesa.
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 find out who my trash hauler is in Winter Gardens?
Winter Gardens is an unincorporated area governed by San Diego County's franchise system. The primary hauler for this zone is EDCO Disposal, though residents can verify their specific provider by contacting the San Diego County DPW Solid Waste division.
Can I throw food scraps directly into my green cart?
Yes. To comply with state law (SB 1383), all food waste—including meat, dairy, produce, and food-soiled paper—must go into the green organics cart. You can toss it in loose or wrap it in a paper bag, but you cannot use plastic bags.
How do I get rid of an old mattress or couch in Winter Gardens?
Single-family residents are entitled to two free bulky item pickups per year. You must call your franchise hauler (such as EDCO) in advance to schedule the collection. Do not leave items on the curb without a confirmed appointment.
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.