Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Winter Gardens
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood and assigned franchised waste hauler.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as trash collection.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on your regular collection day in the green organics cart.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Winter Gardens is an unincorporated community in San Diego County; waste collection is billed directly by your franchised private hauler rather than the county government.
Billing Cycle
Monthly or Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Navigating Waste Collection in Winter Gardens
As an unincorporated community nestled in San Diego County, Winter Gardens relies on county-franchised agreements for its sanitation needs. EDCO Waste & Recycling Services acts as the primary hauler for this residential pocket. Households are supplied with color-coded containers to seamlessly manage household refuse, recyclable materials, and organic scraps, keeping the neighborhood compliant with state environmental standards while promoting sustainable waste diversion.
Morning Set-Out Rules
Drivers begin their collection routes early, so residents must place their bins at the curb before 6:00 a.m. on the morning of their assigned service day. To accommodate the automated mechanical arms on EDCO trucks, ensure a minimum of two feet exists between each bin. Keep containers clear of low-hanging tree branches, parked vehicles, and mailboxes. Carts should be removed from the street and stored out of public view by dusk to comply with local ordinances.
Mandatory Organics Recycling
The green bin is central to California's SB 1383 climate mandates. Winter Gardens homeowners must dispose of all yard trimmings, grass clippings, and food waste (including dairy, meat, and coffee filters) into this organics cart. Putting food scraps in the standard landfill trash is strictly prohibited. Ensure no plastic bags, glass, or pet waste contaminate this bin, as it disrupts the local composting process and can result in compliance warnings.
Disposing of Large Household Goods
Instead of hauling an old sofa or broken refrigerator to the nearest dump, locals can take advantage of EDCO's bulky item pickup program. Eligible residential accounts can schedule these special collections by calling customer support ahead of time. Once your date is confirmed, simply place the oversized items on the curb the night before your regular service day, ensuring they do not block pedestrian pathways or traffic lanes.
Handling Dangerous Materials
Everyday items like motor oil, pool chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, and lithium-ion batteries are strictly forbidden from all curbside carts due to extreme fire risks. San Diego County operates Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) programs to manage these toxins safely. Winter Gardens residents can drop off these dangerous materials at permanent facilities located in nearby El Cajon or during special regional collection events hosted throughout the year.
Holiday Route Delays
EDCO alters its normal pickup rhythm for six major holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. When any of these dates fall on a normal weekday, all subsequent collections are pushed back by one day for the remainder of the week. For instance, Saturday service will temporarily replace Friday routes during these holiday weeks. Operations resume their normal schedule the following Monday.
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
Which company collects trash in Winter Gardens?
EDCO Waste & Recycling Services holds the franchise agreement for residential garbage and recycling collection in the Winter Gardens community.
What is the deadline for putting out my bins?
Containers must be wheeled to the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection day to avoid a missed pickup.
How do I throw away an old mattress?
You can schedule a special bulky item collection by contacting EDCO customer service directly. Do not place the mattress on the curb without a confirmed appointment.