Container Setout
- Set the automated container in the street or alley, wheels against the curb, with the handle facing your home, by 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
- Make sure your container is at least three feet from other containers, parked cars, lamp posts, trees, mailbox posts and any other obstructions so the collection truck can access your container. Please remove your container by 6:00 p.m. on collection day.
Curbside Recycling
Curbside recycling is provided every two weeks (on alternate trash days) by the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department at curbside outside your garage. You have a choice of 32 gallon, 64 gallon, or 96 gallon sizes. If the size container delivered to your home is not appropriate for your family, call Environmental Services at (858) 492-5060 to arrange an exchange. Or exchange the container yourself at 9601 Ridgehaven Ct., suite 120.
What Can Go in the Recycling Container
- Newspapers and inserts
- Clean mixed paper such as magazines, junk mail, cardboard, phone books, paper egg cartons, clean pizza boxes and food boxes (example: such as those holding dry cereal or crackers).
- Clean shredded paper
- Cans: Aluminum cans, tin and steel cans (including pet food cans), clean foil and pie plates, empty aerosol cans.
- Glass food & beverage containers: soda bottles, food jars, wine and liquor bottles.
- Plastic bottles: narrow-necked, screw-top bottles, such as soda bottles, plastic milk and water jugs and colored bottles labeled with a
or a 
imprinted on the bottom of the container. - Any plastic bottle with "CRV," "CA Redemption Value," or "CA Refund" on the label.
What Cannot Go in the Recycling Container
- It is illegal to put trash, greenery or hazardous materials in your recycling container.
- No soiled or wet newspaper, rubber bands, string or plastic bags.
- No milk cartons, used tissues, paper plates or paper towels. No frozen food containers, such as those holding frozen vegetables or microwave dinners.
- No TV dinner trays or scrap metal.
- No china, ceramics, crockery, Pyrex-type glass, mirrors, window glass, light bulbs, drinking glasses, or stemware.
- No plastic bags, wide-mouth plastic tubs (such as margarine, yogurt or cottage cheese), plastic trays, plastic toys, automotive product containers, poison or pesticide bottles. Please discard plastic lids.
- No filled or partially filled containers containing household hazardous wastes, such as motor oil, paint, poison, cleaning fluids, insecticides, solvents, acids, gasoline, pool chemicals, highly flammable liquids, radioactive materials, or toxic chemicals. Discard empty household hazardous waste containers in your regular trash.
Recycling Tips
- Please review the list of recyclable materials carefully and do not place any trash in the recycling containers.
- Do not take containers with you if you move. They are the property of the City of San Diego and are numerically registered to the address to which they are originally delivered.
- Residents should record container numbers in case of theft.
- If you have additional questions, please call Environmental Services at (858) 694-7000.