San Diego Recycling: Containers and Collection

Every San Diegan that uses the city recycling service has to do their share of the recycling in the city. Failing to keep at least 50 percent of the waste out of landfills can cost the city fines up to $10,000 each day. The California Integrated Waste Management Act does not allow the city to have second thoughts about recycling.

Residential

Local house residents must use their blue recycling containers. Recyclables can not be placed in their black trash cans. Since January 1, 2008, the first day the San Diego Recycling Ordinance became the law, plastics and glass bottles and jars, paper, newspaper, containers and cardboards had to be separated from all the trash that gets lifted in the black containers into city trucks and hauled off to the landfills. Residents that did not have the blue containers got one for their curbside pickup during the next two years.

The pickup trucks come once every two weeks.

Owners of apartments and condominiums, and their managers, must supply a recycling container or dumpster for residents and tell them the things to recycle and the container location. Two times a month service is the least regular pickup allowed.

Starting July 1, 2011, rigid plastics must also be recycled. The city calls clean food waste containers, jug, tubs, trays, pots, buckets, and toys rigid plastics.

Commercial and Nonresidental

All businesses and owners of nonresidential property must recycle. Pickups must come as often as needed to keep the recyclables moving off the property and into the hands of a recycler.

Construction and Demolition Debris

Building and repairing homes and businesses in the city produces too much waste to put all of it in a landfill. Roofs can not be torn off and thrown down into a heap without thought of recycling at least some of the materials. Workers that produce construction and demolition debris do their part in extending the life of landfills, such as Miramar Landfill, by diverting 50 percent of the debris away from landfills.

The Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling ordinance, the local regulation since July 1, 2008, makes it necessary for workers to plan ahead. When workers work on a city permitted project, they can plan on taking their pick of the best buildings materials to use again, or give as a donation. For 50 percent of the rest, they pay a recycling deposit and set aside the metals, untreated wood, drywall, concrete, asphalt, carpet and the padding and foam, cardboard packing, palettes, clean dirt, and yard waste. A hauler then hauls it away.

Workers that put in retaining walls, balconies,and swimming pools and spas do not need to worry about the recycling ordinance. These projects are three of those exempted.

City Events

A blue recycling bin has to be part of the scene at any special events on public property the organizer gets a city permit for.

Wherever the blue container is located, strangers are not allowed to collect bottles, newspapers, or other recyclables.

Protecting the environment from spreading hills of building material and rising greenhouse gases keeps local life comfortable in America's Finest City.

Sources:

State of California, The California Integrated Waste Management Act.
City of San Diego, San Diego Recycling Ordinance.
City of San Diego, Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling Ordinance.