San Diego bulk trash pickup
Schedule bulky pickup with your franchised hauler before set-out — limits vary by provider.
Verified 2026-10-15 · sandiego.gov
At a glance
| Brush | Green organics cart (yard + food). |
|---|---|
| Limits | Lid closed / no overload; bulky program is paused. |
| Not allowed | Don’t put food, yard waste, or recyclables in the gray cart; no e-waste, household hazardous waste, batteries, or CFLs in carts. |
| Curbside | From 6:00 p.m. the day prior through by 6:00 a.m.; remove by 6:00 p.m. the day of (§66.0105). Checklist Verified 2026-10-15 · sandiego.gov |
Schedule
Curbside
Curbside checklist
City rules before collection day. Confirm with the city if anything looks off.
When
From 6:00 p.m. the day prior through by 6:00 a.m.; remove by 6:00 p.m. the day of (§66.0105).
Where
Curb or alley; wheels to the curb; handle toward the home; ≥3 ft clear.
Limits
Lid closed / no overload; bulky program is paused.
Not allowed
Don’t put food, yard waste, or recyclables in the gray cart; no e-waste, household hazardous waste, batteries, or CFLs in carts.
Bags
Bag trash loose refuse; recyclables unbagged; organics with no plastic bags.
Verified 2026-10-15 · sandiego.gov
Add curbside reminder to Google CalendarFind your day
Verified 2026-10-15 · sandiego.gov
Show more
Full details for San Diego: every rule, with sources
- Trash
- City of San Diego Environmental Services Department (ESD) handles City-serviced single-family and multifamily (typically ≤4 units) curbside. Gray trash weekly Mon–Fri 6:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; have it out by 6:00 a.m. (you can set out from 6:00 p.m. the day before; pull by 6:00 p.m. on collection day — Municipal Code §66.0105; Central Traffic District has a tighter window).
- Recycling
- Light blue recycle every other week; keep it dry and loose (no plastic bags). Green organics weekly — food scraps plus yard waste; no plastic bags (even compostable); a paper bag is OK for food scraps. Light-blue bin rollout runs spring–fall 2026 (city FAQ).
- Bulk pickup
- City bulky-item pickup is paused until further notice (council fee/service updates — city Trash FAQ). Use WasteFreeSD.org for donation, recycle, or disposal of appliances, bulky items, and e-waste. Illegal dumping → Get It Done.
- Curbside: when
- From 6:00 p.m. the day prior through by 6:00 a.m.; remove by 6:00 p.m. the day of (§66.0105).
- Curbside: where
- Curb or alley; wheels to the curb; handle toward the home; ≥3 ft clear.
- Curbside: limits
- Lid closed / no overload; bulky program is paused.
- Curbside: brush
- Green organics cart (yard + food).
- Curbside: not allowed
- Don’t put food, yard waste, or recyclables in the gray cart; no e-waste, household hazardous waste, batteries, or CFLs in carts.
- Curbside: bags
- Bag trash loose refuse; recyclables unbagged; organics with no plastic bags.
- Curbside: fees and fines
- Container left out after 6 p.m. Violates §66.0105; report via Get It Done / ESD.
- Holidays
- New Year's Day 2026 (2026-01-01): shift not yet confirmed
- Memorial Day 2026 (2026-05-25): shift not yet confirmed
- Labor Day 2026 (2026-09-07): shift not yet confirmed
- Thanksgiving 2026 (2026-11-26): shift not yet confirmed
- Christmas 2026 (2026-12-25): shift not yet confirmed
City 2026 Collection Schedules: no collection on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas — from the holiday day, service slides +1 day for the rest of the week (Fri → Sat). Independence Day is not on the City-observed no-collection list.
- Hauler
- City of San Diego ESD (City-serviced areas); franchised haulers elsewhere
- Contacts
- ESD (858) 694-7000; [email protected]
- Find your day
- City Collection Schedules + City-Serviced Homes
- Sources
- Trash and recycling: sandiego.gov
Bulk: sandiego.gov
Holidays: sandiego.gov
Curbside: sandiego.gov - Verified
- 2026-10-15
Town Rulebook is independent and not affiliated with any city or hauler. Schedules change — always confirm with your city. About & disclaimer