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What Goes in my Curbside Yard Waste Bin?
Currently, the Environmental Services Department services 202,000 San Diego residences. To check if your household is part of the service area enter your address here: https://getitdone.force.com/ESD_TrashCollectionSchedule
If your home is part of the service area, place green waste in 32 or 45-gallon trash containers, not in bags, and placed at the curb or alleyway on your designated pickup day.
*If not, you can still take advantage of the free green waste drop off through Miramar Greenery
Acceptable Green Waste for San Diego Curbside Program:
- Grass clippings
- Flowers, shrubs
- Branches
- Tree trimmings (less than 4 ft long)
- Palm fronds, bird of paradise
- Leaves
- Cactus, yucca plants
- Clean, untreated, unpainted wood or plywood
Make sure to only place acceptable green waste in your curbside bin, contaminants will deplete the quality of the mulch produced. Some of the most common unacceptable items include glass and plastic bottles or pots, paper and plastic bags, pet poop, dirt, rocks, bricks, and even trash!
Composting Program
The city of San Diego has an excellent green waste composting program with Miramar Greenery. City of San Diego residents can self-haul home generated green yard waste to the Miramar Greenery free of charge!
Location:
5180 Convoy St.
San Diego, CA 92111
Inside the City’s Miramar Landfill, North of State Route 52
They accept:
- Leaves, flowers, grass clippings
- Tree trimmings and prunings
- Branches
- Shrubs and brush
- Christmas trees
(Acceptable Woods include: unpainted lumber and pallets)
The green waste accepted is turned into high-quality mulch, compost, and wood chips. Turning green waste into compost reduces harmful gases released into the environment. The mulch, wood chips, and compost is available for purchase at Miramar Greenery as well.
Unacceptable Greenery Includes:
- Chipboard, particleboard
- Plant tags
- Plant pots, bags
- Dirt, rocks, bricks
- Sod
- Pet waste
- Chemically treated wood
- Roofing shingles
- Rubber tree, flax bush
- Bulb type, tropical plants
This is not a complete list of unaccepted plants, check out their flyer for more info: https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/environmental-services/pdf/miramar/101102unacceptableplants.pdf
Compost Bin Voucher Program
Backyard Composting is an excellent way for San Diego residents to assist in lessening the load on our local landfills. The city of San Diego offers help to get started through their compost bin voucher program and through education and workshops. The compost bin voucher is available for a discount on one of three types of compost bins while supplies last. The application is available here or at Dixiline Lumber and Home Center in city limits. https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/residential/compostbinvoucher
Composting Basics and Workshops are also offered through the city and a calendar of events is available at https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/geninfo/events/backyard