Where Can I Recycle?
Curbside Recycling
With the exception of the City of San Diego, which has its own trash/recycling collection service, all of the cities and the unincorporated county areas have franchised trash and recycling services. This means that each city has either an exclusive service agreement with one trash/recycling company or, as in the unincorporated county area's case, a number of them.
All franchised companies operating in San Diego County offer recycling collection services. If you live in a single-family home and don't have a curbside recycling bin, call your local trash company to request one. Be sure to ask about curbside recycling when choosing your trash/recycling company.
Obtain a list of waste haulers and City contact information here.
Apartment and Condominium Recycling
If you live in an apartment or condominium complex that does not currently have any recycling opportunities, talk to your property manager about starting a recycling program. Take action to set up recycling at your complex.
Drop-Off Locations
Recycling drop-off bins are located at parks and recreation centers throughout the City of San Diego and at various locations throughout San Diego County. Residents not served by curbside recycling now have the opportunity to recycle the following materials at their nearest drop-off center:
- aluminum and steel cans
- glass food and beverage containers
- any plastic bottle marked “CRV,” "CA Cash Refund" or "CA Redemption Value"
- any plastic bottle with a narrow neck and a #1 or #2 on the bottom
- newspaper
- clean-mixed paper
- telephone directories
- cardboard
The list of materials accepted varies at each location. Find a recycling center nearest you.
All revenue from the sale of recyclables dropped off at parks and recreation centers is returned to the centers to benefit the community where the money was earned.
Since the program was initiated in the City of San Diego, over 14,000 tons of recyclables have been diverted from landfill disposal and the Environmental Services Department has returned over $667,000 to the Park and Recreation Centers.
Recycling Centers
From bottles and cans to computers and tires, there is a center that can meet your recycling needs. Find a recycling center nearest you with our online recycling center.
Online Resource! 