Environmental Services
Environmental Services provides tools, resources and services to help with the City of San Diego's waste reduction and recycling efforts.
Recycling Changes
California Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) - Learn about new food and yard waste rules
Recycling Ordinance - Learn about San Diego's new recycling requirements and resources
California Assembly Bill 1276 - Learn about new restrictions on providing utensils and condiments at food facilities in the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health guidance document.
To learn how to donate, recycle or properly dispose just about anything visit WasteFreeSD.
The City's Zero Waste Plan was approved and adopted unanimously by City Council on July 13, 2015. The Zero Waste Plan lays out strategies to divert 75 percent of all trash by 2020, 90 percent diversion by 2035 and an ultimate goal of zero waste by 2040.
The City of San Diego's Environmental Services Department educates and assists businesses to comply with the implementation of the State of California Assembly Bill (AB) 1826.
A waste characterization (or waste composition) study is a scientific tool used by jurisdictions to assess the amount and types of waste being disposed in landfills for the purposes of evaluating and expanding recycling and diversion programs. The Environmental Services Department is responsible for implementing the City's waste reduction, recycling, and diversion programs. The passing of state Assembly Bill (AB) 939 in 1989 required all jurisdictions in California to divert 50 percent of their waste by the year 2000.
San Diego's last full waste characterization study was conducted in 1999. San Diego reached a 52 percent diversion rate in 2004 and has steadily increased diversion to 68 percent in 2012. This added diversion is predominately due to two City-wide recycling ordinances:
The results and links below are from the recently completed 2012-2013 Waste Characterization Study. The study evaluated the types and amounts of waste still being disposed and will be used to enhance and develop recycling program activities and policies.
The most recent disposal data available is from 2012, and shows that San Diego disposed of nearly 1.3 million tons of waste. This included waste from our homes, business, schools, manufacturing, and military bases.
The City has partnered with Dixieline ProBuild® to offer compost bins at a discounted rate for City of San Diego residents! For more information, visit the Backyard Composting page.
If you're serviced by a private waste hauler, they can also provide signs for your property.
Items marked with an asterisk ( * ) are required.