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Residential facilities including single family homes, apartments and condominiums must now meet certain recycling requirements.

Photo Collage of Recyclable Materials

Single Family Home Residents

  • Residents who have a City of San Diego blue recycling cart are required to separate recyclable materials from other solid waste and deposit the recyclable materials in the blue cart.  Collection for recycling includes all plastic and glass bottles and jars, paper, newspaper, metal containers, cardboard, rigid plastics including clean food waste containers, jugs, tubs, trays, pots, buckets and toys. Learn more about curbside recycling.
  • Residents who only have a City of San Diego black refuse cart shall request a blue recycling cart by calling 858-694-7000. Availability is dependent upon current inventory.
  • Single family residences whose trash and/or recyclables are collected by a private, franchise hauler must participate in a curbside recycling program. Single family residences must contact their homeowner's association franchise hauler, or a recycler to set up the program for their home.

Apartment & Condominium Residents

  • Apartments and condominiums serviced by the City of San Diego:
    • Apartments and condominiums with City of San Diego blue recycling carts are required to separate recyclable materials from other solid waste and deposit the recyclable materials in the blue cart.
    • Facilities with only black trash carts shall request blue recycling carts by calling 858-694-7000. Staff will determine whether the facility can be added to the City of San diego recycling collection program. Factors that will be considered include, but are not limited to, whether there is adequate space to store the containers, and ability to safely place the containers on a public street on collection day. Availability depends on current inventory.
  • Property managers and owners of all apartments and condominiums with two or more units serviced by a private hauler are responsible for providing recycling services including:
    • Collection of recyclables and organic waste at least twice a month.
    • Collection for recycling all plastic and glass bottles and jars, paper, newspaper, metal containers, cardboard, rigid plastics including clean food waste containers, jugs, tubs, trays, pots, buckets and toys.
    • Collection for organic waste recycling all yard waste trimmings and nonhazardous wood waste.
    • Designated recycling collection areas
    • Appropriate recycling containers and signage as specified in the Recycling Container and Signage Guidelines for City Recycling Ordinance
    • Education including:
      • Types of materials accepted in recycling program
      • Location of the recycling containers
      • Tenant's responsibility to comply with the City ordinance
        (Education must be provided annually to all tenants, upon move-in, and when there are changes to the program.
      • Educational Toolkit has available signs and education resources for your property and tenants

Residents are responsible for separating recyclables from trash and depositing each in the appropriate provided containers.

Buildings with Both Residential and Commercial Units (mixed use)

    • Buildings with both residential and commercial units must follow the requirements for whichever occupies the majority of the building square footage. For example, if the majority of the building's square footage is devoted to residential use, the apartment and condominium requirements must be followed. If the majority of the building's square footage is devoted to commercial use, the business requirements must be followed.