Do you know the requirements for recycling in San Diego? Do you know what materials must be recycled, or what recycling services must be offered at events? If you’re not sure, here’s what you need to know about residential, commercial and event recycling in the San Diego area!
Recycling Types
San Diego accepts a variety of recyclable materials in its carts, although the materials accepted by recycling services may vary if your recycling isn’t directly provided by the City of San Diego. Here’s a list of all the things that can be recycled with curbside carts. This includes cardboard, metal cans, mail, plastic food cans, and more.
Residential
Residential homes, a.k.a. single-family houses, use the famous “blue recycling cart” for their recyclable materials. Under current law, recycling is required for these homes, which means you need to separate out your recycling and put them in the blue cart as you throw things away.
If all you have is a black cart meant for solid waste, you should call 858-694-7000 to request a blue recycling cart to start recycling.
If your house is not currently part of a recycling program with a hauler or recycler to pick up materials, then you need to contact your homeowner’s associate to see what program your home can join.
For apartments and similar multi-family dwellings, the situation is a little different. They still have the blue carts and are still required to separate out recyclable materials, but the responsibility for collecting recyclables is up to property managers and owners. They are required to provide recycling services at least twice a month, along with designated recycling collection areas. They must at least offer collection options for plastic, glass bottles and jars, paper, newspaper, metal containers, and cardboard.
Commercial
Commercial businesses, no matter the size, must separate their recyclables from the trash and deposit them in appropriate provided containers. Property managers or owners must provide collection of recyclables “as frequently as necessary,” which can vary considerably based on the type of business.
Fortunately, the city provides tips on how to set up a business recycling program and how to understand what can be recycled at a company. Businesses are generally responsible for creating recycling steps for their employees, and developing a recycling collection plan if one is not provided by the property manager.
Special Events
Recycling for special events may be different than other types of recycling, especially when it comes to quantity. You are required to offer recycling containers at such events if you are the coordinator. For every trash container, a recyclables container must also be provided, and they must be placed next to each other and clearly identified, with a list of the materials that people can put in.
Recyclables must include at least aluminum and metal cans and glass or plastic bottles and jars. It’s up to the coordinator to make sure the materials are delivered to a recycling facility (and not to a landfill).
Do you have more questions about recycling or a big recycling job that you aren’t sure how to handle? Call Debris Box for your questions so we can help you find the right recycling solution for your needs!
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