We know that recycling in San Diego can seem intimidating for those that haven’t created a recycling plan yet. The different rules may seem confusing at first. Fortunately, the city does a good job of explaining recycling basics so that you can obey the law and get rid of waste the right way. To make things even easier, here’s a quick rundown of what you can expect!
Know What You Can Recycle
There’s a very simple guide that the city provides on exactly what can be recycled in your curbside bin. This includes mail and magazines, jars made of either glass or plastic, aluminum cans and foil, cardboard, plastic toys, and more. Take a look at the full list, and you’ll be surprised at just how much you can recycle!
Residential Recycling
Recycling regulations can vary a little between different types of recycling. One set of regulations applies specifically to residential bins, which include single-family homes, apartments and condos. The blue bin is specifically required for recycling, and all residents are required to separate out their recyclables – yes, this is the law! There are also rules about how recycling should be managed, especially with landlords and other situations, all available on this guide.
Also, keep in mind that you can put all recyclable materials in the same blue cart. You don’t need to sort out any materials yourself; that part is handled by the city. This makes it a lot easier to get into the habit of dumping recycling materials into the right bin without worrying about it.
Commercial Recycling
For commercial recycling, all property managers/owners must provide methods of collection for at least plastic, glass, paper, newspaper, metal containers and cardboard. Recycling areas must be clearly designated. Businesses must also educate their employees about specific recycling options. Learn more here.
Event Recycling
Special events and venues also have additional recycling regulations due to the large amount of waste that can be created at these events. Basically, there needs to be enough recycling options for the event, clearly marked, and certain materials like glass, plastic, metal cans, etc. must always be recycled. If there’s a trash container, there has to be a recycling container at the same spot, too. You can see the full guide here.
Remember, Things Can Change Over Time
Keep in mind that recycling regulations in San Diego can change over time. Sometimes regulations are rolled out over the course of several years, so a specific requirement from an older regulation might have taken effect without you noticing it. Or the city may have passed new regulations with new information and recycling laws. For example, for residential blue carts, you can now include Styrofoam cups and containers, which didn’t use to be the case! You can always check the San Diego recycling web pages to learn more or see what changes are upcoming.
Do you have more questions about recycling, especially for big projects and waste you haven’t tried to recycle before? Give Debris Box a call, and we’ll be happy to answer your questions and find a solution for your recycling needs!
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