WM Waste Management
Waste Management Keeping San Diego and North County Clean
San Diego County residential trash and recycling service

Waste Management trash/garbage and recycling truck

San Diego County - Residential Service Guidelines

Waste Management provides service to the following communities in unincorporated San Diego County:

  • Escondido (portions of, unincorporated)
  • Fallbrook (portions of)
  • Rancho Santa Fe
  • Valley Center

Residents utilize their own cans for trash and greenwaste collection - Waste Management will service any cans up to 32 gallons (with a 40-pound limit) and up to 10 trash and 10 greenwaste cans or bundles per household per week. We prefer customers utilize cans with detachable lids. Recycling crates are provided by Waste Management. Trash, recyclables and greenwaste are picked up weekly.

For Waste Management-billed customers:

For more information about the County of San Diego:

In this Section

What to put in your trash can
What to put in your recyclables crate
What to put in your mixed paper crate
What to put in your greenwaste can
Service reminders
Holiday schedule
Bulky items
Billing
Temporary service
Disposal of used motor oil
Christmas tree recycling
E-waste
Household hazardous waste
Universal waste

What Goes In Your Cans and Crates?

Trash Can

Disposable diapers

Drinking glasses

Pet-soiled paper

Window glass

Pet waste

Auto glass

Soiled/greasy paper plates or pizza boxes

Mirrors

Napkins

Paint cans (empty)

Waxed and coated paper

Oil cans (empty)

Aluminum foil

Rubber/latex items

Microwave dinner trays

Plastic bags (grocery or dry cleaner)

Butter tubs

Potting containers

Clothing

Styrofoam

Foam padding

Toys

Carpeting

Steel items

Ceramics

Palm fronds

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Commingled Recyclables Crate (Blue)

Please rinse food residue from containers. Please set out your recycling crate only when it is full.

Aluminum/tin cans
Juice bottles
Empty aerosol cans Glass bottles/jars
Pie tins Liquor bottles
Milk jugs Laundry detergent bottles
Plastic beverage containers labeled #1 - #7 Other plastic containers labeled #1 and #2
(on the bottom with arrows surrounding it)

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Mixed Paper Recycling Crate (Green)

Please flatten boxes before placing them in the crate.

Newspapers
Catalogs
Inserts Paperback books
Magazines Craft/paper bags
Phone books Manila envelopes
Paper (all colors) Paper egg cartons (no egg residue)
Computer paper Boxes
Junk mail Corrugated cardboard (place flattened
  bundles, three feet long, at the curb alongside the mixed paper blue crate)

Note: Additional recycling crates are available. Contact customer service at 1(800) DUMPSTER for more information.

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Greenwaste Can

Single family residential customers are provided with greenwaste stickers to place on cans to be used for residential yard waste recycling. We will retrieve a combination of a total of 10 32-gallon greenwaste cans or bundles per week. Bundles can be four feet long and 18 inches in diameter. Please do not place greenwaste in plastic bags or tie bundles with wires.

Lawn clippings
Garden trimmings
Leaves and weeds Sawdust, wood chips and small
Tree branches and shrubs wood scraps

DO NOT place the items listed below in your greenwaste can - put these items in the TRASH can!

Plastic bags
Dirt
Pet waste Painted wood
Palm fronds Treated wood
Soil

Note: Please contact customer service at 1(800) DUMPSTER to discuss options for disposal of tree stumps, which may vary based on the size of the stump. Please do not place stumps in your trash can.

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Service Reminders:

  • Place all waste in the appropriate container and close the lid.  Do no overfill the can or crate!
  • Please do not exceed the 32 gallon (with a 40-pound weight) limit for each can and 10 cans for trash and 10 cans for greenwaste per household maximum each week.
  • Please have your cans and/or crates out at the curb for collection by 6 a.m. on your service day.
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Holiday Schedule

Residential waste collection does not occur on the following days:

  • New Year's Day
  • Memorial Day
  • 4th of July
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day

When the holiday falls on a weekday, collection will be delayed one day for the remainder of the week. If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there will be NO delays.

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Bulky Item Collection

For items that are too large to fit into the trash can, residents may request the pick up of household bulky goods. These items are picked up by appointment on Saturdays, and items need to be placed at the curb by 6 a.m. in order to be retrieved -- see the full list of acceptable and unacceptable bulky items. To schedule an appointment, please contact Waste Management at 1(800) DUMPSTER.

Note: Due to state environmental laws, we are unable to accept TVs or computer monitors as bulky items. Please take these items to Waste Management's Recycling Centers at 2880 Industry St. in Oceanside, 2265 Jimmy Durante Blvd. in Del Mar, or 5960 El Camino Real in Carlsbad, Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. TVs, laptop computers, computer monitors or other items with cathode ray tubes (CRTs) can be disposed of for free; other e-waste such as fax machines or stereos can be safely disposed of for 50 cents per pound.

For other resources on reusing and recycling electronic products, visit www.ciwmb.ca.gov/electronics/collection or http://www.erecycle.org.

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Billing

Residential services are billed by Waste Management. Waste Management customers are billed every two months (January, March, May, etc.), two months in advance.

For Waste Management-billed customers, you may pay your bill online by going to Waste Management's ezPay. For help in reading your residential bill from Waste Management, click here.

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Temporary Bin and Roll-Off Service

Please contact Waste Management at 1(800) DUMPSTER for information on sizes and rates for temp dumpster or bin service.

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Disposal of Used Motor Oil

It is important to properly dispose of used motor oil to ensure it stays out of our storm drains and the ocean. Next time you change your oil, be sure to follow these steps:

  • Remove the oil filter from your car and drain it well for at least 24 hours - once it is drained, place it in a plastic bag. 
  • Drain the oil from your car into a plastic container. 
  • Secure the top on the container to ensure against spillage.
  • Once the items are secure, transport them to a certified used oil recycling center.

There are a number of options for proper and safe disposal of used motor oil and filters:

  • Many auto or tire supply stores or service centers will accept used motor oil and filters. The Integrated Waste Management Board offers a list searchable by zip code to locate a recycler near you. Call in advance to make sure they will take the items and to verify store hours.
  • County residents may take their used motor oil and other household hazardous waste to facilities in Ramona, Miramar or El Cajon. Please call 1-877-R-1-EARTH for directions to these facilities, to schedule an appointment, or for dates and locations for special one-day events.

    Ramona:
    324 Maple Street
    (At Ramona Disposal Services Transfer Station and Buyback Center)
    Open every Saturday of each month, excluding holiday weekends. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    Please call 1-877-R-1-EARTH for more information.

    Miramar:
    5161 Convoy Street
    (Entrance to Miramar Landfill)
    Open Saturdays by APPOINTMENT only, except holidays.
    Please call 1-877-R-1-EARTH for an appointment at this facility.

    El Cajon:
    1001 W. Bradley Avenue
    (At Waste Management Transfer Station)
    Open the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month by APPOINTMENT only.
    Please call 619-596-5100 for an appointment at this facility.

  • Door-to-door services for elderly or disabled residents are available upon qualification. For additional information, visit the County of San Diego Web site.

Additional information may be found at the Earth 911 Web site or by calling 1(800) CLEANUP (1-800-253-2687).

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Christmas Tree Recycling

We will collect and recycle Christmas trees for the first two weeks following Christmas on your regular collection day. Trees taller than six feet must be cut in half. Please remove all decoration including tinsel, lights, ornaments and tree stands. Place the tree at the curb. Flocked trees cannot be recycled, so they will be collected by your trash collector.

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Electronic Waste (E-Waste)

Due to state environmental laws, we are unable to accept TVs or computer monitors as bulky items. Please take these items to Waste Management's Recycling Centers at 2880 Industry St. in Oceanside, 2265 Jimmy Durante Blvd. in Del Mar, or 5960 El Camino Real in Carlsbad, Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. TVs, laptop computers, computer monitors or other items with cathode ray tubes (CRTs) can be disposed of for free; other e-waste such as fax machines or stereos can be safely disposed of for 50 cents per pound.

For other resources on reusing and recycling electronic products, visit www.ciwmb.ca.gov/electronics/collection or http://www.erecycle.org.

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Household Hazardous Waste

Household Hazardous Waste includes: used oil filters, motor oil and used motor oil, paint, antifreeze, batteries, propane tanks, pesticides, household cleaners, pool chemicals and sharps/needles.

County residents may take their household hazardous waste to facilities in Ramona, Miramar or El Cajon:

Ramona:
324 Maple Street
(At Ramona Disposal Services Transfer Station and Buyback Center)
Open every Saturday of each month, excluding holiday weekends. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Please call 1-877-R-1-EARTH for more information.

Miramar:
5161 Convoy Street
(Entrance to Miramar Landfill)
Open Saturdays by APPOINTMENT only, except holidays.
Please call 1-877-R-1-EARTH for an appointment at this facility.

El Cajon:
1001 W. Bradley Avenue
(At Waste Management Transfer Station)
Open the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month by APPOINTMENT only.
Please call 619-596-5100 for an appointment at this facility.

Please call the hotline for directions to these facilities, to schedule an appointment, or for dates and locations for special one-day events. Door-to-door services for elderly or disabled residents are available upon qualification. For additional information, visit the County of San Diego Web site.

Local residents can drop off their household batteries at Waste Management's Recycling Centers at 2880 Industry St. in Oceanside, 2265 Jimmy Durante Blvd. in Del Mar, or 5960 El Camino Real in Carlsbad, Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (proof of residency is required).

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Universal Waste

Universal Waste includes: batteries, fluorescent light tubes, thermostats, aerosol cans with material still inside and other items also characterized as electronic or household hazardous waste. 

County residents may take their household hazardous waste and universal waste to facilities in Ramona, Miramar or El Cajon:

Ramona:
324 Maple Street
(At Ramona Disposal Services Transfer Station and Buyback Center)
Open every Saturday of each month, excluding holiday weekends. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Please call 1-877-R-1-EARTH for more information.

Miramar:
5161 Convoy Street
(Entrance to Miramar Landfill)
Open Saturdays by APPOINTMENT only, except holidays.
Please call 1-877-R-1-EARTH for an appointment at this facility.

El Cajon:
1001 W. Bradley Avenue
(At Waste Management Transfer Station)
Open the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month by APPOINTMENT only.
Please call 619-596-5100 for an appointment at this facility.

Please call the hotline for directions to these facilities, to schedule an appointment, or for dates and locations for special one-day events. Door-to-door services for elderly or disabled residents are available upon qualification. For additional information, visit the County of San Diego Web site.

Local residents can drop off their household batteries at Waste Management's Recycling Centers at 2880 Industry St. in Oceanside, 2265 Jimmy Durante Blvd. in Del Mar, or 5960 El Camino Real in Carlsbad, Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (proof of residency is required).

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For more information on our services please contact Waste Management of North County/Coast Waste Management customer service at 1(800) DUMPSTER.