Regional Compliance Hub: San Diego, CA — Electronics (Mon–Sat) & HHW (Wed & Sat by Appt)
This regional compliance hub identifies the City’s primary drop-off options near the
Miramar Landfill entrance: the Miramar Recycling Center (Monday–Saturday) and the
Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility (Wednesdays and Saturdays by appointment).
These are separate facilities with different eligibility rules, schedules and accepted materials.
[1][2]
Electronics, batteries and household hazardous waste do not belong in ordinary apartment trash.
Residents should use an approved recycling or hazardous-waste collection option and follow their property manager’s or private hauler’s posted instructions.
[2][3]
Electronics (Monday–Saturday Access): Miramar Recycling Center
Electronics Drop-Off: The
Miramar Recycling Center
at 5165 Convoy Street accepts designated electronics for recycling. Items listed by the City as accepted without a customer fee include
TVs, computer monitors, laptops and computer processing units.
Call the center before traveling to confirm whether other electronic devices are accepted and whether any item-specific fee applies.
[1]
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM. Closed Sundays and designated holidays.
Unlike the HHW program, the City’s Recycling Center page does not list an appointment requirement for these recycling-center drop-offs.
[1]
Resident-safe timing tip: Arrive well before 4:30 PM to allow adequate unloading time. Confirm item eligibility by calling the Miramar Recycling Center at (858) 268-8971.
[1]
- Facility: Miramar Recycling Center[1]
- Address: 5165 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111[1]
- Hours: Monday–Saturday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM; closed Sundays and designated holidays.[1]
- Accepted Electronics (Examples): TVs, computer monitors, laptops and computer processing units.[1]
- Confirm Before Travel: Call (858) 268-8971 for current item eligibility, quantity limits and possible fees.[1]
Household Hazardous Waste: HHW Transfer Facility — Wednesdays & Saturdays by Appointment
Household Hazardous Waste: The
Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility
near the Miramar Landfill entrance accepts eligible household products labeled as toxic, flammable, corrosive or reactive.
Examples include paint, household cleaners, motor oil, batteries, pesticides and mercury-containing devices.
[2]
Crucial Warning: The facility is open for appointments on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM.
An appointment is required; do not arrive without a confirmed appointment.
[2][5]
Booking: Residents may schedule through the City’s
Get It Done HHW appointment system.
For assistance, unusual materials or loads larger than the City’s normal limits, call (858) 694-7000.
[2][5]
Eligibility: The program is free for City of San Diego residents. Bring a picture ID or a recent bill showing your name and City address as proof of residency.
Residents of other incorporated cities must contact their city, and residents of unincorporated San Diego County should use the County’s designated program.
[2]
Important Exclusions: The resident HHW facility does not accept electronics, business waste, contractor waste, landscaper waste or waste generated by a homeowners association.
Electronics should be taken to an approved electronics recycling facility instead.
[1][2]
- Facility: Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility (Miramar Landfill Entrance)[2]
- Location: Near 5161 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111; follow appointment and onsite directions.[2][13]
- Hours: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM (Appointment Required)[2]
- Appointment: Schedule online through Get It Done; call (858) 694-7000 for assistance.[2][5]
- Proof Required: Bring proof that the waste comes from a City of San Diego residence.[2]
- Transport Safety: Store materials upright and secured in the vehicle trunk or truck bed for access by onsite personnel.[2]
- Important: The HHW facility does not accept electronics or business-generated waste.[2]
Crucial Action: Bulky Items & Private-Hauler Service
The Rule: Residential properties with five or more residences on a single lot are not eligible for City-provided waste collection.
Other properties may also be ineligible because of private streets, gated access, mixed-use conditions, insufficient container space or other collection-access requirements.
[4][6]
Apartment Reality: Ineligible apartment and condominium properties must arrange trash, recycling and organic-waste collection through a
City-approved private franchise hauler.
[4][7]
Bulky-Item Rule: The City of San Diego does not currently provide regular bulky-item or curbside pickup services.
Residents should ask their property manager or contracted hauler about scheduled bulky-item collection, applicable fees and placement instructions.
Residents may also use WasteFreeSD to identify reuse, recycling or disposal options.
[3][13]
Self-Haul: Furniture and other eligible refuse may be self-hauled to the Miramar Landfill, subject to current fees, covered-load requirements, operating hours and material restrictions.
Household hazardous waste and designated electronic waste must be removed and properly handled before entering the landfill.
[8]
Mattress Option: Eligible mattresses and box springs are accepted free at the separate Mattress Collection Site at
5161 Convoy Street, Monday–Friday from 7:00 AM–3:00 PM.
The program does not accept wet, heavily soiled, severely damaged or bedbug-infested items, and landfill fees may apply when mattresses are delivered with other waste.
[13]
The Green Container Mandate (SB 1383): Organics Required
Mandate Type: Mandatory recycling and organic-waste recycling.
California Senate Bill 1383 requires jurisdictions to reduce organic waste disposed of in landfills, and the City of San Diego has incorporated organic-waste collection into its local Recycling Ordinance.
[9][10][12]
Applicability Threshold: City guidance expressly requires private-hauler-serviced residences, including
apartments and condominiums with five or more units, to recycle designated recyclable materials and organic waste.
Residential and multifamily properties are not eligible for the City’s de minimis organic-waste waiver.
[4][12]
Required Materials: Organic waste includes food scraps, food-soiled paper,
yard trimmings and nonhazardous wood waste.
[9][12]
Resident Action: Place accepted food scraps, food-soiled paper and other approved organics in your property’s
designated organic-waste recycling container, often identified as a green container or dumpster.
Follow the property manager’s or private hauler’s instructions because container configuration and collection procedures may vary.
[3][9]
Property Compliance: Property owners must provide trash, recycling and organic-waste containers in sufficient size and quantity, arrange service frequently enough for the waste generated, and make the containers reasonably accessible.
Centralized collection areas must include all three waste streams together with adequate capacity.
[4]
Missing Service: If your apartment does not provide reasonable access to recycling or organic-waste service, first contact the property manager or hauler.
Residents may also contact the City at SDRecyclingWorks@sandiego.gov or (858) 694-7000 for compliance assistance.
[3][4]
Glass Recycling
Required Material: San Diego’s Recycling Ordinance requires designated residences, including private-hauler-serviced apartments and condominiums with five or more units, to recycle
glass bottles and jars.
Place them in the property’s blue or otherwise designated recycling container according to posted community and hauler instructions.
[11][12]
Keep recyclable bottles and jars empty, dry and loose. Remove remaining food or liquid, allow excess moisture to drain and do not place loose recyclables inside a plastic bag unless your property’s approved program expressly directs otherwise.
[3][11]
E-E-A-T Sources — Verified August 2, 2026:
[1] City of San Diego: Miramar Recycling Center — address, hours, contact and accepted materials
|
[2] City of San Diego: Household Hazardous Waste — appointment schedule, residency, accepted materials and exclusions
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[3] City of San Diego: Private Hauler Serviced Homes — container rules, prohibited trash items, bulky-item resources and resident guidance
|
[4] City of San Diego: Transition to Private Hauler — five-or-more-residence threshold and mandatory recycling and organics service
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[5] City of San Diego Get It Done: HHW appointment request
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[6] City of San Diego: Determine collection eligibility
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[7] City of San Diego: Collection Services — private franchise hauler guidance
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[8] City of San Diego: Miramar Landfill fees, load requirements and prohibited materials
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[9] City of San Diego: SB 1383 and organic-waste program overview
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[10] CalRecycle: SB 1383 organic-waste collection systems
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[11] City of San Diego: Blue recycling container and empty, dry and loose guidance
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[12] City of San Diego: Recycling Ordinance requirements for apartments, condominiums and private-hauler properties
|
[13] City of San Diego: Mattress and box-spring recycling — address, hours and acceptance restrictions
Resident Notice: Facility hours, appointment availability, accepted materials, fees and quantity limits may change. Confirm current requirements with the City, facility, property manager or contracted hauler before transporting materials.
San Diego property owners and community managers: support recycling and organics compliance while improving resident convenience and property cleanliness. National Doorstep’s valet trash and doorstep recycling services can support source separation, resident participation, contamination reduction, and program documentation when coordinated with the property’s City-approved franchise hauler, Certified Recyclable Material Collector, or other authorized service provider.
Recycling and organic-waste separation are mandatory for covered San Diego residential and commercial properties under local requirements and California law. The City implements these requirements through San Diego Municipal Code Ch. 6, Art. 6, Div. 7 (“Recycling Ordinance”) and applicable storage regulations in Ch. 14, Art. 2, Div. 8. Unincorporated San Diego County regulates covered generators through County Regulatory Code Ch. 5 of Div. 8, including §§ 68.570–68.575. Requirements differ according to jurisdiction, collection provider, property type, unit count, service arrangement, and whether the property is in a densely or sparsely populated County area.
- Operational Value: A well-managed doorstep program may support resident convenience, cleanliness, retention, and curb appeal.
- Resident Participation: Doorstep recycling, clear instructions, and consistent collection practices can improve source separation and reduce contamination.
- Compliance Support: Coordinate supplemental doorstep collection with required municipal service, the authorized franchise hauler, and any approved certified collector.
- Program Documentation: Help organize resident education, service procedures, contamination notices, and other operational records applicable to the property.
At a Glance: City of San Diego vs Unincorporated San Diego County
City of San Diego
- Mandate Type: Mandatory recycling and mandatory organic-waste recycling under the City Recycling Ordinance and California requirements.
- Applicability Threshold: City-serviced residential properties must participate in the City’s recycling and organics programs. Current City guidance expressly requires privately serviced residences, including apartments and condominiums with five or more units, to recycle designated recyclable materials and organic waste. Other privately serviced residential properties may also be subject to applicable City requirements based on their service arrangement.
- Required Service Provider: Privately serviced properties must obtain trash, recycling, and organic-waste recycling service through the same City-approved franchise hauler. Additional recycling or organics service may be obtained from a Certified Recyclable Material Collector, subject to City rules and coordination with the franchise hauler.
- Minimum Service & Set-Out:
- Recycling: Collection at least twice per month, with sufficient container size, quantity, and frequency for the recyclable material generated.
- Organics: Collection at least weekly, with sufficient service for food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard trimmings, and nonhazardous wood waste.
- Trash: Maintain sufficient trash service through the authorized franchise hauler based on the property’s waste generation, container capacity, sanitation needs, and service agreement.
- Placement: Pair recycling containers with trash containers, or place them as close as practicable. Place organics containers where organic waste is generated or at another approved and reasonably accessible collection location.
- Containers: Use appropriately sized containers that comply with applicable color, labeling, lid, storage, and signage requirements.
- Resident Education: Provide program information upon occupancy, annually, and whenever the recycling or organics program changes. Periodically monitor containers and notify occupants when contamination is identified.
- Alternative Services: Self-hauling, landscaping collection, onsite composting, or other alternative organics arrangements may require an approved Alternative Service Verification. Multifamily properties are not eligible for the City’s de minimis organics waiver.
- Key City Links:
City Recycling Requirements · Private-Hauler Serviced Homes · Certified Collectors · Recycling Ordinance · Storage Regulations
San Diego County — Unincorporated Areas
- Mandate Type: Mandatory recycling and mandatory organic-material recovery for covered multifamily generators, subject to applicable exemptions, waivers, and geographic rules.
- Applicability Threshold: County guidance requires multifamily properties with five or more units in densely populated unincorporated areas to separate designated materials and arrange for recycling and organics recovery. Different requirements and waiver pathways apply in sparsely populated areas.
- Geographic Classification: Confirm whether the property is in a densely populated or sparsely populated unincorporated area by using the County’s population-density map or contacting a County Recycling Specialist.
- Capacity & Service Level — Densely Populated Areas:
- Minimum diversion service-level ratio: At least 35% of total weekly container capacity must be available for recyclable and organic materials unless an approved waiver applies.
- Recycling capacity benchmark: 20 gallons per unit would demonstrate adequate recycling capacity.
- Organics capacity benchmark: 5 gallons per unit would demonstrate adequate organics capacity.
- Important: The 20-gallon and 5-gallon figures are County benchmarks for demonstrating adequate capacity; actual service must remain sufficient for the materials generated.
- Program Duties: Provide tenant education within 14 days of move-in and annually; keep recyclables separate from trash; arrange proper storage, collection, and transport; accommodate County inspection or monitoring; and maintain applicable tenant-education and landscaping records.
- Landscaping Contracts: When total discarded-material generation is at least two cubic yards per week, applicable gardening or landscaping agreements must require proper recycling of designated green materials and nonhazardous wood waste.
- Waivers: Covered properties may apply for qualifying de minimis, physical-space, or onsite-management waivers. A waiver must be approved; it should not be assumed merely because a property has limited space or generates a small quantity of material.
- Key County Links:
Densely Populated Multifamily Requirements · Sparsely Populated Area Requirements · County Code § 68.570 · County Code § 68.573 · County Waivers
Enforcement & Penalties Snapshot
- SB 1383 regulated-entity enforcement: For violations occurring on or after January 1, 2024, the jurisdiction generally issues a Notice of Violation requiring compliance within 60 days. Penalties generally follow if the violation remains unresolved, although the jurisdiction may extend the deadline when qualifying circumstances beyond the regulated entity’s control make timely compliance impracticable. (CalRecycle Enforcement FAQs)
- City of San Diego: Violations may be addressed through notices, administrative citations, administrative civil penalties, liens, abatement, judicial remedies, or other authorized enforcement measures. Each day a violation continues may constitute a separate violation.
- Current City administrative civil-penalty authority: Outside portions of the Coastal Overlay Zone awaiting California Coastal Commission certification, the current maximum administrative civil-penalty rate is $10,000 per violation, subject to an annual maximum of $500,000 per parcel or structure for a related series of violations, annual Consumer Price Index adjustments, and an additional administrative fee. Actual assessments depend on the enforcement process and statutory factors. (SDMC Ch.1, Art.2, Div.8)
- San Diego County — general enforcement overview: County administrative citations generally escalate from $100 to $200, $500, and $1,000, with a stated total of up to $10,000 per violation per year. For egregious violations, the County states that civil penalties may reach $1,000 per day per County-code violation, subject to a stated 12-month cap, and $2,500 per day for State-code violations, subject to a separate stated cap. The enforcement method and amount depend on the violation and applicable authority. (County Enforcement Overview)
- Important: Enforcement authority, penalty schedules, waiver eligibility, service requirements, and agency procedures may change. Confirm current requirements with the applicable City or County agency and qualified counsel when evaluating a specific enforcement matter.
Property Manager Compliance Checklist
| Task | Action / Requirement | Resources / Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction | Determine whether the property is within the City of San Diego, an incorporated city outside San Diego, or an unincorporated County area. For unincorporated properties, confirm whether the location is densely or sparsely populated. | County Multifamily Guidance |
| ☑ Subscribe to Authorized Services | City: Obtain trash, recycling, and organics collection through the same City-approved franchise hauler. Additional recycling or organics service may be provided by a Certified Recyclable Material Collector when permitted. County: Use an authorized collector, qualifying certified collector, or properly documented self-haul arrangement. | City Private-Hauler Rules · Certified Collectors · County Code § 68.570 |
| ☑ City Recycling & Organics Frequency | Recycling: collect at least twice per month. Organics: collect at least weekly. Maintain sufficient container quantity, capacity, and collection frequency for all materials generated. Trash frequency must remain sufficient under the authorized service arrangement. | City Recycling Requirements · City Organics FAQs |
| ☑ County Capacity Planning | For covered multifamily properties in densely populated unincorporated areas, maintain at least a 35% recycling-and-organics service-level ratio unless an approved waiver applies. County guidance identifies 20 gallons of recycling capacity and 5 gallons of organics capacity per unit as benchmarks that would demonstrate adequate capacity. | County Multifamily Guidance · County Code § 68.573 |
| ☑ Container Placement, Labeling & Signage | Pair recycling containers with trash containers or locate them as close as practicable. Place organics containers where organic materials are generated or in another approved, accessible collection area. Maintain clear labels and accepted-material signage. | City Container Requirements · County Program Requirements |
| ☑ Resident Education | City: provide information upon occupancy, annually, and whenever service changes. County densely populated areas: educate tenants within 14 days of move-in and annually thereafter. Include accepted materials, prohibited materials, container locations, and sorting responsibilities. | City Education Requirements · County Education Requirements |
| ☑ Monitor Contamination | Periodically inspect collection areas, communicate sorting problems, remove or address prohibited materials according to the hauler’s procedures, and document recurring contamination issues and corrective education. | City Recycling Requirements |
| ☑ Maintain Applicable Records | Retain service agreements, educational materials, landscaping provisions, approved waivers, alternative-service verifications, self-haul records, and other documentation required for the property’s collection method. Recordkeeping obligations vary by jurisdiction and program type. | City Alternative Services · County Self-Haul Records · County Multifamily Records |
| ☑ Verify Waivers & Alternative Services | Do not reduce or omit required service based solely on assumed low generation, limited space, onsite composting, landscaping collection, or self-hauling. Obtain any required agency approval, waiver, acknowledgement, or alternative-service verification first. | City Waivers & Alternative Services · County Waivers |
Frequently Asked Compliance Question
How many units trigger San Diego’s multifamily recycling and organics requirements?
Within the City of San Diego, City-serviced properties must participate in the City collection programs, and current City guidance expressly requires privately serviced apartments and condominiums with five or more units to maintain recycling and organic-waste recycling. In unincorporated San Diego County, the County’s multifamily guidance applies to properties with five or more units, but the precise obligations differ between densely and sparsely populated areas. Properties should confirm their jurisdiction, service provider, geographic classification, and any approved waiver before determining the applicable requirements.
Need a fast program review? Request a Free Compliance Program Assessment for your San Diego property. National Doorstep can evaluate doorstep collection logistics, resident education, container access, contamination controls, and operational documentation for coordination with your authorized hauler or collector.
Important Notice: National Doorstep’s assessment is operational in nature and does not constitute legal advice, regulatory approval, a municipal inspection, or a guarantee of compliance. Mandatory hauling and processing services must be provided through properly authorized providers, and property-specific requirements should be confirmed with the City of San Diego, San Diego County, the contracted hauler, and qualified counsel as appropriate.
Regulatory information reviewed: August 2, 2026. Requirements, agency guidance, enforcement procedures, links, and penalty provisions may change.
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