San Diego property owners and community managers: simplify recycling & organics compliance while boosting resident satisfaction. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling service aligns with City of San Diego and San Diego County (unincorporated) requirements and California state mandates (AB 341 / AB 1826 / SB 1383) to reduce contamination and enhance NOI — all with a turnkey program.
In San Diego, recycling and organics service is mandatory for multifamily and commercial generators under local ordinance and statewide law. The City implements requirements in San Diego Municipal Code Ch. 6, Art. 6, Div. 7 (“Recycling Ordinance”) and Ch. 14, Art. 2, Div. 8 (Refuse/Organics/Recyclables Storage Regulations). The County regulates multifamily generators under County Regulatory Code Ch. 68 – Solid Waste, Recyclable Materials & Organic Waste.
- NOI & Property Value Lift: Sustainability amenities that increase retention and curb appeal.
- Resident Convenience & Cleanliness: Doorstep recycling & organics pickup reduces overflow and contamination.
- Compliance Simplified: Aligns with City and County rules plus CalRecycle mandates (AB 341 / AB 1826 / SB 1383).
- Local & State Alignment: Code-backed, inspector-friendly program design and documentation.
At a Glance: City of San Diego vs Unincorporated San Diego County
City of San Diego
- Mandate Type: Mandatory Recycling (City Recycling Ordinance) + Mandatory Organics (SB 1383; implemented locally).
- Applicability Threshold: Multifamily all multi-unit properties are covered for recycling under City ordinance; organics applies to 5+ units per state law (SB 1383).
- Minimum Service & Set-Out (City guidance):
- Streams required at each collection point: trash, recyclables, and organics.
- Collection frequency: trash weekly; organics weekly; recycling at least every other week.
- Containers: leak-resistant with tight-fitting lids; maintain clear signage/labels on recycling and organics.
- Tenant Education: Provide written recycling/organics info to new occupants and at least annually; keep records available upon request.
- Key City Links: Recycling Ordinance (Ch.6 Art.6 Div.7) · Storage Regulations (Ch.14 Art.2 Div.8) · Multifamily Requirements Handout · Containers & Signage Guidelines · SB 1383 FAQs
San Diego County (Unincorporated)
- Mandate Type: Mandatory Recycling + Mandatory Organics participation for generators, including multifamily.
- Applicability Threshold: Applies to all multifamily generators in unincorporated areas (subscribe to trash, recycling, and organics service unless exempt).
- Minimum Capacity (County guidance):
- Recycling: recommend at least 20 gallons per unit.
- Organics: recommend at least 5 gallons per unit.
- Diversion service level: target ≥ 35% of weekly capacity dedicated to recycling + organics (where applicable in densely populated areas).
- Program Duties: Place recycling/organics containers as convenient as trash; label/sign; provide move-in and annual tenant education; maintain records.
- Key County Links: Regulatory Code Ch.68 (definitions & separation) · Multifamily Requirements (Ch.68 § for MF) · County Multifamily Recycling
Property Manager Compliance Checklist (City & County)
| Task | Action / Requirement | Resources / Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Subscribe to Required Services | Active service agreements for trash, recycling, and organics (City Recycling Ordinance; County Ch.68). | City Recycling Ordinance · County Code Ch.68 |
| ☑ Minimum Streams & Frequency (City) | Required streams: trash, recyclables, organics. Frequency: trash weekly; organics weekly; recycling ≥ every other week. | City Container Guide · City MF Handout |
| ☑ Capacity Planning (County) | Provide ≥ 20 gal/unit recycling and ≥ 5 gal/unit organics; maintain ≥ 35% diversion ratio. | County Multifamily Guidance · County MF Requirements |
| ☑ Container Placement, Labeling & Signage | Place recycling/organics bins as convenient as trash; maintain color-coded signage per City/County standards. | City Signage Guide · County Signage Info |
| ☑ Tenant Education & Records | Provide recycling/organics info at move-in & annually; retain service logs and education records for inspection. | City Recycling Ordinance · County Code §68.573 |
| ☑ SB 1383 Organics Compliance | Ensure weekly organics collection; provide signage, education, and records per SB 1383. | City SB 1383 FAQs · County SB 1383 Info |
Need a fast compliance check? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your San Diego property — we’ll right-size your containers, draft tenant education, and prepare inspection-ready documentation.
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