San Diego Begins Phased Rollout of Organic Waste Recycling Program

SAN DIEGO — San Diego residents are now able to make a significant impact on climate change thanks to the city's new Organic Waste Recycling program.

The new program, which the city said represents the biggest change to trash and recycling in San Diego's history, will allow residents to divert organic waste from the landfill to Miramar Greenery, where it will be broken down into compost, which is available free to residents.

"When organic waste decomposes in a landfill, it releases methane, a harmful gas that traps the sun’s heat and contributes to climate change," the city explained in a news release.

As part of the city’s new Organic Waste Recycling program, and in compliance with state requirements, new green bins and kitchen pails are being delivered to city-serviced residents, with households in the 92102 and 92113 zip codes receiving their bins first, the city said.

The phased rollout will continue with about 15,000 bins delivered each week over the course of the next several months.

The Organic Waste Recycling program complies with Senate Bill (SB) 1383, which requires residents and businesses to reduce the disposal of organic waste such as food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings by 75 percent by the year 2025.

Organic waste from green bins will be collected on the customer’s normal trash collection location weekly ," the city said.

“We are so proud and excited to bring this game-changing service to San Diegans,” Environmental Services Department Director Renee Robertson said. “Recycling organic waste is the single easiest and fastest thing an individual can do to fight climate change.”

According to the news release, while the rollout began Jan. 9, it will take until mid-2023 to complete. The city is asking residents to wait until they have received their kitchen pail before they begin collecting food scraps.

“Delivering nearly 270,000 bins is a monumental task that we are taking very seriously,” said Robertson said. “City employees are working diligently and carefully to make this an easy transition for everyone.”

For delivery schedule, a list of what can go in the green bin and more information, residents are encouraged to visit the city of San Diego's Environmental Services website.