San Diego Residents Face Challenges with New Waste Collection Portal

News Summary

Residents of San Diego are frustrated with the newly launched Residential Waste Collection Services portal. The mandatory signup process has led to a surge in inquiries surrounding bin sizes, costs, and issues with online registration. Many residents are having trouble logging in and understanding the new system. The city is also rolling out a financial assistance program to support those in need. Deadline for registration is September 30, after which bins will be automatically assigned to residents.

San Diego residents are facing confusion and frustration following the launch of the new Residential Waste Collection Services portal, which occurred nearly two weeks ago. The city mandated a signup process for waste collection, leading to a surge of inquiries at city offices—many residents expressed concerns regarding bin sizes, costs, and the online registration system.

The most commonly reported issues include difficulties in determining appropriate bin sizes, understanding associated costs, and navigating the signup process on the new portal. Environmental Services Assistant Director Jeremy Bauer noted that among the frequently asked questions, residents are particularly interested in options for smaller containers and the possibility of retaining their old waste bins.

Many residents are encountering barriers when trying to log into the new portal. To facilitate registration, the city mailed out information packets last week, some residents may not receive these mailers until the end of the month. The mailers provide a yellow section that includes an Assessor Parcel Number (APN) and a unique code—both of which are essential for accessing the online platform.

Residents can begin the registration process by visiting wasteportal.sandiego.gov and creating accounts. Once logged in, users must select the size of their trash bins. The current recommended container sizes are generally adequate for most households, with typical options including 95-gallon bins for larger households, while smaller households might choose 35 or 65-gallon bins. To assist in this identification, labels on container lids indicate the sizes of existing bins.

Costs for the monthly waste service vary based on the size of the container selected, with the fees structured as follows: a 35-gallon bin costs $32.82, a 65-gallon bin is priced at $38.94, and a 95-gallon bin incurs a fee of $43.60. Residents wishing to downgrade to smaller bins must acknowledge that the standard size is generally 95 gallons.

To support residents in financial need, the city is developing a financial assistance program, allocating $3 million from the general fund for those who qualify. The deadline for registration is set for September 30. After this date, residents who have not signed up will automatically receive a new 95-gallon container.

An upfront charge of $523.20 will be reflected on the October tax bills for the first year of the new waste service, although adjustments for different bin sizes will only be reflected in the 2026 tax bills. It is imperative for residents to return their existing containers, which the city will collect and recycle to facilitate the transition to new bins.

Residents can expect delivery of the new containers—other than the green organics bins—beginning in October over the course of several months. Prior to this transition, any lost or damaged containers can be replaced at no cost.

For residents uncomfortable with the online registration process, the city offers alternative registration by phone. Interested individuals can reach customer service at 858-694-7000. Additionally, the city has created a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) resource to help residents navigate their concerns as the registration deadline approaches.

All property owners are required to select their preferred waste container sizes through the city’s Residential Waste Collection Services Portal by September 30. The new trash bins will be gray, with recycling containers in a lighter blue. This initiative follows the recent approval of a solid waste management fee by the San Diego City Council last month, setting the stage for this significant change in waste collection services within the city.

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Additional Resources

• CBS 8: San Diego Residents Navigate New Trash Portal Signup
• Google Search: Residential Waste Collection San Diego
• Fox 5 San Diego: San Diego Residents Can Now Choose Trash Bin Size
• Wikipedia: San Diego
• NBC San Diego: San Diego Trash Collection Fee Vote
• Encyclopedia Britannica: San Diego
• Times of San Diego: San Diego New Trash Fee
• Google News: San Diego Trash Collection Fee
• San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego Council Advances Home Trash Pickup Fee
• Axios: Republic Services Thor Machine Organic Waste Compost