News Summary
The rollout of new gray trash bins in San Diego has been delayed after originally being scheduled for this week. Over 225,000 households will receive these bins on regular collection days. The city aims to improve waste management with more durable bins featuring enhanced recycling labels, while the removal of old black bins will take place concurrently. Residents will only have the option for default bin sizes if they missed the selection deadline. This initiative follows Measure B, implementing a new fee structure for solid waste collection services.
San Diego’s citywide rollout of new trash bins has been delayed, which was initially scheduled to start this week. The new gray trash bins will now be delivered to residents on their regular trash collection days, while crews will simultaneously remove the old black trash bins. Over 225,000 households in San Diego are eligible for these new bins, but the delivery process will extend over several months. Some residents may not receive their new bins until as late as 2026.
The new bins are designed to be more durable and are equipped with enhanced recycling labels to facilitate easier waste sorting. The updated colors will help collection drivers quickly identify which containers require servicing. An innovative feature of each bin is a scannable tag that will allow the city to track performance and improve service metrics over time.
The rollout for the new gray trash bins will mark the first phase, to be followed by the introduction of lighter blue recycling bins. The city’s Environmental Services Department has been proactively informing residents about their designated bin delivery dates via mailers, and individuals can also verify their delivery schedules through the city’s website at sandiego.gov/trash.
Once the new bins are delivered, waste collection crews will only collect refuse from the new bins, while the old black bins will be sent for recycling. It is important to note that the green organic waste bins, which were distributed to over 200,000 households in 2023, are not part of this rollout.
Residents were previously given an opportunity to select the sizes and quantities of their bins, but the deadline has since passed. Those who did not make a selection will automatically receive a default bin size of 95 gallons for both trash and recycling. After the bins have been distributed, residents will have the option to adjust their service level once a year.
The launch of this new waste management model comes on the heels of Measure B, which was passed by San Diego voters in 2022, allowing the city to implement a new monthly fee structure for solid waste collection services. Starting July 1, homeowners will incur a monthly charge of $42.76 for three 95-gallon bins, regardless of the actual amount of waste produced.
Residents have until September 30 to specify their preferred service levels and bin sizes to avoid defaulting to the standard size. Data from the Environmental Services Department indicates that fewer than half of the eligible customers opted for their preferred bin sizes by the deadline. It is recommended that residents create a user account in the city’s Residential Waste Collection Services Portal for efficient tracking of service and to manage requests.
This new fee structure has faced scrutiny from the public, particularly concerning the previous “People’s Ordinance” model that provided free service exclusively for single-family households. Without any fee structure, the old model was projected to cost the city over $234.7 million between fiscal years 2023 and 2027.
In summary, the City of San Diego collects approximately 300,000 tons of trash and 150,000 tons of recycling and compost on an annual basis. As the city transitions to this new waste management framework, officials aim to address issues surrounding equity and financial sustainability in providing solid waste services to all constituents.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Weekend Events in San Diego: Art, Festivals, and More
San Diego’s Trash Bin Rollout Delayed Amid Size Selection Deadline
San Diego Residents Face Trash Bin Selection Deadline
San Diego Residents Face Trash Service Deadline
San Diego Residents Face New Trash Collection Fees
San Diego Unified School District Supports Proposition 50
Residents of San Diego Sue City Over Trash Fee
Homeowners Challenge New Trash Fee Implementation in San Diego
San Diego City Council Approves New Solid Waste Management Fee
Taxpayers Challenge San Diego’s New Trash Fee
Additional Resources
- CBS 8: San Diego Prepares for New Trash Bins
- Wikipedia: San Diego
- NBC San Diego: New Trash Bin Selection Deadline
- Google Search: San Diego trash bins
- Fox 5 San Diego: New Trash Fee & Bin Size
- Google Scholar: San Diego trash management
- Times of San Diego: Deadline for Trash Fee Choices
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Solid Waste Management
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
