News Summary
San Diego is working to stabilize its trash services following a significant overhaul. With 19,000 property owners affected, many are seeking private contracts. The city has introduced new bin programs, with notable opt-in rates for discounted bins. While financial losses mount due to subsidized rates, officials remain optimistic about compliance. A legal challenge regarding new fees is pending, while plans for a subsidy and broader bin distribution continue, aiming to enhance waste management services across the city.
San Diego has begun stabilizing its trash service despite facing significant challenges following a recent overhaul. As of now, an increasing number of property owners are enrolling in new bin programs, providing a glimmer of hope following the tumultuous rollout. Approximately 19,000 property owners have lost access to city trash services, with many now seeking contracts with private haulers due to service disruptions.
The city government is contending with millions in financial losses due to a surprising number of residents opting for discounted rates. New trash and recycling bin deliveries commenced this week, aligning with property tax bills that now reflect a new trash charge of $261.60 for a six-month period. Additionally, a subsidy program is being developed to offer significant discounts—at least 50%—to around 8,000 qualifying property owners.
Out of the 19,282 property owners who lost their city trash service, 5,259 have not yet arranged for any new service, representing over a quarter of those affected. To encourage compliance, the city plans to levy $200 fines on properties that fail to secure new trash services, with warning letters scheduled to be sent to property owners next week. Officials are optimistic that the overall number of fines will remain low, as the rate of new services being secured has accelerated.
Currently, 73% of affected customers have secured new service, exceeding the city’s goal of 60% by October 31, and is on track to reach 80% by December 15. Initial concerns arose when haulers offered non-competitive rates or could not accommodate new customers due to staffing shortages, prompting property owners to explore cost-saving measures such as switching to larger dumpsters or sharing services with neighbors.
A policy change enacted by Mayor Todd Gloria allows trash haulers to avoid penalties for low recycling rates provided they place a greater emphasis on outreach and education efforts. Since July 1, 2023, the city has incurred approximately $3 million in expenses to continue servicing customers who lost their eligibility.
Notably, a higher-than-anticipated number of residents have chosen the discounted 35-gallon bins over the standard 95-gallon ones. About 10% of households opted for the smaller bin size, significantly greater than official expectations of 2%. This trend represents a shift that could lead to reduced overall city revenue compared to initial projections. Currently, only half of the 225,000 eligible households have selected their new bin sizes, with over 110,400 residents making their selections by the September 30 deadline. The financial implications of these choices are expected to vary widely across the city.
To counteract the increased burden of new trash fees, the city is providing a planned subsidy of $261.60 for qualified residents, particularly those facing low-income challenges. The city has already delivered over 9,000 bins, with delivery of 225,000 total bins expected to be completed by spring 2026 for trash bins and summer 2026 for recycling bins.
A legal challenge is currently disputing the legitimacy of the new trash fees, arguing that they may be unconstitutional and improperly allocated. However, as of now, a judge has ruled that the fees can be collected as planned, with a court hearing concerning the legality of the trash fee scheduled for October 24.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
San Diego Judge Denies Request to Halt New Trash Fee
San Diego Honors Veterans with Heartfelt Ceremonies
San Diego Delays New Trash Bin Rollout
San Diego’s Trash Bin Rollout Delayed Amid Size Selection Deadline
San Diego Residents Face Impacts from Federal Government Shutdown
San Diego Residents Face Trash Bin Selection Deadline
San Diego Residents Face Major Water and Sewer Rate Hikes
San Diego Implements New Parking Fees Around Balboa Park
California Faces Weather Shifts and Community Challenges
San Diego Settles Lawsuit Over Police Use of Force
Additional Resources
- NBC San Diego: Phased Rollout of San Diego Trash Bins Begins
- Wikipedia: Waste Management
- San Diego Union Tribune: New Garbage Cans & Subsidies
- Google Search: San Diego Trash Service Updates
- Fox 5 San Diego: Trash Bin and Service Deadline Approaching
- Google Scholar: San Diego Trash Management
- CBS 8: Judge Rules San Diego Can Go Forward with New Trash Fee
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Garbage
- 10 News: Homeowners Seek Injunction Against City for Trash Fee Pickup
- Google News: San Diego Trash Fee Legal Challenges

Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO 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.