San Diego County - Residential Service Guidelines

For residential customers of Waste Management of San Diego in many unincorporated San Diego County communities, there are two options for service: customers may provide their own trash cans or Waste Management can provide them. For customers that provide their own cans, you may place out a maximum of 12 cans for each type of service you receive (trash, recycling or greenwaste) -- please do not exceed the 32 gallon or 40 pound per can weight limit. You will receive stickers to place on your recycling and greenwaste cans if this service is offered in your area.

For those communities that require it or those customers who elect it, Waste Management can provide three carts for collection of trash, recyclables and greenwaste. Carts are available in three sizes: 38 gallons, 64 gallons and 96 gallons. Trash, recyclables and greenwaste (where available) are picked up weekly.

Waste Management services the following communities in San Diego County:

For Waste Management-billed customers:

• Pay your bill online with Waste Management's ezPay
• Get help reading your residential bill from Waste Management

What to put in your trash can or cart
What to put in your recyclables can or cart
What to put in your greenwaste can or cart
Service reminders
Holiday schedule
Bulky items
Billing
Temporary service
Disposal of used motor oil
Christmas tree recycling
E-waste
Household hazardous waste
Universal waste

Trash Can or Cart (WM-provided: Gray)

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Commingled Recyclables Can or Cart (WM-provided: Blue)

Please rinse food residue from containers.

Note: Broken down boxes can be taken as part of the bulky item pick-up program. Boxes need to be broken down and bundled before collection. Please contact customer service at 1(800) DUMPSTER or (619) 596-5100 to arrange this.

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Greenwaste Can or Cart (WM-provided: Green)

Customers who provide their own cans for greenwaste collection will receive greenwaste stickers (if service is available in their area) to place on their own cans. Please do not place greenwaste in plastic bags or tie bundles with wires.

DO NOT place the items listed below in your greenwaste can - put these items in the TRASH can!

• Place all waste in the appropriate container and close the lid.  Do no overfill the cart -- the weight cannot exceed 40 pounds for customer-provided cans or 100 pounds for WM-provided carts!
• Please do not put any dirt, rocks, asphalt, concrete or any other type of construction material into your carts.
• All materials must be placed inside a container. Please contact customer service at
  1(800) DUMPSTER or (619) 596-5100 if you need to order additional containers.
• Please place your waste and recyclables in the appropriate containers -- do not mix them.
• For Waste Management-provided carts, please place them at least one foot apart and at least three feet away from parked cars, with the handles facing the curb (away from the street).
• Please have your cans or carts out at the curb for collection by 6 a.m. on your service day.

Holiday Schedule

Residential waste collection does not occur on the following days:

• New Year's Day
• Memorial Day
• 4th of July
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

When the holiday falls on a weekday, collection will be delayed one day for the remainder of the week. If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there will be NO delays.

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For items that are too large to fit into the trash can, residents may call to request the pick up of household bulky goods.  These items are picked up on service days and items need to be placed at the curb by 6 a.m. in order to be retrieved -- see the full list of acceptable and unacceptable bulky items. To schedule a bulky item pick-up and for information on associated fees, please contact Waste Management at 1(800) DUMPSTER or (619) 596-5100 at least 24 hours in advance of your service day.

Note: We are now able to accept TVs or computer monitors as bulky items. Please contact customer service at 1(800) DUMPSTER or (619) 596-5100 to arrange to have them picked up. You may also take TVs and computer monitors to Waste Management's Recycling Center at 925 O'Conner St. in El Cajon, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All e-waste can be safely disposed of at no charge.

For other resources on reusing and recycling electronic products, visit www.ciwmb.ca.gov/electronics/collection or http://www.erecycle.org.

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Residential services are billed by Waste Management. Customers are billed every two months on the odd month (January, March, May, etc.), two months in advance.

Senior rates for customers age 65 and older are available -- please contact customer service for more information.

For Waste Management-billed customers, you may pay your bill online by going to Waste Management's ezPay. For help in reading your residential bill from Waste Management, click here.

Temporary Bin and Roll-Off Service

Please contact Waste Management at 1(800) DUMPSTER or (619) 596-5100 for information on sizes and rates for temp dumpster or bin service.

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It is important to properly dispose of used motor oil to ensure it stays out of our storm drains and the ocean. Before you change your oil, contact Waste Management at 1(800) DUMPSTER or (619) 596-5100 to request a free oil filter bag to be delivered to your home, or you may pick one up in our lobby at 1001 W. Bradley Ave. in El Cajon during normal business hours. Once you receive the bag:

• Remove the oil filter from your car and drain it well for at least 24 hours - once it is drained, place it in the filter bag provided or another sealable plastic bag. 
• Drain the oil from your car into a clear, sealable plastic container. Clear plastic milk jugs are acceptable. There is a 2-gallon limit for Waste Management's curbside pickup.  
• Secure the top on the container to ensure against spillage.
• Call Waste Management to schedule a pick up for your next regular refuse collection day.
• On the pick-up day, please place the container with the oil and the bag with the filter at the curb by 6 a.m.
• You may also bring the oil (no more than 15 gallons) to Waste Management's Recycling Center at 925 O'Conner St. in El Cajon, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In addition to the curbside oil collection program, there are a number of options for proper and safe disposal of used motor oil and filters. You may place your used oil filter in a plastic bag that can be closed and your used oil in a plastic container with a secure top.

• Many auto or tire supply stores or service centers will accept used motor oil and filters. The Integrated Waste Management Board offers a list searchable by zip code to locate a recycler near you. Call in advance to make sure they will take the items and to verify store hours.
• El Cajon residents may take their used motor oil and other household hazardous waste to a local HHW center.

Additional information may be found at the Earth 911 Web site or by calling 1(800) CLEANUP (1-800-253-2687).
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We will collect and recycle Christmas trees for the first two weeks following Christmas on your regular collection day. Trees must be cut to fit into the greenwaste cart. Trees taller than six feet must be cut in half. Please remove all decoration including tinsel, lights, ornaments and tree stands. Flocked trees cannot be recycled, so please cut them to fit into your trash cart and they will be collected by your trash collector.

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We are now able to accept TVs or computer monitors as bulky items. Please contact customer service at 1(800) DUMPSTER or (619) 596-5100 to arrange to have them picked up. You may also take TVs and computer monitors to Waste Management's Recycling Center at 925 O'Conner St. in El Cajon, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All e-waste can be safely disposed of at no charge.

For other resources on reusing and recycling electronic products, visit www.ciwmb.ca.gov/electronics/collection or http://www.erecycle.org.

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There are several options for properly disposing of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). HHW includes: used oil filters, motor oil and used motor oil, paint, antifreeze, batteries, propane tanks, pesticides, household cleaners, pool chemicals and sharps/needles.  Waste Management accepts HHW at its facility in El Cajon by appointment only -- see below for how to safely dispose of HHW:

• The County of San Diego operates several HHW collection centers. For more information, visit the County's Web site or Waste Management's HHW disposal page.
• Waste Management customers can call customer service at 1(800) DUMPSTER or (619) 596-5100 to make an appointment for our facility in El Cajon on the second or fourth Saturdays of the month. Residents may bring 15 gallons or 125 pounds of material for drop off at one time.
• For information about disposal of commercial- or industrial-generated hazardous waste, contact I Love a Clean San Diego at 1(800) 237-2583.

Universal Waste includes: batteries, fluorescent light tubes, thermostats, aerosol cans with material still inside and other items also characterized as electronic or household hazardous waste. 

There are several options for properly disposing of Universal Waste:

• The County of San Diego operates several HHW collection centers. For more information, visit the County's Web site or Waste Management's HHW disposal page.
• Waste Management customers can bring these materials to Waste Management's Recycling Center at 925 O'Conner St. in El Cajon, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All universal waste can be safely disposed of at no charge.