San Diego County, CA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 68.571
- Who must comply
- Subscribers to hauler collection service
- Set-out window
- 6 p.m. day before to noon after
- First violation
- Infraction
- Repeat violation
- Discretionary misdemeanor
Summary
Unincorporated San Diego County requires residents in densely populated areas to source-separate yard trimmings, brush, and other green waste into a dedicated organic materials container for collection by their franchised hauler.
(2) For premises in densely-populated areas, subscribe to and participate in the collector's and/or CRMC's collection service(s) by using a three-stream collection service and placing discarded materials in designated containers as follows: (i) Place source separated designated organic materials in the organic materials container(s).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-141: Administrative: Current through Ord. No. 11007 (N.S.), effective 7-10-26 | Regulatory: Current through Ord. No. 11008 (N.S.), effective 7-24-26).
Full Breakdown
County Code § 68.571 requires owners, occupants, and operators of single-family, multi-family, and commercial premises in unincorporated San Diego County that subscribe to hauler collection service to source-separate designated organic materials, defined by § 68.502 to include green materials such as yard trimmings, trees, and brush, into the organic materials container, keep recyclables and solid waste in their own containers, and follow the collector's or CRMC's instructions on separation. Households in sparsely-populated areas outside densely-populated zones may instead subscribe for one or more material streams. Containers may not be set at the curb before 6:00 p.m. the day before collection or left out after noon the day after.
Violations & Fines
Violating placement, separation, or container use requirements is an infraction, escalating to a discretionary misdemeanor for a second violation within one year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put yard trimmings in the trash can instead of the organics container in unincorporated San Diego County?
When can I put my yard waste container at the curb?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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