Can you recycle plastic bags in National City, CA?

Not in your blue cart. Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility National City uses, which is why they're excluded almost everywhere. Take clean, dry bags back to a grocery-store drop-off, or put them in your gray cart.

What do I do with batteries in National City, CA?

Batteries never go in any of your National City, CA carts — not the blue cart, not the gray cart. They're household hazardous waste and a genuine fire risk in the truck. Tape the terminals and take them to a local e-waste or household-hazardous-waste drop-off.

Recycling rules in National City, CA

📍 National City (EDCO) · 3-cart program

Who collects your recycling in National City, CA

Residential curbside collection in National City, CA is provided by National City (EDCO) under an exclusive franchise, so every household on the route gets the same carts and the same accepted-items list. Households get three carts — a blue cart for recyclables, a green cart for food scraps and yard trimmings, and a gray cart for everything else.

That third cart isn't optional: California's SB 1383 requires organic-waste collection statewide, which is why food scraps have their own cart here instead of going in the trash.

The quick answer for National City, CA

Plastic bottles & jugs	♻️ Blue cart	Empty; keep the cap on.
Aluminum & steel cans	♻️ Blue cart	Give them a rinse.
Flattened cardboard	♻️ Blue cart	Clean, dry sections only.
Glass bottles & jars	♻️ Blue cart	Lids off.
Food scraps	🌱 Green cart	Fruit, veg, leftovers, bones.
Greasy pizza box	🌱 Green cart	A clean box can be recycled instead.
Plastic bags & film	🗑️ Gray cart	Store drop-off is better.
Batteries	⚠️ Hazardous	Never curbside — tape the terminals.

This is the short list. The full A–Z of what is and isn't recyclable is on what can I recycle? — or scan the item and get the answer for National City, CA directly.

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National City, CA recycling FAQ

Can you recycle plastic bags in National City, CA?: Not in your blue cart. Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility National City uses, which is why they're excluded almost everywhere. Take clean, dry bags back to a grocery-store drop-off, or put them in your gray cart.
What do I do with batteries in National City, CA?: Batteries never go in any of your National City, CA carts — not the blue cart, not the gray cart. They're household hazardous waste and a genuine fire risk in the truck. Tape the terminals and take them to a local e-waste or household-hazardous-waste drop-off.

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Still not sure?

Rules vary by material and by hauler, and the sorting line is strict — one wrong item can contaminate a whole load. When in doubt, point your camera at the item for a verdict, or check the official National City (EDCO) guide.