Can you recycle plastic bags in San Diego, CA?

Not in your blue bin. Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility City of San Diego Environmental Services 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 bin.

What do I do with batteries in San Diego, CA?

Batteries never go in any of your San Diego, CA carts — not the blue bin, not the gray bin. 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 San Diego, CA

📍 City of San Diego Environmental Services · 3-cart program

Who collects your recycling in San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA collects its own residential waste: City of San Diego Environmental Services operates the carts directly rather than contracting the route to a private hauler. Households get three carts — a blue bin for recyclables, a green bin for food scraps and yard trimmings, and a gray bin 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 San Diego, CA

Plastic bottles & jugs	♻️ Blue bin	Empty; keep the cap on.
Aluminum & steel cans	♻️ Blue bin	Give them a rinse.
Flattened cardboard	♻️ Blue bin	Clean, dry sections only.
Glass bottles & jars	♻️ Blue bin	Lids off.
Food scraps	🌱 Green bin	Fruit, veg, leftovers, bones.
Greasy pizza box	🌱 Green bin	A clean box can be recycled instead.
Plastic bags & film	🗑️ Gray bin	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 San Diego, CA directly.

📷 Scan an item

San Diego, CA recycling FAQ

Can you recycle plastic bags in San Diego, CA?: Not in your blue bin. Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility City of San Diego Environmental Services 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 bin.
What do I do with batteries in San Diego, CA?: Batteries never go in any of your San Diego, CA carts — not the blue bin, not the gray bin. 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.

Popular item guides

How to dispose of light bulbs How to dispose of motor oil How to dispose of a refrigerator How to dispose of a couch Can you recycle styrofoam?Can you recycle plastic bags?

More recycling guides

San Francisco, CA San Gabriel, CA San Jose, CA San Leandro, CA San Marcos, TX San Marino, CA San Ramon, CA Sandy, UT

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 City of San Diego Environmental Services guide.