Can I get city trash service? When am I billed? Everything you need to know about San Diego’s new trash fee
With San Diego’s first-ever trash pickup fee for single-family homes now finalized at $43.60 a month, city officials are scrambling to get new containers rolled out and figure out how to subsidize service for low-income customers.
They’re also helping more than 20,000 customers who were declared ineligible for city trash service switch to private haulers, and helping about 800 newly eligible customers transition to city service.
There’s a bevy of information on the city’s trash website. And a new city website will go live July 15 allowing customers to choose how large their trash and recycling containers will be: 35 gallons, 65 gallons or 95 gallons.
Customers choosing smaller trash cans will get a discounted rate — $32.82 for 35 gallons or $38.94 for 65 gallons. But those customers must pay the higher $43.60 up front and will get a rebate next fall reflecting the discount.
That’s because the city will charge for trash service on property tax bills, which must be finalized before customers have chosen their containers.
All customers will be billed $523.20 per year — $43.60 times 12 months — in two separate payments of $261.60, which will be paid along with twice-yearly property tax bills.
The changes have made for plenty of confusion and raised plenty of questions among city residents. The San Diego Union-Tribune has answers to many of them.
Who is eligible for city trash service?
Properties with street access that are occupied by either a single-family home or a multifamily development with four or fewer units.
Businesses, multifamily lots with more than four units and properties without street access must get trash service through private haulers.
How do I know if I’m eligible?
You’re eligible if you have been receiving city trash service and haven’t recently gotten a letter from the city declaring you newly ineligible.
You’re also eligible if you own one of the 776 properties declared newly eligible. Here is a list of eligible properties: https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2025-06/eligible-parcels-report.pdf
I’ve gotten city trash service for decades. Why do I suddenly have to pay for it?
Because city residents voted to let the city start charging for it.
In 2022, San Diego voters narrowly approved a ballot measure repealing a more than century-old law that barred the city from charging for trash pickup at single-family homes. This is the result.
When will I start getting charged?
Property owners will first see the new trash charge on the property tax bills they receive in late September or early October. They will be charged $261.20 for six months of service on those bills, which are due Nov. 1.
If I’m eligible for city trash and recycling service, can I decline it?
No. City officials say the trash and recycling services currently provided by the city are required by law at eligible properties and cannot be made optional.
Will the new trash fee go up in the future?
Yes. Fees for customers with 95-gallon trash containers will rise from $43.60 to $44.57 in July 2026 and then jump to $55 in July 2027, when the city increases recycling pickups to once per week and adds bulky trash service. For customers who select 35-gallon trash containers, fees will rise to $33.66 in July 2026 and to $41.16 in July 2027.
Is there any help for low-income customers who can’t afford the new charge?
There will be. The City Council set aside $3 million for a subsidy program, and city officials said this week that designing such a program is their top priority.
What that might look like isn’t clear yet. Options include a full subsidy for about 4,500 customers or a 50% subsidy for about 8,000 customers — but eligibility criteria and the timing of subsidy awards haven’t been determined.
Why is the city replacing all the blue and black bins — even bins that are brand new or only a few years old?
Officials say it’s necessary because the new bins will be equipped with special computer chips to allow the city to keep track of customers. State Proposition 218 requires government agencies to carefully track their customer base when charging them fees.
When do I have to choose which size bins I want?
A city website allowing customers to select their container sizes is scheduled to go live July 15. Customers must choose by September, and delivery of new bins will start in October and last through next summer.
What happens to the green organics recycling container I got about two years ago from the city?
Customers can keep using their green cans, which won’t be replaced unless customers request a replacement because of damage.
What if I want more trash bins?
You can get them, but you’ll have to pay more for them.
Each extra 35-gallon trash bin will raise your monthly bills by $6.89, each extra 65-gallon trash bin will boost monthly bills $13.06 and each extra 95-gallon trash bin will increase monthly bills by $17.78.
What if I want more recycling containers?
Again, you’ll have to pay more.
Each extra 95-gallon blue container for items like bottles and cans will increase monthly bills by $9.67, and each extra 95-gallon green container for organic recycling like yard trimmings will raise monthly bills by $13.01.
What can I do if I’ve been getting city trash service but I’ve been declared newly ineligible?
The 20,355 properties declared newly ineligible for city trash service must sign up for service from one of five approved private haulers. Here’s how to reach them:
- EDCO, 619-287-7555
- Republic, 480-842-5862
- Universal Waste Systems, 619-814-6330
- Ware Disposal, 619-262-4990
- Waste Management, 619-596-5100
If I’ve been declared newly ineligible, when is the deadline to hire a private hauler?
If the city has been picking up your trash on Mondays, the deadline was July 1.
Tuesday customers have until July 15, Wednesday customers have until Aug. 1, Thursday customers have until Aug. 15, and Friday customers have until Sept. 1.
How can I get more information about switching to a private hauler?
The city is hosting a public forum on transitioning to private haulers at 5:30 p.m. on July 14 at 3020 Coronado Ave.
What’s the risk of not hiring a private hauler?
Properties where trash isn’t picked up are subject to notices of violation and code compliance citations, city officials say.
When I move to a private hauler, what do I do with my city trash and recycling containers?
City officials say customers transitioning to private haulers should leave their city containers in an accessible location for at least 48 hours after their last city collection, so that private haulers can swap them out for new containers.
I didn’t get city trash service before but have been declared newly eligible. What happens now?
The city will deliver new trash and recycling containers to you — if they haven’t already done so. City officials stress that newly eligible customers shouldn’t cancel their contracts with private haulers until they receive city containers.
Can I dispute the city’s ruling on my eligibility for city trash service?
Yes. All city rulings on eligibility can be appealed. City officials say appeals take four to six weeks to be processed. File an appeal here: sandiego.gov/environmental-services/trash-service-updates/appeals
What if I have other questions?
City officials say questions can be asked at (858) 694-7000 or by email to trash@sandiego.gov. The city’s trash website is sandiego.gov/trash-service-updates.