City will deliver new trash bins starting Monday

📦 Container Deliveries Begin October 13, 2025

The City of San Diego's Environmental Services Department will begin delivering new residential waste collection containers this October through 2026. Here is what to expect, including how to look up your delivery schedule and make any service-level adjustments. 

♻️ What’s Changing

• The City will deliver new gray trash container(s) and light blue recycling container(s). 
• All old black trash and dark blue recycling containers will be removed and recycled.
• Green organic waste containers will remain, unless you requested a change in the Residential Waste Collection Services Portal.
• If you still have the original green yard waste container, these will be updated later in 2026.
• Once your new containers arrive, the City will no longer collect from your old black trash and dark blue recycling containers.

🚚 Delivery Process

Deliveries will happen in phases:

1. Gray trash containers will be delivered first.
2. Light blue recycling containers will follow on a second visit.
3. Green container updates (if applicable) will be on a third visit.

On your new trash bin delivery day, old trash containers will be removed and recycled. Removal may not happen at the same time as delivery, but should happen on the same day. The City will follow the same process later for delivering recycling bins.

📅 When Will My Containers Arrive?

Check your estimated delivery date.

Deliveries are based on your collection route and service day.

• Delivery dates may shift — check back regularly.
• Delivery dates cannot be changed or rescheduled. Please coordinate with a neighbor if you will not be home on the scheduled day.
• Opt in to text and email alerts in your Portal account to get notified in the days leading up to your delivery. It's not too late to create an account.

🚨Important Delivery Day Instructions

• Place all containers at the curb—even if they’re not full or if we are not making adjustments to that container type.
• Leave them out until crews complete delivery and removal.
• If old containers aren’t removed, request pickup at sandiego.gov/GID.
• Once new containers arrive, verify the size and quantity are correct.
• If you need to make adjustments, submit them in the Portal within 30 days of your delivery for the new gray trash container(s).

🗑️ Service-Level Adjustments

The Residential Waste Collection Services Portal is closed for initial selections, but you’ll have another chance to adjust your services. Create your account today to avoid future delays.

Within 30 days of your gray container delivery, you may:

• Request a different trash container size.
• Update recycling or organic waste containers.
• Order additional containers.

*There will not be a second swap out period following delivery of the new recycling bins.

Please wait one business day after delivery and request a service-level adjustment in the Portal. The 30 day swap out period is your opportunity to make any remaining service changes between now and July 2026.

Don’t yet have a Portal account? Create one now. Go to sandiego.gov/trash to get started.

❓ Still Have Questions?

Visit our website, review our container delivery FAQs or contact the Environmental Services Department:

📧trash@sandiego.gov | ☎️ 858-694-7000.