What Goes Where
To help residents maximize recycling and minimize the amount of trash that goes into the gray trash container, here is a recap of what goes where or, use EDCO's search engine to find out where specific items get sorted. For other information about recycling, composting, or waste reduction, please contact the Public Works Department at 858-668-4700.
Blue Container for Recyclables
The following items can be mixed together in the recycling container:
- Aluminum cans, foil, and pie plates
- All rigid plastics are recyclable
- All rigid plastics labeled Recycle Code 3 through Recycle Code 7 will be accepted into all recycling programs, including the curbside recycling collection program. This is in addition to plastics labeled Recycle Code 1 and Recycle Code 2 and all CRV items that are already part of our recycling program, such as: soda and plastic bottles, water bottles, milk jugs, shampoo bottles and detergent containers.
- Acceptable plastic items (but not limited to): Plastic buckets with metal handles, plastic drums, totes and empty garbage cans, plastic milk crates, kitty litter buckets, laundry baskets, lawn furniture, pet carriers, plastic toys, plastic agricultural trays/pots, plastic pallets, yogurt containers, cottage cheese containers, and other mixed plastic containers.
- Cardboard, shoe and gift boxes, cereal boxes, etc.
- Cartons such as soup, milk, juice, soy, and other beverage and food cartons
- Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- Paper, including: Writing paper, computer printouts, "junk" mail, magazines, phone books, catalogs, paper grocery bags, clean food packaging, file folders, envelopes, etc.
- Polystyrene identified with Recycle Code 6. These are pieces that are generally used as packing material, but even polystyrene used for food can be recycled as long as it is clean.
Please do not place the following in the recycle bin:
- Please do not recycle ceramics, drinking glasses, mirrors, or window glass.
- Please do not place plastic grocery bags in the blue container (Many grocery stores provide store front collection containers for plastic bag recycling).
- Please do not place yard waste or toxic items in the blue container.
Gray Container for Trash
If all items that can be recycled go into the blue container, the 95-gallon gray trash container should provide most households with sufficient capacity for non-recyclable materials:
- Ceramics, drinking glasses, mirrors, or window glass
- Other household trash such as diapers or food scraps (Most food scraps can be composted.)
- Non-recyclable treated wood, lumber, or nails (If you are working on a home improvement project, please contact EDCO at 858-748-7769 to order a temporary bin.)
Please do not place the following in the trash bin:
- Please do not place plastic grocery bags in the gray container. (Many grocery stores provide store front collection containers for grocery bag and plastic bag recycling).
- Please do not place yard waste or toxic items in the gray container.
Standard Waste Cans for Yard Waste
EDCO Disposal continues to collect unlimited quantities of recyclable yard waste. Recyclable yard waste includes:
- Grass clippings
- Hedge trimmings
- Leaves and weeds
Please do not place the following with yard waste:
- Please do not place food scraps, trash, animal waste, painted or treated wood, lumber or nails, or rocks, asphalt, concrete, sand, etc. with yard waste.
Rigid waste containers are just the thing to separate yard waste material for recycling. Yard waste recycling decals may be requested from EDCO or can be picked up at Poway City Hall. Plastic bags are also acceptable.
Twice a year, EDCO customers are either mailed a coupon, or if they pay their bill online, can access a coupon on their online portal for the Semi-Annual Self Haul Clean-up Event, good for the free disposal of 1 load of unwanted bulky items such as furniture, appliances, or residential wood waste, at the local transfer station. The spring self-haul event takes place between each April and June, and the fall self-haul event takes place between each October and December. If it is too large or heavy to fit in your trash container and you need to dispose of it right away, please call EDCO to schedule a bulky item pickup at a reasonable cost.
Household Toxic Items
Toxic items or household hazardous waste (HHW) are leftover portions of products containing hazardous chemicals used to maintain your residence, such as paints, pesticides, and cleaners. The city operates a Household Hazardous Waste Facility every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (excluding holiday weekends).
The facility also collects: electronic waste (computer monitors and televisions), universal waste (batteries and fluorescent tubes), medication waste, sharps waste, and used oil and oil filters.
For more information, call 858-668-4702. Free door-to-door pickups are available to homebound residents and seniors 65 and older. Please call 1-800-714-1195 for more information.