A public resource guide
Every legitimate way to get rid of furniture, appliances, mattresses, and bulk waste in San Diego, including free Mattress Recycling drop-off, the Miramar Landfill, the new Solid Waste Management Fee that took effect July 2025, donation programs, and what to do when paid hauling isn't an option.
Last updated: May 2026 · Maintained by Freemoval as a public resource
San Diego is unusual among major U.S. cities: the City does not provide on-demand bulky item pickup for single-family homes. Residents either self-haul to Miramar Landfill, use a private hauler, or work with their HOA on a Community Cleanup. The system also went through its biggest overhaul in 106 years on July 1, 2025, when the new Solid Waste Management Fee took effect, San Diego is no longer a free trash service. This page walks through every legitimate option.
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San Diego residents have free curbside trash, recycling, and organic waste collection (now fee-based as of July 2025), free mattress recycling, free HHW disposal at the Miramar facility, and donation pickup programs. The City of San Diego Environmental Services Department (ESD) serves approximately 225,000 residential customers. Critically: no on-demand bulky item pickup is provided for single-family homes, this is unusual among large U.S. cities.
Free Mattress Recycling
Free for residentsMattresses and box springs can be brought to the City's Mattress Collection Site to be recycled free of charge, one of the genuinely useful free options for San Diego residents who can self-haul. California's mattress recycling program (funded by a recycling fee on new mattress purchases) makes this drop-off free statewide.
Where: Miramar Recycling Center and other authorized California Mattress Recycling Council drop-off sites. Visit byebyemattress.com to find specific locations.
Cost: Free for residents.
What's accepted: Mattresses and box springs (any size). Items must not be wet, soiled, or infested.
Limits: Generally up to 3 mattresses per visit at most sites. Confirm with specific facility.
Miramar Landfill self-haul
Tipping feesThe Miramar Landfill is San Diego's primary disposal site, where City of San Diego trash is brought. Residents can self-haul bulky items, construction debris, and other materials directly. Tipping fees apply, but they're generally lower than private hauler costs for small loads.
Address: Miramar Landfill, 5180 Convoy Street, San Diego, CA 92111.
What's accepted: Bulky items, household trash, yard waste, most construction debris.
Cost: Tipping fees vary by load size and material. Typical small-vehicle drop-offs run $25-$60.
Useful for: Bulky items the city won't pick up (which is most of them, since on-demand bulky pickup isn't offered).
Miramar Greenery (free for residents)
Free yard wasteSan Diego residents can drop off yard waste, tree limbs, and clean wood at the Miramar Greenery free of charge with proof of residency. The Greenery turns this material into mulch and compost that's sold back to residents at a discount.
Where: Miramar Greenery, adjacent to Miramar Landfill at 5180 Convoy Street.
Cost: Free for City of San Diego residents with valid ID showing San Diego address.
What's accepted: Yard waste, grass clippings, leaves, branches under 4 inches diameter, clean untreated wood.
Bonus: Free or low-cost mulch and compost available for residents to take home.
HHW Transfer Facility (free for residents)
Free for residentsSan Diego operates a Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility for residents to safely dispose of paint, chemicals, batteries, motor oil, electronics, and other hazardous items at no charge.
What's accepted: Paint, household chemicals, batteries (especially lithium-ion), motor oil, fluorescent bulbs, electronics, sharps, mercury thermometers/thermostats.
What you need: Proof of San Diego residency.
Why it matters: The new blue recycling bins have explicit safety warnings: never place batteries or electronics in any bin. These items cause fires inside collection trucks and at sorting facilities.
Freemoval (partner-community pickups)
FreeFreemoval is a social impact program that subsidizes free junk removal pickups in partner communities, typically affordable housing properties and select municipal partnerships. Given San Diego's lack of city bulky pickup, this is especially valuable. Partner expansion is in progress for 2026.
Eligibility: Households in active partner communities. Ask your property manager whether your building participates.
Status in San Diego: Onboarding partner properties throughout 2026.
Donation-pickup programs
FreeSan Diego-area nonprofits offer free pickup for items in usable condition.
The Salvation Army: Free pickup of clothing, furniture, household items. Schedule at satruck.org or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Multiple San Diego County locations. Pickup for furniture, appliances, building materials.
Goodwill San Diego: Donation pickup for larger items in the San Diego metro area.
Massive system overhaul July 2025. San Diego is in the middle of its biggest waste management transformation in 106 years. For more than a century, the City provided trash pickup to single-family homeowners at no direct charge (funded through the general fund). In 2022, voters approved Measure B, allowing the City to begin charging a fee. The new Solid Waste Management Fee took effect July 1, 2025, alongside an entirely new bin system with RFID chips, a customer portal, and tiered pricing based on bin size.
Three-bin system. Gray bin for trash (weekly), light blue bin for recycling (every other week, A/B schedule), green bin for organics (weekly under California SB 1383). All collected on the same day of the week. Bins must be at the curb or alleyway by 6 AM, pickup runs 6 AM to 5:30 PM Monday-Friday.
SB 1383 mandate. California Senate Bill 1383 requires all San Diego residents to separate food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste from garbage. These materials go in the green organics bin. This is mandatory statewide and enforceable.
Recycling weekly starting July 2027. San Diego currently collects recycling every other week, but state law requires the City to switch to weekly recycling by July 2027.
Holiday delays (the “domino rule”). Starting on the day of the holiday, trash shifts one day later for the rest of that week. ESD observes only the major holidays, Presidents' Day, Independence Day, Veterans' Day, and other federal holidays are NOT observed by ESD; collection runs as normal.
NO on-demand bulky pickup. Critically: the City of San Diego does not provide on-demand bulky item pickup for single-family homes. Residents may request a Community Cleanup (HOA-organized) if available, but most must self-haul or use a private hauler. This is a major difference from most large U.S. cities.
Bin removal rule. All containers must be removed from your designated point of collection by 6 PM on collection day. Failure to remove containers is a violation of San Diego Municipal Code Section 66.0105 and citations can be issued.
Battery and electronics warning. The new blue recycling bins have explicit safety warnings: never place batteries (especially lithium-ion) or electronics in any bin. These items cause fires inside collection trucks and at sorting facilities. Always take them to the Miramar HHW facility or a certified drop-off.
Multi-family and private collection. Single-family residences with private collection (some HOAs, gated communities) are not eligible for City service. Multifamily properties (typically 5+ units) and businesses use City-approved private franchise haulers. EDCO Disposal serves much of East County and Poway. Check sandiego.gov to confirm which provider serves your address.
San Diego's donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program-specific rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.
Items typically not accepted: damaged or stained furniture, mattresses with bedbug history or significant wear, appliances that don't work, particle-board furniture in poor condition, cribs (federal safety regulations have changed), and exercise equipment that requires reassembly. Always call before scheduling if you're unsure, pickups that find unacceptable items will leave them behind.
Because the City of San Diego does not offer on-demand bulky pickup, paid options or self-haul are the standard path for most furniture, appliances, and large items. Tipping fees at Miramar are typically lower than private haulers for small loads, but private haulers handle the labor and transportation. Compare based on what you're moving.
LoadUp paid pickup
$80+Because San Diego doesn't offer city bulky pickup, paid removal is the standard option for most residents who can't self-haul. LoadUp offers professional removal in San Diego with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What's included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
Other paid services in San Diego: 1-800-Got-Junk, College Hunks Hauling Junk, Junk King, comparison-shop for larger jobs.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book a San Diego pickup with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Different items have different rules in San Diego. Here's a quick reference for the most common things people need to dispose of.
San Diego operates the Miramar Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility, accepting paint, chemicals, batteries, motor oil, electronics, fluorescent bulbs, sharps, and mercury items free for City residents. The facility is critical because the new blue recycling bins explicitly warn against placing batteries or electronics in any bin, these items cause fires inside collection trucks and at sorting facilities. Several retailers also offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics, and most pharmacies for unused medications.
To report illegal dumping in San Diego, use the Get It Done app or call 1089-527-7500. Reports can also be filed at sandiego.gov/environmental-services. Include the location, description of dumped material, and a photo if possible. San Diego Environmental Services and code enforcement actively investigate dumping reports. Because the City doesn't offer on-demand bulky pickup, the temptation to dump in alleys or canyons is real, but illegal dumping fines under California law typically exceed the cost of paid hauling or self-haul to Miramar. A LoadUp pickup at $80 is dramatically cheaper than a dumping citation.
Why doesn't San Diego offer free bulky item pickup?
Unlike most large U.S. cities, the City of San Diego does not provide on-demand bulky item pickup for single-family homes. The City's Environmental Services Department focuses on weekly trash, recycling, and organics collection. For bulky items, residents must self-haul to Miramar Landfill, use a private hauler, or work with their HOA on Community Cleanups. Single-family residents may also request mattress recycling free at Miramar. This is a significant gap that makes paid haulers and donation pickup more important in San Diego than in peer cities.
What changed about San Diego trash service in July 2025?
For 106 years, the City provided trash pickup to single-family homeowners at no direct charge (funded through the general fund). In 2022, voters approved Measure B, allowing the City to begin charging a fee. The new Solid Waste Management Fee took effect July 1, 2025, alongside an entirely new bin system with RFID chips, a customer portal, and tiered pricing based on bin size. San Diego is no longer a free trash service for single-family residents.
How do I dispose of a mattress in San Diego?
Mattresses and box springs can be brought to the City's Mattress Collection Site at Miramar Recycling Center to be recycled free of charge. California's mattress recycling program (funded by a recycling fee on new mattress purchases) makes this drop-off free statewide. Visit byebyemattress.com to find authorized California Mattress Recycling Council drop-off sites. Mattresses must not be wet, soiled, or infested. Most sites accept up to 3 mattresses per visit.
How do I qualify for Freemoval in San Diego?
Freemoval works through partner communities, typically affordable housing operators, public housing authorities, and select municipal partnerships. Given that San Diego doesn’t offer city bulky pickup, the program is especially valuable here. We’re actively expanding partnerships in San Diego through 2026. If your property is part of the program, your property manager will provide a booking code. If you operate housing or work in a city department in San Diego, contact us to discuss adding your community.
Why can't I put batteries or electronics in any bin?
Lithium-ion batteries and electronics cause fires inside collection trucks and at sorting facilities. The new blue recycling bins have explicit safety warnings. These fires have been a serious problem nationally, with millions of dollars in damage and risks to workers. Always take batteries and electronics to the Miramar HHW Transfer Facility (free for residents) or a certified drop-off like Best Buy. This applies to ALL bins, trash, recycling, and organics.
What are the rules for the green organics bin?
California’s Senate Bill 1383 (effective January 2022) requires all San Diego residents to separate food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste from garbage and place them in the green organics bin. This is mandatory and enforceable. Accepted: all food scraps (raw and cooked, meat, dairy, bones), food-soiled paper (napkins, paper towels, pizza boxes without plastic lining), yard trimmings. NOT accepted: plastic bags (even compostable), compostable plastic cutlery. Use a paper bag or wrap food scraps in newspaper to keep the bin clean.
How do I report illegal dumping in San Diego?
Use the Get It Done app or call 1089-527-7500. Reports can also be filed at sandiego.gov/environmental-services. Include location, description of dumped material, and a photo if possible.
Is this page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated May 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
Freemoval is actively onboarding San Diego partner properties through 2026. Reach out to prioritize your community.
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