0
free curbside bulky pickups; the city program was paused in June 2026
$0
mattress and box spring drop-off at Miramar, Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Free
household hazardous waste drop-off at Miramar, by appointment, city residents
Every route for tires in San Diego, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full San Diego guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in San Diego, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
City of San Diego curbside bulky item pickup: tires
Not collectedNo curbside pickup, and Miramar restricts tire loads. California tire retailers accept used tires when you buy new ones, usually for a small fee, and the county runs periodic free tire amnesty events.
Why: All bulky items, since there is no curbside program. Electronics and hazardous waste are also banned from the trash cart under California law.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in San Diego: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering tires, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in San Diego: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
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.
The San Diego rule for tires: No curbside pickup, and Miramar restricts tire loads. California tire retailers accept used tires when you buy new ones, usually for a small fee, and the county runs periodic free tire amnesty events.
What the city will not take: All bulky items, since there is no curbside program. Electronics and hazardous waste are also banned from the trash cart under California law.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of San Diego Environmental Services: Recycling Mattresses and Box Springs (states the City does not provide bulky item pickup), City of San Diego: Miramar Landfill fee schedule and regulations, City of San Diego: Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in San Diego. 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.
Why tires are different from ordinary bulk. Tires are widely banned from landfills (state laws in nearly every U.S. state) but easy to recycle through the established tire fee system. The disposal fee is built into every new tire purchase ($1 to $5 per tire), funding end-of-life processing.
Three mistakes that get tires left at the curb:
When free options don’t fit (no new tire purchase, no upcoming collection events, more than the per-event limit):
Auto Shop Tire-Only Disposal
$3 to $8 eachMost auto shops will accept old tires WITHOUT a new tire purchase for $3 to $8 per tire. The fee covers their disposal cost since they didn’t collect the tire fee on a new purchase from you.
The most universal paid option: Available at virtually every auto shop nationally, Discount Tire, Costco Tire Center, Walmart Auto Care, NTB, local independent shops. Many will let you drop off tires anytime during business hours, no appointment.
Volume limit: Most shops cap at 4 to 5 tires per visit. Larger volumes need specialized tire recyclers.
LoadUp paid tires 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 of your tires. 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.
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 tires pickup in San Diego with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside San Diego proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete San Diego junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national tires disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for San Diego: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does San Diego pick up tires for free?
No. Return them to a tire retailer, or watch for a county tire amnesty event.
How much does paid tire removal cost in San Diego?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single tires pickup in San Diego starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. 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 the cheapest way to dispose of tires?
If you’re buying new tires anyway: free with new tire purchase at any tire shop. The disposal fee is built into the new tire price by state law. If you have old tires without buying new ones: $3 to $8 per tire at most auto shops, or free at periodic city tire collection events. Auto shops are the most universal option, every Discount Tire, Walmart Auto Care, Costco Tire Center, and local independent shop accepts old tires for the disposal fee.
Why are tires banned from landfills?
Whole tires don’t compress in landfills, they trap air and rise to the surface over time, breaking the landfill cap and creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus and Zika. Tire piles are also a major fire hazard, tire fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish and release toxic smoke. Nearly every U.S. state has banned whole tires from landfills under solid waste laws. Recycled tires get shredded and used as tire-derived fuel for cement kilns and paper mills, crumb rubber for athletic field surfacing and playgrounds, and recycled rubber products.
How does the tire disposal fee work?
Every new tire sold in the U.S. includes a small disposal fee ($1 to $5 per tire built into the purchase price) that funds end-of-life recycling. Tire shops are required by state law to take old tires when you buy new ones, this is the simplest disposal channel and feels free because the cost was already paid when you bought the new tire. The fee varies by state: California $1.75 per tire, New York $2.50 per tire, most southern states $1 to $2 per tire.
What about specialty tires (agricultural, oversized, off-road)?
Most auto shops only accept passenger and light-truck tires. For agricultural tractor tires, oversized truck tires, motorcycle tires, and off-road tires, you’ll need a specialized recycler. Search “tire recycling” plus your tire type. Some farm equipment dealers accept their own brand back. Disposal fees for specialty tires are typically $20 to $100 per tire because of the larger volume of rubber.
Is this San Diego page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full San Diego guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
