Deadline nears for many San Diego residents to choose new trash bins

The deadline for many San Diego property owners to set up their new waste pickup accounts with the city and choose their own bin sizes has arrived.
•Video Above: Explainer on San Diego's waste pickup changes

Eligible owners have until the end of the day to sign up with the city at https://wasteportal.sandiego.gov/ and make their choice of trash and recycle bins; otherwise, the city will deliver the largest bin size automatically.

The city sent notifications via mail earlier this year to eligible homes and maintains a website where owners can determine if they are eligible.

According to the city, an additional message was sent in the mail in the previous two weeks that contained a code to sign up. Anyone who does not have the code is asked to email trash@sandiego.gov.

“We want to make this process as seamless as possible and that’s why we’re asking everyone to take a moment to log onto the Portal and make their bin selections by the deadline,” reads part of a statement from Jeremy Bauer, assistant director for environmental services.

Starting on October 6, new bins will be sent to the eligible homes, with delivery expected to continue until the summer of 2026.

After that date, the city will only collect waste from the new bins. Old bins will be gathered and recycled.

The changes come as the city introduces fees for waste pickup for the first time, part of the changes under Measure B approved by voters in 2022.