Organic Waste Recycling
Good for the Green Bin
By recycling organic waste, you are doing your part to protect San Diego’s environment. See below to learn what types of waste are good and NOT good for the green bin.
Do's - What's Good for the Green Bin
If the waste is edible, grew out of the ground or on a tree, then it is OK to put it in your bin. This includes food scraps, most food-soiled paper products, and yard trimmings. Fruit, vegetables, cooked meat, bones, eggshells, paper towels, and grass clippings – it’s all recyclable!
Eggshells
Coffee Grounds, Paper Coffee Filters & Loose Tea Leaves
Coffee Grounds, Paper Coffee Filters & Tea Leaves
Loose tea leaves are accepted in the green bin. However, tea bags are not because most tea bag brands use polypropylene, a sealing plastic, to keep their tea bags from falling apart. This plastic is not recyclable or biodegradable. If used tea bags end up in the finished compost, it can lead to plastic pollution, as not all of it will be break down in the composting process.
Fruit & Vegetables
Grains
Scraps in Paper Bag
Food Scraps Wrapped in Newspaper, Paper Napkin, or Paper Towel
Grass & Flowers
Branches, Sticks, Twigs & Untreated Wood
Leaves & Other Yard Waste Trimmings
Hair & Fur
Straw or Hay
Cooked Meat & Bones
Meat & Bones
Consider wrapping your meat and bones in a paper napkin or paper towel, placing it inside a paper bag, and/or delay adding it your green bin until collection day and keeping it in your freezer or refrigerator until pick up day.
Don't's - What's NOT Good for the Green Bin
There are some things we need to keep out of the Green Bin because they are not compostable or they may contaminate the compost we make with plastics or other non-organic materials. Save these items for the Blue Bin (mixed recycling) or the Black Bin (trash). See the details below the graphic to learn which bin these items belong in.
Plastic Bags
Plastic Bags
Plastic bags clog organic waste recycling facility machinery and equipment and break into tiny pieces of plastic when incorporated into the compost process. You can instead wrap your food scraps in a paper bag, paper towel, paper napkin or newspaper. Put used plastic bags in the trash bin or drop it off at a local retailer who recycles clean plastic bags.
Compostable Ware (Plastics, Metal & Bamboo)
Compostable Ware (Plastics, Metal & Bamboo
Products (plates, utensils, cups, bags) labeled compostable/biodegradable often do not break down consistently at local organic waste recycling facilities. Please put in the trash bin.
Painted or Treated Wood
Painted or Treated Wood
The chemicals in painted or treated wood can remain through the organic waste recycling process (contaminating the finished compost product). Please place in the trash bin.
Metal
Metal
Metal in the green bin can harm the compost processing equipment. Please put clean metal in the blue recycle bin.
Beverage Cartons
Beverage Cartons
Beverage cartons are often made of material that doesn’t easily break down in the compost process. Please place in the blue recycle bin.
Glass
Glass
Glass placed in the green bin can break into shards and can be dangerous for employees. Please put clean glass in the blue recycle bin.
Kitty Litter
Kitty Litter
Kitty litter often contains non-biodegradable material. Please put in the trash bin.
Animal Waste
Animal Waste
Please place animal waste and pet waste in a plastic bag in the trash bin.
Diapers
Diapers
Diapers are often made of different kinds of plastics that don’t break down in the compost process. Please place in the trash bin.
Oils
Oils
Cooking oil and other fats and greases can slow down the composting process. They can form a water resistant barrier around materials and reduce air flow and water, which are necessary for the aerobic composting process. Motor oil is considered a household hazardous waste (HHW) as it can be harmful to our regional bodies of water and local wildlife. Contact the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department to make an appointment to safely recycle motor oil 858-694-7000.
Soiled Pizza Boxes
Pizza Boxes
Pizza boxes are sometimes lined with non-compostable materials that do not break down at an organic waste recycling facility. The soiled portion of the pizza box goes in the trash bin and, if clean, the other portion can go in the blue recycle bin.
Magazines & Coated Paper
Magazines
Magazines are often coated in plastic and chemicals that do not easily break down in the compost process. Put clean paper in its place - in the blue recycling bin.