Recycling Programs
The City of San Marcos is committed to helping residents be environmentally savvy and therefore offers a comprehensive recycling program in cooperation with EDCO Waste and Recycling Services.
Recycling Brochure
Recycling Video
If you have materials you wish to recycle that are not included in this information, please visit www.1800cleanup.org.
For more information on the City’s environmental programs, call (760) 744-1050, ext. 3137.
Beverage Containers
Electronic Waste
Household Hazardous Waste
Household Recycling
Plastic Bags
Tires
Used Motor Oil
Universal Waste
Yard Waste Recycling
Recycling Buyback Center
Beverage Containers
Consumers pay California Refund Value (CRV) when they purchase beverages from a retailer. This CRV is refunded when containers are redeemed at a recycling buyback center. The refund is five cents for beverage containers under 24 ounces and 10 cents for containers 24 ounces or larger.
In San Marcos, you may redeem these containers at EDCO’s Recycling Buyback Center. You may also check for a recycling buyback center at your local grocery store.
Electronic Waste
Electronic waste, or "E-waste," includes computers, computer monitors, cell phones and televisions. E-waste can contain lead, mercury and other toxins which cannot be disposed in the trash. E-waste must be properly disposed of by taking it to a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection facility. There is no charge for recycling e-waste at the Vista and Poway HHW collection facilities. Vista or Poway HHW collection facility locations are listed under Hazardous Waste.
Computer monitors and televisions may also be recycled for free at EDCO’s Recycling Buyback Center. There is a fee to recycle other electronic waste - like keyboards, computer drives and printers. EDCO’s Recycling Buyback Center does not accept household hazardous waste. For more information, please call (760) 744-2700.
Household Hazardous Waste
Please note, starting on July 1, 2010, City of San Marcos residents have a new HHW hotline number, (800) 714-1195.
Household hazardous waste (HHW) includes a variety of materials that are typically ignitable, corrosive, reactive or toxic and have labels reading "caution," "warning," "danger," "poison," "toxic," "flammable," or "corrosive." HHW includes items such as paint, household cleaners, pool chemicals, automotive products and pesticides. These wastes must be properly disposed of and cannot be thrown away in household trash or poured down the sink.
If disposed improperly, HHW can cause significant harm to people and the environment. San Marcos residents may properly dispose of household hazardous waste free of charge at the following Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Facilities:
Vista HHW Collection Facility
1145 E. Taylor Street
(800) 714-1195
Poway HHW Collection Facility
12325 Crosthwaite Circle
(800) 714-1195
These facilities are open Saturdays from 9 am to 3 pm with the exception of holiday weekends. Residents may visit these sites free of charge with proof of San Marcos residency; a formal ID or current utility bill is required. No appointment is needed. The Vista and Poway HHW facilities will be closed on the following dates:
January 2, 2010 (New Year)
April 3, 2010 (Easter)
May 29, 2010 (Memorial Day)
July 3, 2010 (Independence Day)
September 4, 2010 (Labor Day)
October 9, 2010 (Colombus Day) NEW!
November 27, 2010 (Thanksgiving)
December 25, 2010 (Christmas)
January 1, 2011 (New Year)
Household Recycling
Convenient curbside recycling is offered for single family residences through EDCO Waste and Recycling Services. All recyclable materials should be put in the blue recycling cart and placed at the curb on regular trash collection day. The City also offers a pilot program for multi-family residences. Blue recycling carts are located near trash bins on multi-family properties.
Effective July 1, 2010, residents can recycle all plastics marked with a "1" through "7" and mixed rigid plastic items such as totes, trash cans, crates, buckets, kitty litter boxes, doll houses, toys, and laundry baskets in their blue recycling cart.
Recyclable items include newspaper, cardboard, mixed paper (copy paper, "junk" mail, magazines, telephone books, cereal boxes), aluminum cans, steel tin cans, rigid plastics, glass containers, plastics marked with "1" through "7" and all beverage containers labeled CA Redemption Value or CA Cash Refund.
In an effort to reduce the amount of trash going into landfills and increase household recycling, residents may now request a larger 95-gallon blue recycling bin, for more information contact EDCO Waste and Recycling Services at (760) 744-2700.
Plastic Bags
Grocery stores and other retailers offer in-store recycling programs for plastic bags. The City of San Marcos has a pilot program for the distribution of reusable tote bag-style grocery bags. The purpose of this program is to promote reuse and to reduce the number of plastic bags that are thrown in the trash. This program is funded by a grant from the California Department of Conservation. For information on how to obtain a reusable tote bag, please call (760) 744-1050, ext. 3137.
Tires
Residents may take used tires for recycling to Express Tire, 1223 W. San Marcos Boulevard. There is a $3 charge per tire and they accept up to four tires. Tires are accepted during normal business hours. For more information, please call (760) 471-1733.
Used Motor Oil
Motor oil that is uncontaminated can be infinitely recycled. San Marcos residents that change their own motor oil can recycle their used oil free of charge at either of the two Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facilities or at a certified used oil collection center listed below:
AutoZone, 195 Rancho Santa Fe Road
Kragen Auto Parts, 225 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road
Jiffy Lube, 765 W. San Marcos Boulevard
Jiffy Lube, 218 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road
Universal Waste
State law mandates that items listed below may not be placed in the trash. The state regulates these wastes as a type of hazardous waste called universal waste and prohibits their disposal into household trash or into a landfill.
Household batteries - including alkaline, lead acid, lithium, mercury and nickel cadium (Ni-Cd) batteries. For safety, all batteries should have both terminals taped before placing them in a recycling container. A battery covered with oxidized electrolyte is very corrosive and can burn the skin and eyes so handle with care!
Electronic Devices – including cell phones, computer monitors, computer printers, cordless printers, cordless phones, CPUs, laptop computers, radios, telephone answering machines, televisions and VCRs.
Fluorescent, High Intensity Discharge (HID) Metal Halide, and Sodium Light Bulbs.
Items containing mercury – including gauges, thermometers and thermostats.
These items may be taken to the Vista and Poway Household Facilities for free recycling and disposal.
Household batteries may be taken to the EDCO Recycling Buyback Center located at 224 S. Las Posas Road, San Marcos, CA Please call (760) 744-2700 for more information.
Yard Waste Recycling
Convenient curbside yard waste recycling is offered to single family residences through the City’s contract with EDCO Recycling and Waste Removal. Yard waste materials like grass clippings, weeds, tree branches no longer than four feet in length, leaves and hedge trimmings may be recycled by putting the material into a rigid yard waste can and placing the can at the curb on the regular trash collection day.
Recycling Buyback Center
EDCO has a certified recycling buyback center in San Marcos that offers recycling redemption for aluminum cans, CRV glass beverage containers and CRV plastic beverage containers. A recycling drop-off is also available for household batteries, sharps, paper, cardboard and non-CRV household containers.
EDCO Recycling Buyback Center
224 S. Las Posas Road, San Marcos
(760) 744-2700