Residential Services
EDCO’s New Automated Organics Recycling Program will Collect Food Scraps and Yard Waste Mixed Together in Your Green Cart
Automated Organics Collection
Residential customers receive one GREEN 96-gallon organics cart. Use your green cart to separate landscape waste, food scraps, and other organic materials for collection each week on your scheduled service day and set out by 6 a.m. or the night before.
Residents have the option of requesting 35-, 64-, or 96-gallon trash, recycle, and organics carts. Please note that requesting a different organics cart size change will affect your monthly rate.
96-Gallon Cart
appx. 35.75" x 29.75" x 43.25"
64-Gallon Cart
appx. 31.75" x 24.25" x 41.75"
32-Gallon Cart
appx. 24.25" x 19.75" x 37.50"
Request Additional Carts
Residents can request additional organics carts at no additional cost.
CLICK HERE to request additional carts through EDCO’s Contact Us form.
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Place recyclable organics directly into your designated green cart. Do not use any kind of plastic bags (including certified compostable or biodegradable bags) for any type of green waste, food waste, or other organics collection or disposal, as they contaminate the Anaerobic Digester! All organic material must be placed loosely inside the green cart for collection. Paper bags are acceptable.
Please do not place any of the following materials in your green cart:
- No plastic bags.
- No trash or hazardous waste.
- No animal waste.
- No dirt, rocks, asphalt, concrete, sand, etc.
- No treated or lead-based painted wood or lumber.
Organic Waste
Organic waste is a renewable natural resource, and it mainly comes from yard and kitchen waste from homes and food waste, and scraps from industrial and commercial operations. Mandatory recycling of organic waste is the next step to achieving California’s Zero Waste goals. Recycling organics is easy and convenient with EDCO’s commingled Organics Recycling program.
EDCO has expanded the source-separated green waste collection to include recycling food waste. The service allows customers to place food scraps in the same container as green waste. EDCO’s new Organics Recycling program is a foundation for your community to achieve State mandates, including AB 1826, AB 1594, and SB 1383, which are directly related to organics recycling in the State of California.
EDCO’s Anaerobic Digestion Facility
Since 1967, family-owned and operated EDCO has had a long-standing commitment to reducing environmental impacts through innovation. EDCO’s state-of-the-art AD Facility began serving customers in early 2021, assisting your community to fully comply with State Mandates and keep us On the Road to Zero Waste.
AD is the natural process in which microorganisms break down organic materials such as food waste, green waste, fats, oils, and greases. Anaerobic digestion happens in closed spaces with no oxygen and converts organic material into Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and fertilizer.
Recycling organics is easy and convenient with EDCO’s commingled organics recycling program. EDCO has expanded the source-separated green waste collection to include recycling food waste, and the service allows customers to place food scraps in the same container as green waste. EDCO’s AD Facility is a foundation for your community to achieve State mandates, including AB 1826, AB 1594, and SB 1383, which are directly related to organics recycling in the State of California.
EDCO’s Recycling Videos
To learn more about EDCO’s new AD Facility and Organics Recycling Program and how they will significantly impact the future of organic waste, please watch our informative videos.
Why Recycle Food Waste?
Organic waste accounts for over 40% of California’s waste stream material. Organic material cannot break down when buried in a landfill, as in nature or a compost pile. Instead, it decomposes without oxygen, releasing methane gas into the atmosphere.
Organic waste is recycled into valuable compost or mulch used for soil restoration in an organics recycling program. It can also be recycled by anaerobic digestion, producing nutrient-rich biofertilizer, renewable energy, and fuel. By recycling food waste, you extend valuable landfill space, which also reduces CO2 emissions and preserves our environment!
What Will Go in the Green Cart
Below are just a few examples of what will be able to be placed in your green organics cart.
Food Scraps
Fruit, vegetables, meat, bones, dairy, eggshells, prepared food
Food-Soiled Paper
Napkins, tea bags, paper plates, coffee filters
Yard Waste
Plants, leaves, branches, grass
What Can You do Now?
In the United States alone, a shocking 40% of food is uneaten, wasted, and discarded. As consumers, we are the largest food waste producers, believe it or not, exceeding grocery stores and restaurants combined! So, the smallest changes add up and make a huge difference. San Diego Food System Alliance is leading an initiative across San Diego County to reduce food waste and increase food donations to people. By visiting their website, at sdfsa.org/savethefoodsd/, residents can find information on food recovery throughout the county, food donation guides, and resources.
Request a Kitchen Caddie
Residents can request a Kitchen Caddie to conveniently transfer food scraps from the kitchen to the organics cart or compost pile.
Annual Mulch Giveaway
EDCO and the City of Del Mar will offer free mulch for Del Mar residents during the Del Mar Recycles events. Please check the News & Events page for upcoming event dates.
This is a self-serve, self-loading service, so please bring your own cans/bags and shovel. If you plan to haul your mulch in an open truck or trailer, please remember to bring a tarp to cover your material.
By using compost and mulch in your yard and gardens, you can add important nutrients to the soil, improve plant root growth, reduce water runoff, and conserve water.
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