With our commingled organics program, you can put all of your organic waste in one container. All you need to remember is what CAN and what CANNOT be put in your green organics cart. Organic waste recycling is mandatory under California law (SB 1383). Residents are required to properly sort organic waste and place food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste in their organics container.

Please DO NOT use any plastic bags (including certified compostable or biodegradable bags) to collect your organic waste. Material must be placed loosely inside your organics carts. Organic waste may be placed in paper bags, which are recyclable.

Residential customers receive one GREEN 95-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.

Available Cart Sizes

Request Additional Carts

Two additional green carts are available at no extra cost. Residents requiring a fourth 95-gallon cart or more may request additional green carts for a nominal monthly fee.

Residents can request additional recycling carts at no extra cost.

Request Additional Carts

What Goes In The Organics Cart?

Resources

• If you are unsure if an item should be tossed in the organics cart, click here to check out our “Where Does it Go” search tool.
• Click here to go to our “Resource Center” for downloadable signage, residential service guides, informative videos and additional resources.

Collecting Your Food Scraps

There are many different ways to neatly move food scraps from your kitchen to your organics container. Here are some of the most popular options:

Wrap Your Scraps! Many people find wrapping food waste in any type of non-wax paper, such as paper towels, packing paper, newspaper, or paper bags, is an easy way to move food waste from inside your kitchen to your organics container. This is especially true for large quantities of fruit, meat, etc., and you can even leave the scraps wrapped in the paper and then just drop it into the organics container.

Containerize It! Residents may also have their own containers, such as coffee cans and Tupperware products that they are comfortable using to hold food scraps. Once the caddie is full, it can be emptied into the organics cart.

Freeze It! Residents can freeze their food scraps in containers and paper bags and then empty as needed.

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.

Request a Kitchen Caddie

Set Out Instructions

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.