San Diego ends black-bin trash pickups—set out city gray carts starting July 1, 2026

Starting July 1, 2026, the City of San Diego is switching fully to gray trash carts for curbside collection. That means black bins will no longer be collected on your scheduled pickup day after the cutoff.

The practical takeaway is simple: if you set out the wrong container type, your trash may be missed. NBC 7 San Diego reported on the change and the timeline in advance of the July 1 start.

The simple rule for pickup day

San Diego’s resident-facing guidance boils down to:

• Set out only the City-provided gray cart on your scheduled collection day.
• Do not put out black bins after July 1, 2026.

In other words, collection is tied to the City-provided container, not just the color.

“Don’t overthink it”: privately purchased gray bins won’t be serviced

A common mistake is assuming that any gray bin or cart will work. The City of San Diego’s guidance states that privately purchased gray bins won’t be serviced—so don’t rely on what you have “close enough” at home.

Before your next pickup day, take a minute to confirm you have the City-provided gray cart associated with your household or unit.

Renters: check with your landlord or property manager

Renters should not assume the correct container automatically matches the unit. The city’s FAQ points residents to the landlord or property manager to ensure the proper cart is in place for that address.

If you rent, confirm with your property manager which cart your unit is assigned before the July 1 switch so you don’t end up setting out the wrong container.

Where to verify your next steps

To avoid a missed pickup, start with the City of San Diego’s Trash service updates page and Trash service updates FAQ. Those pages provide the official eligibility and “what to put out” instructions for each situation.

If you’re unsure whether your household has the right City-provided gray cart, use the FAQ to confirm what the city requires before your next scheduled pickup day.

Sources

• City of San Diego — Trash service updates
• NBC 7 San Diego — Switching out black trash bins for gray ones on July 1