Beginning March 1, it’ll be easier than ever to recycle leftovers and organic waste along with yard waste in San Marcos.
EDCO Disposal’s new Organic Waste Recycling Program will collect food scraps and yard debris mixed together in your green cart on your regularly scheduled trash and recycling pick-up day. Organic waste includes: food scraps, landscaping and pruning, non-hazardous wood cuttings and food-soiled paper waste. If it grows, it can now be recycled in your green cart!
Mandatory recycling of organic waste is the next step to achieving California’s Zero Waste goals. EDCO is now utilizing a state-of-the-art Anaerobic Digester at its Escondido facility which breaks down organic material collected from San Marcos and other service cities into renewable natural gas to fuel vehicles and fertilizer for farms. Anaerobic Digestion is an efficient and environmentally sustainable technology that can make a significant contribution to the management of organic waste in California. Capturing and reducing the amount of methane released into the atmosphere is critical in ensuring a safe and healthy environment.
The new facility will help local cities meet a statewide target of diverting 75% of organic waste from landfills by Jan. 1, 2025, as set by state law. Organic waste including food scraps and yard cuttings make up nearly half of the trash dumped into California’s landfills each year. Organic material cannot break down when it is buried in a landfill as it would in nature or in a compost pile. That’s because it decomposes without oxygen, and in turn releases harmful methane gas into the atmosphere.
ORGANICS RECYCLING SPECIFICS:
San Marcos’ residential trash service, EDCO will begin picking up organics recycling March 1 on your regularly scheduled trash collection day. Learn more below on how to request a kitchen caddie and easily capture food scraps in the kitchen before transferring to your green waste cart.
RESOURCES:
- View EDCO’s Organics Recycling Guide.
- Learn more about EDCO’s Organics Recycling Program.
- Residents can request a Kitchen Caddie for convenient transfer of food scraps from the kitchen to the organics cart or compost pile.
- Visit the City of San Marcos’ Recycling webpage.
