Jun 30, 2026 - News

New gray trash bins are now required for pickup

Kate Murphy

A garbage truck with a mechanical arm lifts a light blue bin on a street. Two wheeled trash cans, gray and green, sit on the curb beside the sidewalk, with palm trees and houses in the background. — Gray is the new black. Photo: City of San Diego

San Diego's black trash bins are officially out. The new gray bins are now the only ones that will be picked up starting Wednesday.

Catch up quick: The city recently finished rolling out new trash bins of different sizes with RFID chips that track if the bin has been picked up.

They're part of the new trash fee that went into effect last year.

After backlash, the city reduced those fees starting next year. People can apply for financial assistance for the upcoming fees.

Zoom in: Nearly all local residents already have their new bins, but homeowners can change their service online and save $6 a month by switching to a smaller size.

If you still have a black bin, schedule a pickup, call 858-694-7000 or contact your landlord.

What's next: More than half of the blue recycling bins have been replaced with a light blue version, according to the city.

That rollout should be complete by September.

Fun fact: The more than 750,000 old bins are being recycled into new plastic products.

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New gray trash bins are now required for pickup

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