Residential Services

Organic Recycling

EDCO’s Organics Recycling Program Collects Food Scraps and Landscape Waste Mixed Together in a Green Organics Container

Use the green organics cart to separate materials such as landscape and pruning waste, nonhazardous wood waste, and organics, such as food waste, all mixed together.
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Recyclable Organics Includes
  • grass clippings
  • brush
  • weeds
  • hedge trimmings
  • branches
  • leaves
  • palm fronds
  • ice plant (in small amounts only due to weight)
  • ivy
  • flowers
  • Halloween pumpkins
  • Christmas trees (NO flocked trees)
  • food scraps
  • food-soiled paper

Place recyclable organics directly into your designated green collection container. 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 container for collection. Paper bags are acceptable.

Please do not place any of the following materials in your designated green organics recycling container:

  • 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

Food scraps

Organic waste is a renewable natural resource, and it mainly comes from yard and kitchen waste from homes, food waste, and industrial and commercial operations scraps. Mandatory recycling of organic waste is the next step to achieving California’s Zero Waste goals.

Recycling organics will be easy and convenient with EDCO’s commingled Organics Recycling program. EDCO has expanded its source-separated green waste collection to include recycling food waste. The service will allow customers to place food scraps in the same container as green waste. EDCO’s new Organics Recycling program will be 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.

EDCO Anaerobic Digestion Facility

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.

EDCO’s commingled organics recycling program makes recycling organics easy and convenient. 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 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 organic 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?

Diagram of food waste recycling process

Organic waste accounts for over 40% of California’s waste stream material. Organic material cannot break down when buried in a landfill, as it would in nature or a compost pile, because it decomposes without oxygen, releasing methane gas into the atmosphere.

Organic waste is recycled into valuable compost or mulch used in an organics recycling program for soil restoration. 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!

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What Will Go in the Green Cart

Below are just a few examples of what can be placed in your green organics cart.

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Food Scraps

Fruit, vegetables, meat, bones, dairy, eggshells, prepared food

Food scraps

Food-Soiled Paper

Napkins, tea bags, paper plates, coffee filters

Pieces of food-soiled paper

Yard Waste

Plants, leaves, branches, grass

Yard waste

Papaya and orange fruit scraps

What Can You Do Now?

In the United States alone, a shocking 40% of food is uneaten, wasted, and discarded. We, as consumers, are the largest producers of food waste, 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, customers can find information on food recovery throughout the county, food donation guides, and resources.

Please visit our Resource Center for additional information, including informative videos, recycling guides, and service brochures.

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