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. This new Organics Recycling Program will help local cities meet statewide targets for diverting 75% of organic waste from landfills.

Why is recycling organics important?

With organics recycling, the materials in your green cart do not go to a landfill and are instead recycled into a natural resource! 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.

With mandatory recycling deadlines on the horizon, organics recycling in the City of San Marcos is required to meet compliance mandates including AB 1826, AB 1594, and SB 1383, which are directly related to organic recycling in the State of California.

View EDCO’s Organics Recycling guide.

• Learn specifics about EDCO’s new Organics Recycling program.
• Request a Kitchen Caddie for convenient transfer of food scraps from the kitchen to the organics cart or compost pile.
• Read this article from the San Diego Union Tribune: Your next green move? Recycling that kitchen waste

If it grows, it goes!

Food scraps: Fruit, vegetables, meat, bones, dairy, eggshells, prepared food

Food-soiled paper: Napkins, tea bags, paper plates, coffee filters

Yard waste: Plants, leaves, branches, grass

Natural fibers: Popsicle sticks, sawdust, toothpicks, wooden chopsticks, untreated wood

Prohibited items

The following items cannot break down or may pose a safety hazard for collection crews:

• Aluminum
• Animal carcasses
• Cigarette butts and ashes
• Clothing
• Diapers
• Dirt
• Glass
• Hazardous waste
• Kitty litter
• Landscape timbers
• Liquids
• Medical waste
• Metal
• Pet waste
• Plastic bags or film
• Plastic containers
• Plastic straws
• Rocks
• Soil
• Styrofoam
• Trash
• Treated or painted lumber
• Tree stumps
• Wine corks

No, please do not use any kind of plastic bags for any type of green waste, food waste or other organics, as they contaminate the equipment. All organic material must be placed loosely inside the organics cart for collection. Paper bags are acceptable.

Residents can request up to two additional green organics carts at no additional cost.  Residents who have three (3) green carts and want additional green carts may request more for a monthly fee. Order fast and easy online at san-marcos.edcodisposal.com through the EDCO "Make a Request" tab.

Scroll to the bottom of this page to request a free EDCO Kitchen Caddie.

You can keep your caddie in a convenient location in your kitchen, such as on the countertop, under the sink or in the freezer.