Illegal Dumping in San Diego

The City defines illegal dumping as leaving or disposing of waste in a place where disposal is not authorized. Under San Diego Municipal Code section 54.0209, that includes public and private roads, rights-of-way, public parks, and private property without the owner's permission.

Common examples the City lists:

• furniture and mattresses
• appliances
• tires
• construction and demolition debris
• landscaping and yard waste
• oil or other liquid waste
• large piles of trash

Dumped items are more than an eyesore. The City notes that bulky items and hazardous materials left on the street increase fire risk, create environmental and safety hazards, and cost public money to clean up.

Inside the City of San Diego, use Get It Done: the illegal dumping form or the Get It Done San Diego app. You can also call the Environmental Services Department at 858-694-7000 (Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.). For urgent problems after hours, call 619-527-7500. If anyone is in danger, call 911.

The City asks for as much of this as you can safely give:

• The exact location, and a short description of what was dumped ("a sofa and two mattresses in the alley behind 30th Street"). Put the pin on the items, not where you are standing.
• Photos or video, plus the date and time you saw it.
• Who did it, if you saw it: the vehicle, license plate, or a business name or address on the items or the truck.

If the dumping is part of a homeless encampment, the City asks you to use Get It Done's "Homeless Outreach / Encampment" report type instead; filed as illegal dumping, it may take longer.

Do not confront anyone who is dumping. The City asks residents not to. A plate number and a time are more useful than an argument.

Get It Done has separate report types for related problems, so pick the one that fits: a trash or recycling container left out past collection day, a dumpster blocking the sidewalk, an overflowing dumpster, waste piling up on private property, or a dead animal on City property or a public right-of-way. For other kinds of problems, see our guide to reporting a problem to the City of San Diego.

The City only handles dumping inside City of San Diego limits. On a freeway, in an unincorporated area or in another city, report it to that agency instead:

A mailing address does not always match city limits, so if in doubt, check whether the address is inside the City of San Diego before you report.

The City publishes estimated resolution times based on the last 90 days of closed reports. For illegal dumping, the estimate as of May 7, 2026 is 5 days, or up to 6 months when code enforcement is involved.

You can follow your report's status in Get It Done. If the estimate has passed and the items are still there, check the status of your report before filing a new one.

According to the City, illegal dumping violations may result in fines of up to $1,000 per violation, and the City may also seek to recover its cleanup costs. Each day the waste remains in place can be treated as a separate violation.

If you pay someone to haul away junk, ask where it will go.

Most dumping starts with a couch or a mattress that will not fit in the bin. Here is what is available to City of San Diego residents right now.

No on-request bulky item pickup, for now

The City planned a curbside bulky item pickup as part of its new trash service, but in June 2026 it paused that upgrade (together with weekly recycling) until further notice, to keep the Solid Waste Management Fee lower. Until it starts, there is no City service that comes to your curb for a single couch on request.

Community cleanup events

The City organizes about 100 community cleanup and recycling events a year, through the City Council districts, where residents can drop off bulky items. Check your Council office's newsletter or the City's events calendar for the next one near you. What each event accepts varies, so read the event notice first.

WasteFreeSD.org

WasteFreeSD is a regional directory run by I Love A Clean San Diego with the City of San Diego, the County and other partners. Enter the item and your ZIP code to find donation, recycling, repair and disposal options, including places that take mattresses, appliances, electronics and tires. Items in good shape can often be donated instead of thrown away.

Miramar Landfill

You can haul items yourself to the City's Miramar Landfill at 5180 Convoy St., open Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed Sundays and major holidays). Disposal is charged by vehicle type or by weight; see the current fee schedule on the Miramar Landfill page before you go. Hazardous waste is not accepted at the landfill itself (see below).

Never put hazardous waste in the trash or leave it on the street. City of San Diego residents can drop it off free of charge, by appointment only, at the Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility:

• Where: 5161 Convoy St., San Diego, CA 92111, at the Miramar Landfill entrance, north of State Route 52.
• When: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (closed on holidays).
• Appointment: online through Get It Done, or by phone at 858-694-7000.
• Bring: proof of City residency, such as a picture ID or a recent bill with your name and address.
• Accepted: paints, cleaners, motor oil, batteries, pesticides, mercury devices, medications, propane cylinders, sharps, lamps and oil filters.
• Not accepted: electronics, appliances, asbestos, explosives (ammunition, fireworks, marine flares) and containers larger than 5 gallons. Loads may not exceed 50 pounds.

Graffiti on the same block? See our graffiti guide. For electronics and appliances, search WasteFreeSD for a drop-off near you.