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Zero Waste
Reduce, reuse, recycle. You can be waste-free in your home and business. Learn how.
NEW! Compost voucher
Del Mar residents can receive free compost by redeeming a voucher at the City of San Diego’s Miramar Greenery. The vouchers expire June 30 and are good for up to one cubic yard of mulch, which adds important nutrients to the soil, improves root growth, reduces water run-off and helps to conserve water.
Zero Waste
At its most basic, zero waste is about significantly reducing, and eventually, completely eliminating, the amount of stuff that we send to a landfill.
According to CalRecycle, the City of Del Mar generates approximately 9,800 tons of solid waste annually, which accounts for 5% of total greenhouse gas emissions from its residents and businesses. Approximately 3,200 tons of this waste is diverted annually.
The City is aiming to exceed state requirements with Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals for waste diversion of 80 percent by 2020 and 95 percent by 2035. According to CalRecycle, "diversion is any combination of waste prevention (source reduction), recycling, reuse and composting activities that reduces waste disposed at landfills and recycling facilities."
Food waste diversion is critical to reaching these goals, as half a million tons of food waste is sent to the landfill in San Diego every year, with $218 billion spent nationally on food that gets wasted annually. Through better planning, we can all waste less food. Methods for food planning include assessing existing food needs, making more accurate purchases, storing food appropriately, controlling portion size and re-purposing leftovers. Many options exist for reducing, donating, composting and mulching organic waste which can be found below.
What You Can Do to Reach Zero Waste:
Learn how you can help move the City forward to become a zero waste community, including composting tips, vouchers, and other ways to reduce, divert, and recycle.
Plastics/Zero Waste Guide
- Del Mar Single Use Plastic Bag Ban
- Del Mar Expanded Polystyrene (Styrofoam) Ban
- Del Mar Plastic Straws and Stirrers Ban
- I Love A Clean San Diego Zero Waste Guide
- Surfrider – Rise Above Plastics Program
- Surfrider – San Diego Ocean Friendly Restaurants Guide
Reducing
- Reducing and Reusing Basics
- Reducing Waste: What You Can Do
- Reducing Wasted Food at Home
- Where to buy bulk in San Diego
Recycling
- NEW! Del Mar Seasonal Renters' Recycling Information
- 2020 Commercial Recycling Guide for Del Mar Businesses
- Recycling and Trash Solutions for Del Mar Businesses
- Resources for Mattress Recycling
- Trash, Food & Green Waste, Recycling, & Hazardous Waste in the City
- San Diego County Recycling Guides - Recycling, Composting, and Hazardous Waste guides.
- Waste Management Del Mar Residential Recycling Guide (PDF)
- Waste Management Recycle Often, Recycle Right Guide (PDF)
- Waste Management How To Recycle Guide (PDF)
- Waste Management Recycling Bulletin (PDF) - Learn what you can and can’t recycle.
- Full Yard Trimmings Recycling Guide
- Electronic Waste Recycling Guide
Food Waste Diversion
- Mandatory Organics Recycling for Businesses
- Your Household’s Food Scraps and Green Waste
- Food Waste Reduction Guide - Comprehensive guide on food waste reduction strategies from the County of San Diego
- Food Waste Reduction Made Easy
- Food Too Good To Waste Flyer (PDF) - Find local food pantries accepting donations.
- North County Food Generation Map - Recovered food sources and community food assistance agencies.
- Save the Food San Diego - A county-wide food waste awareness partnership that leverages the national "Save The Food" public service campaign, a partnership between NRDC and the Ad Council.
- San Diego Food System Alliance
- U.S. EPA Excess Food Opportunities Map
Donating Food
Composting & Mulching
Composting is the natural process that converts food and yard waste into a nutrient-rich, water-retaining soil amendment which promotes healthy soil. There are many resources available to assist with your composting needs:
- Compost Bin and Worm Bin Voucher Program Application (PDF) - Get a reduced rate on a compost or worm bin.
- Del Mar/WM Mulch and Compost Voucher Program (PDF) - Coupon for free compost or mulch.
- Solana Center for Environmental Innovation - Offers free composting workshops for the public to learn how to turn food scraps and yard trimmings into a useful soil amendment.
- Food Cycle - Community Compost program from Solana Center. Can’t compost yourself? Get information on Solana Center’s drop off compost program.
Construction
Textiles
- Textiles Recycling
- Textiles can be recycled anytime at the Goodwill Carmel Valley Donation Center at 12791 Sorrento Valley Road, San Diego, CA 92134