Celebrate Sustainability with the City of Carlsbad This Earth Month
The 51st anniversary of Earth Day is April 22, 2021 and the City of Carlsbad’s Sustainable Materials Management Division is celebrating all month long with events and resources to help residents celebrate sustainability by making every day Earth Day.
April is upon us and that means Earth Month is too! In honor of Earth Day, the City of Carlsbad is celebrating all month long and invites residents to join their community’s road to sustainability through numerous Earth Month events.
Carlsbad’s Sustainable Materials Management Division maintains the Household Hazardous Waste program, promotes recycling and composting, provides technical assistance to businesses and multifamily complexes, and is the city’s liaison with Waste Management, the city’s waste hauler.
Follow along as the City of Carlsbad’s Sustainable Materials Management Division partners with I Love A Clean San Diego to give you a teaser of what you can expect this Earth Month!
Earth Month Events
Here are some COVID-safe ways for Carlsbad residents to participate in a month full of activities and celebrate Earth Day’s 51st Anniversary. Visit the City’s Earth Month webpage for all the details.
10 Ways to Live a Sustainable Life Virtual Workshop
Saturday, April 10th
Join the City of Carlsbad for a FREE virtual workshop, focusing on how to put your passion for sustainability into action! Learn practical tips on how reduce ‘disposable’ waste and make sustainable choices part of your everyday life.
Composting Virtual Workshop
Saturday, April 17th
Learn about all the ins and outs of home composting. Learn what system is best for you, how to manage it successfully and how to use the resulting compost. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with the instructor and ask questions on the spot.
Virtual Lunch and Learns
April 19th – April 22nd
Celebrate Earth Day’s 51st Anniversary by participating in a weeklong series of lunch ‘n learns to raise awareness about citywide sustainability initiatives. Join the Environmental Management Department including the Climate Action Plan Division, Watershed Protection Division and Habitat Management Division while enjoying lunch from the comfort of your own home or workspace!
Live Virtual Q&A with Waste Reduction Videos
Thursday, April 22nd
Join the City of Carlsbad for an interactive live Q&A session on Earth Day! The session will include introductions to the City of Carlsbad’s Sustainable Materials Management Division waste reduction video series, time for question and answers, and raffles of Earth Day themed waste reduction, compost or garden related gifts.
I Love A Clean San Diego’s 19th Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup
Saturday, April 24th
Join the largest environmental cleanup in San Diego County during Earth Week! Volunteer for the 19th Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup and help remove polluting litter from your community. Get outside, stay close to your home, socially distance and collect litter throughout the streets of your neighborhood. Help us remove 30,000 pounds of litter in a single day!
To learn more and sign up for these events, visit the City of Carlsbad’s Earth Month webpage.
Don’t forget to follow I Love A Clean San Diego on Facebook throughout April to get the latest updates and news, as well as specialized content, regarding the City of Carlsbad’s Celebrate Sustainability and Earth’s Day 51st Anniversary events!
But WAIT, There’s more!
Our earth minded efforts don’t have to stop at the end of Earth Month. Through existing waste reduction programs, Carlsbad residents have multiple ways to engage throughout the year! The City’s Residential Recycling and Trash Guide conveniently houses many of the City’s residential sustainability resources and is a great place to begin your search.
Recycling & Trash Services
Start by learning more about your recycling and trash services with information on weekly collection, billing and cart exchanges.
An overview of what goes in each cart follows, with in-depth descriptions highlighting tips and best practices. *Take a look at the guide for a detailed breakdown and pictures showing what is acceptable in each bin.
• Recycle: Aim for Empty, Clean, and Dry and “Free your Recyclables” – no bagged recyclables.
• Green Waste: Recycle yard waste into mulch and compost.
• Trash: Trash is not sorted and goes directly into the landfill.
City of Carlsbad Waste Diversion Programs
To help residents dispose of their waste in a way that helps protect the environment, the guide also includes information on a few other City of Carlsbad diversion programs available.
Household Hazardous Waste
Drop off household hazardous waste including old motor oil, paint, chemicals, batteries, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, fluorescent bulbs and electronics for free. This drop-off service is free with proof of residency. (No appointment necessary)
CleanEarth Collection Facility
Location: 1145 E. Taylor St., Vista CA 92084 (800) 714-1195
Hours: Saturdays 9am – 3pm
*The City of Carlsbad also provides a service through CleanEarth to collect household hazardous waste material from the front door of residents’ homes for a $10 fee.
Click here to learn more!
Electronic Waste (E-Waste)
Many electronic products can be reused, refurbished or recycled. Help divert waste away from the landfill by properly disposing of electronic waste (e-waste). This drop-off service is free with proof of residency. (No appointment necessary)
Waste Management Buyback Center
Location: 5960 El Camino Real, Carlsbad CA 92008 (at Palomar Transfer Station)
Hours: Saturdays 8am – 4pm (closed for lunch between 12pm – 12:40pm).
Residential Battery Recycling Program
Residents of the City of Carlsbad have a great opportunity for battery recycling! First, collect used household batteries. Second, place them in a clear zipper bag, one quart or smaller. Third, place on top of your blue recycling cart lid. Do NOT place inside of cart. Batteries will be collected by Waste Management on your day of service.
Pharmaceuticals
The current accepted practice for disposing of medications is through free drop-off programs. Pharmaceuticals or medications do not belong in trash or recycling containers.
They can be dropped off at the San Diego Sheriff’s Encinitas station, the City of Carlsbad Safety Center or the CVS store off of El Camino Real in Carlsbad. Click here to learn more!
Sharps and Needles
Residents may properly dispose of their sharps and needles at Waste Management’s buyback center. A free mail-back kit can also be obtained at the same location. *Each household will be limited to one mail-back kit per year.
Curbside Item Collections
E-Waste: Free collection of up to five items such as computers, printers, fax machines, microwave ovens, TV’s, DVD/CD players, VCR’s, stereos and cell phones from your home three (3) times annually. Call Waste Management to schedule an appointment.
Bulky Items: Free collection of up to five large items such as furniture, including mattresses or appliances from your home three (3) times annually. Call Waste Management to schedule an appointment.
Click here to learn more!
Holiday Trees: Collected for the first two weeks following Christmas on your regular collection day. Place trees next to your green waste cart. Drop-off locations are also provided around the City.
Take a moment to find the Residential Guide for Recycling and Trash Services online and visit the City of Carlsbad’s Sustainable Materials Management website to learn more.
To keep up to date on community cleanups and zero waste resources and continue on the road to sustainability, visit and like I Love A Clean San Diego on social media. Use our handle @iloveacleansd.
