Miramar Landfill Bus Tours

This two (2) hour bus tour will give you a peek behind-the-scenes to find out what really happens when you dispose of waste and clear up the myth of throwing something “away”.

This event is available for City of San Diego residents ONLY. As a safety precaution, long pants and close-toed shoes are REQUIRED. A signed waiver will be required at the start of the tour. This tour is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Learn more and find waivers here. 

Parking and Pickup/Dropoff Location (carpooling highly encouraged): https://maps.app.goo.gl/G7uiFR2BG9MHCZ6K7

This tour is made possible by the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department and facilitated by I Love A Clean San Diego.

Miramar Landfill Bus Tours

This two (2) hour bus tour will give you a peek behind-the-scenes to find out what really happens when you dispose of waste and clear up the myth of throwing something “away”.

This event is available for City of San Diego residents ONLY. As a safety precaution, long pants and close-toed shoes are REQUIRED. A signed waiver will be required at the start of the tour. This tour is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Learn more and find waivers here. 

Parking and Pickup/Dropoff Location (carpooling highly encouraged): https://maps.app.goo.gl/G7uiFR2BG9MHCZ6K7

This tour is made possible by the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department and facilitated by I Love A Clean San Diego.

Miramar Landfill Bus Tours

This two (2) hour bus tour will give you a peek behind-the-scenes to find out what really happens when you dispose of waste and clear up the myth of throwing something “away”.

This event is available for City of San Diego residents ONLY. As a safety precaution, long pants and close-toed shoes are REQUIRED. A signed waiver will be required at the start of the tour. This tour is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Learn more and find waivers here. 

Parking and Pickup/Dropoff Location (carpooling highly encouraged): Metro Biosolids Center, 5240 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111

This tour is made possible by the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department and facilitated by I Love A Clean San Diego.

Miramar Landfill Bus Tours

This two (2) hour bus tour will give you a peek behind-the-scenes to find out what really happens when you dispose of waste and clear up the myth of throwing something “away”.

This event is available for City of San Diego residents ONLY. As a safety precaution, long pants and close-toed shoes are REQUIRED. A signed waiver will be required at the start of the tour. This tour is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Learn more and find waivers here. 

Parking and Pickup/Dropoff Location (carpooling highly encouraged): Metro Biosolids Center, 5240 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111

This tour is made possible by the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department and facilitated by I Love A Clean San Diego.

Miramar Landfill Bus Tours

This two (2) hour bus tour will give you a peek behind-the-scenes to find out what really happens when you dispose of waste and clear up the myth of throwing something “away”.

This event is available for City of San Diego residents ONLY. As a safety precaution, long pants and close-toed shoes are REQUIRED. A signed waiver will be required at the start of the tour. This tour is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Learn more and find waivers here. 

Parking and Pickup/Dropoff Location (carpooling highly encouraged): Metro Biosolids Center, 5240 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111

This tour is made possible by the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department and facilitated by I Love A Clean San Diego.

Miramar Landfill Bus Tours

This two (2) hour bus tour will give you a peek behind-the-scenes to find out what really happens when you dispose of waste and clear up the myth of throwing something “away”.

This event is available for City of San Diego residents ONLY. As a safety precaution, long pants and close-toed shoes are REQUIRED. A signed waiver will be required at the start of the tour. This tour is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Learn more and find waivers here. 

Parking and Pickup/Dropoff Location (carpooling highly encouraged): Metro Biosolids Center, 5240 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111

This tour is made possible by the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department and facilitated by I Love A Clean San Diego.

The 2024/2025 Christmas Tree Recycling Guide in San Diego County

Christmas Tree Recycling Guide: How and Where to Recycle Real Christmas Trees in San Diego County

Among other benefits over fake trees, real Christmas trees can be composted or turned into mulch and returned to the earth. Trees sprayed with fake snow (flocked) trees cannot be composted.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY (Dec. 03, 2024) – San Diego residents can help close the loop on holiday waste by transforming their old Christmas trees into nutrient rich compost or mulch. When Christmas trees are recycled, they embark on a new journey that benefits the environment and the community. Through processes like mulching or composting, these trees are broken down into valuable organic material that enriches soil with essential nutrients. This process not only reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills but also plays a crucial role in lowering greenhouse gas emissions, as decomposing organic waste in landfills produces methane, a potent contributor to climate change.

For this year’s Christmas tree collection, the County of San Diego and I Love A Clean San Diego make it easy for residents to recycle their real Christmas trees. The countywide Christmas Tree Recycling Guide at WasteFreeSD.org, has a 2024/2025 listing for curbside and drop-off locations in the region.

According to the EPA, organic materials like Christmas trees, food, and yard waste are the number one material sent to landfills, composing two-thirds of the solid waste stream. By giving Christmas trees a second life through recycling, San Diego residents can contribute to a sustainable celebration of the holidays.

Follow some simple tips to ensure they can be recycled.

Christmas Tree Recycling Tips

  • Do not flock or buy flocked trees. Fake snow (flock) contains chemicals that interfere with the composting process
  • If you choose to use tinsel it must be completely removed (and placed in the trash) from your tree before it can be recycled. Best option, don’t buy tinsel. It is a wasteful single-use plastic.
  • Make sure to remove all ornaments, garland, lights, nails, tree bags, and tree stands (metal or plastic) before recycling.
  • For areas where curbside tree recycling is available, trees taller than four feet should be cut in half. It is recommended that pieces be under four feet.
  • Reuse or donate artificial trees that are in good condition. Purchasing new plastic trees create more waste and greenhouse gasses.
  • Don’t let real trees sit around too long after the holidays. They can dry out and become fire hazards.
  • Organic wreaths and similar decorations can be recycled with trees.

About I Love A Clean San Diego

Founded in 1954, I Love A Clean San Diego is an environmental nonprofit supporting residents and businesses of San Diego County through youth and adult education, and local action through impactful volunteer events and workshops. As San Diego’s most influential advocate for sustainability, I Love A Clean San Diego’s programs are an environmental catalyst, awakening passion and inspiring action to empower everyone to be leaders in conservation and waste-free living. Our community is passion in action to maintain and improve the health of the home we love. For more information, to volunteer or donate, visit CleanSD.org or call (619) 291-0103. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Miramar Landfill Bus Tours

This two (2) hour bus tour will give you a peek behind-the-scenes to find out what really happens when you dispose of waste and clear up the myth of throwing something “away”.

This event is available for City of San Diego residents ONLY. As a safety precaution, long pants and close-toed shoes are REQUIRED. A signed waiver will be required at the start of the tour. This tour is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Learn more and find waivers here. 

Parking and Pickup/Dropoff Location (carpooling highly encouraged): Metro Biosolids Center, 5240 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111

This tour is made possible by the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department and facilitated by I Love A Clean San Diego.

Miramar Landfill Bus Tours

This two (2) hour bus tour will give you a peek behind-the-scenes to find out what really happens when you dispose of waste and clear up the myth of throwing something “away”.

This event is available for City of San Diego residents ONLY. As a safety precaution, long pants and close-toed shoes are REQUIRED. A signed waiver will be required at the start of the tour. This tour is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Learn more and find waivers here. 

Parking and Pickup/Dropoff Location (carpooling highly encouraged): Metro Biosolids Center, 5240 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111

This tour is made possible by the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department and facilitated by I Love A Clean San Diego.

Reduce Your Waste This Halloween: DIY Tips and Tricks

Reduce Your Waste This Halloween: DIY Tips and Tricks

For both young and old, Halloween means dressing up as a cute critter, vicious vampire, or wicked witch. It’s a time to host parties, carve pumpkins, decorate haunted houses, and escape into a supernatural world for one night. Halloween is a fun tradition, but it is also one of the least environmentally friendly holidays. Considering the candy wrappers, decorations, and costumes made out of non-biodegradable materials, there are plenty of ways to reduce your impact this Halloween. Here are some eco-friendly tips to make your Halloween and earth-friendly.

Costume

There are a few ways you can reduce the environmental impact of Halloween costumes: Bring out your inner creativity by designing your own costume using unwanted items or old clothing. Click here for ideas. Replace face masks with these natural face paints with reusable containers, and create fake blood using corn syrup and food coloring. You can also make a trip to your local thrift store to find materials that you might need and maybe even find the costume that you’ve been looking for!

 

Trick-Or-Treat

Instead of buying another plastic pumpkin to hold all the tasty treats, try replacing it with a reusable shopping bag, pillow case, or basket this year!

Decorations

Halloween decorations are arguably the most wasteful part of Halloween, as they tend to contain excessive amounts of plastic. Try making your own! You’ll not only save money but the environment as well! Pinterest always has a wealth of great DIY ideas to get you started. 

Examples of DIY decorations include making bats out of egg cartons or floating ghosts using unwanted white linen sheets. You can also create light-up tin cans/lanterns by poking holes in a soup can to create an image, then placing tea lights inside to make it glow.

 

To Give or Not to Give (Candy)

If your house gets a lot of trick-or-treaters every year, consider buying organic and non-GMO candy such as YumEarth. This is healthier than the conventional store-bought candy and better for the environment because it doesn’t contain pesticides or chemicals.

Alternatively, you can also try giving out other types of treats, such as bracelets made out of recycled flip-flops or compostable pencils, which will grow into herbs or flowers when you plant them. These treats are more eco-friendly and might even help children learn a thing or two about sustainability!

Pumpkin Disposal

If you are an EDCO customer, you can also put your pumpkins in the green bin if they are clean and unpainted. For the City of San Diego residents, they can be placed inside the organic waste recycling green bins. For additional information, please visit the WasteFreeSD.org search tool and use the keyword “pumpkins” to find a disposal location in your area.