Recycling and Donation Centers in San Diego County

Updated October 2026

Before you toss it, someone in San Diego County can probably use it or recycle it. This guide lists where to take everything from old phones and paint to furniture, books and Christmas trees. Every entry below was checked against the organization’s own website or an official City or County source in October 2026. Hours and rules change, so call or check the website before you drive over.

What do you want to get rid of?

1. Cars, boats and other vehicles
2. Batteries
3. Books, magazines and greeting cards
4. Building materials
5. CDs, DVDs, cassettes, records and videos
6. Cell phones and telephones
7. Clothing and shoes
8. Computers, electronics and TVs
9. Medicines, fireworks, guns and ammunition
10. Food
11. Furniture, housewares and office equipment
12. Garden pots, plants and trees
13. Household hazardous waste
14. Major appliances
15. Paper and ink cartridges
16. Thrift stores
17. Tires
18. Everything else

Cars, boats and other vehicles

• Jewish Family Service of San Diego vehicle donation: Cars, trucks, boats, RVs and motorcycles, running or not, with a clear title. Free pickup, usually within 72 hours. Call 877-537-4227.
• Goodwill San Diego vehicle donation: Cars, trucks, motorcycles, trailers and boats, with free towing. Call 844-473-4663, seven days a week.
• California Consumer Assistance Program: A state program that may pay you to retire an older vehicle, depending on eligibility and available funds.

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Batteries

• City of San Diego Household Hazardous Waste Facility: Free for City of San Diego residents. Household batteries, but not swollen or damaged ones. Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am to 3pm, by appointment.
• San Diego County Library battery recycling: Free drop-off at 16 County Library branches. Seniors and residents with disabilities can book free door-to-door pickup at 877-713-2784.
• Call2Recycle: Free drop-off for rechargeable batteries at participating stores. Search by ZIP code.

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Books, magazines and greeting cards

• Friends of the San Diego Public Library: Book donations for the monthly book sale. 4193 Park Blvd, San Diego. Questions: [email protected] or 619-542-1724.
• San Diego County Library donation guide: The County Library no longer takes book donations itself, but its page lists branch Friends groups and charities that do, including Kids Need to Read for like-new children’s books.
• Greeting cards: The long-running St. Jude’s Ranch card program has closed, so please don’t mail cards there. Damaged books, magazines and cards can go in your blue recycling bin.

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Building materials

• County of San Diego construction and demolition recycling directory: The official list of recyclers for concrete, lumber, drywall, carpet and mixed debris, updated April 2025. Call ahead to confirm materials and fees.
• The ReUse People: Takes reusable building materials through full or partial deconstruction instead of demolition. Southern California office: 310-722-0937.
• Note: San Diego Habitat for Humanity closed its ReStores in October 2024, so they no longer take building materials.

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CDs, DVDs, cassettes, records and videos

• GreenDisk: Paid mail-in recycling for CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, cassettes and their cases. 800-305-3475.
• Lou’s Records: Records, CDs and cassettes with resale value. 434 N. Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas. Call 760-753-1382 to ask whether they are buying.
• Charities listed by San Diego County Library: The Salvation Army, Goodwill, AMVETS and Vietnam Veterans of America take donated DVDs, CDs and audiobooks.

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Cell phones and telephones

• Any store that sells cell phones: California law requires retailers that sell cell phones to take back used phones at no cost. Erase your personal data first.
• Goodwill San Diego electronics recycling: Phones, computers and other electronics, working or not, at select donation centers. No cracked screens.
• WasteFreeSD: Search for phone and e-waste recyclers near you.

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Clothing and shoes

• Goodwill Industries of San Diego County: Clean clothing and shoes at more than 45 donation centers countywide.
• Father Joe’s Villages thrift stores: Clean, gently used clothing and shoes for women, men and children. Stores in San Diego, Hillcrest, Imperial Beach, Chula Vista and El Cajon. Free pickup: 619-446-2100.
• Interfaith Community Services: New undergarments, backpacks and rain gear for the people it serves, per its current needs list. 550 W. Washington Ave, Escondido. Weekdays 8am to 5pm.

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Computers, electronics and TVs

• San Diego Futures Foundation: Computers and retired tech, refurbished for families and nonprofits. Free pickup for 20 or more items. 619-500-9330.
• Goodwill San Diego electronics recycling: Computers, printers, TVs, monitors and game consoles, working or not, at select locations.
• Allan Company: Takes e-waste at 6733 Consolidated Way (858-578-9300) and 5165 Convoy St (858-268-8971), San Diego.
• Good to know: It is illegal in California to put electronics in your trash or recycling cart.

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Medicines, fireworks, guns and ammunition

• Sheriff’s medication drop-off kiosks: Free, anonymous drop-off of unused or expired prescriptions at Sheriff stations countywide during business hours.
• DEA Take Back: Year-round collection sites for pills, patches and sealed liquids. No needles.
• San Diego Police firearm surrender: Call the non-emergency line, 619-531-2000, to arrange pickup of unwanted guns and ammunition.
• San Diego Fire-Rescue: Personal-use fireworks and ammunition can go to a local fire station. Unsure if it is safe to move? Call 619-236-6815. For anything that looks like an explosive, call 911.

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Food

• Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank: Non-perishable food. 9850 Distribution Ave, San Diego, weekdays 8am to 3pm, or 2260 Oak Ridge Way, Vista.
• Feeding San Diego: Non-perishable food at 9477 Waples St, Suite 100, San Diego. Restaurants and grocers can donate surplus food through its MealConnect program. 858-452-3663.
• Senior Gleaners of San Diego County: Volunteers pick surplus fruit from backyard trees and farms and deliver it to food pantries.

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Furniture, housewares and office equipment

• Father Joe’s Villages: Furniture two people can carry, housewares, small appliances and linens. No mattresses or cribs. Free pickup: 619-446-2100.
• Goodwill San Diego: Housewares and small appliances at all donation centers. Larger furniture at its retail stores.
• The Salvation Army: Furniture, working appliances that are not built in, and household goods. Schedule pickup at 800-728-7825.

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Garden pots, plants and trees

• Jungle Music Palms and Cycads: Used plastic nursery pots, mainly 5 gallons and larger, for store credit. 1111 Urania Ave, Encinitas.
• City of San Diego Christmas tree recycling: Seasonal drop-off sites after the holidays, or cut your tree to fit your green bin. City residents can also pick up free mulch and compost at Miramar Greenery.
• WasteFreeSD: Search for yard waste and garden material drop-off near you.

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Household hazardous waste

• City of San Diego Household Hazardous Waste Facility: Paint, batteries, motor oil and filters, fluorescent bulbs, propane cylinders and sharps. 5161 Convoy St. Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am to 3pm, by appointment. Free for City residents. 858-694-7000.
• County of San Diego hazardous waste facilities: For unincorporated areas: Chula Vista (1800 Maxwell Rd, Wednesdays and Saturdays 9am to 1pm), plus Ramona and Escondido by appointment. Hotline: 877-713-2784.
• City of Vista collection facility: 1145 E. Taylor St, Vista. Saturdays 9am to 3pm, no appointment. Free for Vista residents.
• City of Poway collection facility: 12325 Crosthwaite Circle, Poway. Saturdays 9am to 3pm. Poway residents. 858-668-4710.
• Other cities: Call the countywide hotline, 1-800-237-2583, or search WasteFreeSD to find your city’s program.

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Major appliances

• Miramar Recycling Center: Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners ($25 each), and stoves, washers, dryers and water heaters ($12 each). 5165 Convoy St, San Diego. Monday to Saturday, 7am to 4:30pm.
• SA Recycling: Scrap metal recycling at 3055 Commercial St, San Diego. Call 619-238-6740 about appliances.
• The Salvation Army: Picks up working appliances that are not built in. 800-728-7825.

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Paper and ink cartridges

• Staples ink and toner recycling: Ink and toner cartridges at any store. Rewards members earn points for up to six cartridges a month.
• WasteFreeSD: Find other ink, toner and paper drop-off spots by ZIP code.
• Paper: Clean paper, mail and cardboard go in your blue recycling bin.

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Thrift stores

• Goodwill Industries of San Diego County: More than 45 donation centers countywide. Paid pickup through ReSupply.
• Father Joe’s Villages thrift stores: 815 33rd St, San Diego; 1457 University Ave, Hillcrest; 1555 Palm Ave, Imperial Beach; 405 Broadway, Chula Vista; 2325 Fletcher Pkwy, El Cajon. Free pickup: 619-446-2100.
• The Salvation Army: Clothing, furniture and household goods. Pickup: 800-728-7825.

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Tires

• Miramar Recycling Center: Tires 18 inches and under, without rims, $7 each. 5165 Convoy St, San Diego.
• When you buy new tires: Most tire stores take your old tires when you buy new ones. Ask before you pay.
• WasteFreeSD: Search for tire recycling by ZIP code.

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Everything else

• CalRecycle used oil collection centers: Find a certified center that takes used motor oil and filters.
• Foam Recycling Coalition map: Where to recycle Styrofoam blocks and packaging.
• WasteFreeSD: The easiest place to start for anything not listed here: more than 1,700 drop-off locations across the county.

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Know of a San Diego program we should add, or one that has changed? Email [email protected].