What goes in my recycling bin in SLO County? Green waste? Your guide to garbage
Understanding what to do with your garbage can be tricky.
Waste collection companies across San Luis Obispo County collect trash, recycling and organic waste, and each follow specific rules for disposal.
Before you toss your trash in the wrong container, check The Tribune’s guide to garbage sorting.
Here’s what to know:
Who handles garbage collection in SLO? Morro Bay?
The city of San Luis Obispo partners with San Luis Garbage, a subsidiary of Waste Connections, to handle garbage, recycling and organic waste collection.
The city of Morro Bay partners with another Waste Connections subsidiary, Morro Bay Garbage, for trash collection.
Waste Connection also operates South County Sanitary and Mission Country Disposal, which handle garbage pickup in other parts of the county.
You can look up your address on the Waste Connections website to find your trash pickup schedule.
Who picks up trash in Paso Robles and Atascadero?
Paso Robles Waste & Recycle is the “sole franchise collection company” in the city of Paso Robles, the city said on its website.
Waste Management handles trash, recycling and organic waste disposal in Atascadero, Templeton and other North County towns.
To see when your trash will be picked up, check your address on the Waste Management website.
San Miguel Garbage covers part of North County.
To figure which waste company services which area, view this map created by the San Luis Obispo Department of Public Works.
What goes in my gray trash bin?
The Integrated Waste Management Authority of San Luis Obispo County created a quick fact sheet that explains the different colors of waste containers and their functions.
According to the waste management authority, gray or black waste containers are for trash headed to the landfill. These items cannot be recycled or composted.
Toss your solid waste in a bag before throwing it in the garbage bin.
Here’s what to put in your gray or black waste container:
- Bubble wrap
- Coat hangers
- Diapers
- Paper cups
- Paper towels
- Pet waste including kitty litter and dog poop
- Plastic straws and utensils
- Styrofoam
- Wrappers
What should I put in my blue recycling bin?
In San Luis Obispo County, you can recycle items such as paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum cans and plastic milk jugs.
Plastic bags don’t belong in your recycling bin, unless they’re holding shredded paper and securely fastened.
Otherwise, recyclable items should be clean, dry, and not in bags.
Here are some products that can be recycled in SLO County:
- Aluminum or tin cans
- Cardboard
- Glass bottles or jars
- Milk jugs
- Newspapers and magazines
- Paper pages
- Plastic bottles
What belongs in my green organic waste container?
You can toss apple cores, vegetable peels and food scraps along with yard waste in your green organic waste container, according to the Integrated Waste Management Authority.
That includes paper products that may have been soiled by food, such as pizza boxes with grease stains or paper napkins that cleaned up a spill.
Items marked as compostable or biodegradable are not meant to be recycled, and should be thrown away in your gray trash container.
No plastic is allowed in green bins, so all organic waste needs to be unbagged.
Here are a few of the items you can throw in your green organic waste bin:
- Cheese and dairy
- Flowers and plants
- Fruits and vegetables
- Grass clippings
- Meat and bones
- Leaves
- Leftovers
- Moldy food
- Pasta and grains
- Seafood shells
- Small branches and twigs
How can I tell which bin my trash goes into?
If you’re not sure which waste container you should use, try the Integrated Waste Management Authority’s interactive webpage.
The Waste Wizard allows site users to look up what trash they want to throw away.
After typing in a phrase such as “plastic bottles” or “cardboard,” you’ll see information on how to properly throw away your garbage.
The website includes specific information needed for disposal.
What should I do with old batteries? Propane tanks?
Paint, fluorescent light bulbs, batteries and household cleaning products are all considered hazardous waste in SLO County, and need to be disposed of properly.
The Integrated Waste Management Authority divides this waste into three categories:
- Hazardous waste: Corrosive liquids, some paints, propane tanks, pesticides and aerosols
- Universal waste: Batteries, gasoline and light bulbs
- E-waste: Computers, monitors, routers and services
You can use the interactive map on the authority’s website to find the closest waste disposal facility near you, based on what you are dropping off.
SLO County has three landfills that accept garbage, recyclables and organic waste:
- Cold Canyon Landfill in San Luis Obispo
- Chicago Grade Landfill in Templeton
- Paso Robles Landfill
What about used oil?
Retailers that sell motor oil or oil filters are required to accept used oil free of charge, according to CalRecycle.
You can also call your waste disposal service to schedule a pickup.
Can I donate my old computer or TV?
E-waste, including televisions, computers and printers, can be thrown away at a local landfill, be donated to Grover Beach Exploration Discovery Center or possibly repaired at iFixIt.
Check the Integrated Waste Management Authority’s website for the closest landfill accepting e-waste.
Retailers such as Best Buy, Staples, Office Max/Office Depot may accept e-waste as well.
This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 11:01 AM.
