Solid Waste

The Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) is certified by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to enforce state solid waste laws and regulations in San Diego County, excluding the City of San Diego.  The LEA has the primary responsibility for ensuring the proper operation, permitting and closure of solid waste facilities, operations and disposal sites. The LEA also has responsibilities for ensuring the review and approval of post-closure land use activities at closed solid waste disposal sites.  The LEA works to protect public health, safety and the well being of our communities and environment from the impacts of solid waste management/recycling and disposal by:

  • Preventing environmental damage from existing and future solid waste facilities and operations through careful and thorough permit management, inspection, enforcement, complaint response and education.
  • Maintaining all active Solid Waste Facility Permits within our jurisdiction with up to date information and consistent with current laws and regulations.
  • Completing all required inspections at each active and closed facility and taking appropriate enforcement actions as necessary.
  • Ensuring quick response to complaints received regarding facilities, operations or disposal sites within the jurisdiction of the LEA and taking appropriate enforcement actions as necessary.
  • Maintaining LEA certification in good standing with the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle formerly the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB)).
  • Promoting interagency cooperation with all entities involved in solid waste management and disposal in San Diego County.
  • Maintaining communication with CalRecycle as well as other local enforcement and regulatory agencies.
Information on solid waste facilities, operations and disposal sites regulated by the LEA, including their current permit status, certain related documents and inspection results can all be reviewed on the CalRecycle Solid Waste Information System (SWIS) website.

Contact Us

For questions about a solid waste facility in the County, except for within the City of San Diego, please contact us at (858) 565-5173 or by email at lwqduty.deh@sdcounty.ca.gov.

 

Solid Waste Complaints

For solid waste facility complaints, please e-mail lwqduty.deh@sdcounty.ca.gov.

If you wish to report illegal dumping in the unincorporated areas of the County, please call County Code Enforcement at (858) 694-2705 or email PDSCodeCompliance@sdcounty.ca.gov.

 

Public Notices - Proposed Solid Waste Facility Permit Activity

The following public notices are provided to interested parties related to solid waste facilities or operations.  Some of these notices are legally required and others are provided for information only.  These notices are grouped by facility name and number and can be viewed using the links provided below. 

Facility Name and Number

Description of Project

Date Accepted

Statutory Time Line Waived

Contact

Inland Pacific Resource Recovery LLC.

Chip and Grind Facility

SWIS: 37-AA-1002

Inland Pacific Resource Recovery LLC., submitted an application for a new Registration Tier Chipping and Grinding Facility Permit in Lakeside, California, due to a recent change in ownership. The Chipping and Grinding Facility will continue to accept and process up to 400 tons per day of curbside green waste, clean construction and demolition wood waste, as well as green waste from landscapers and source-separated commercial sources.  Accepted material is processed and stored in a manner that prevents composting. It is then sold to the landscaping industry and other commercial and noncommercial customers as mulch material in San Diego County. The facility will operate Monday to Saturday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

 04/22/2025 N/A Jay Agustin

Otay Organics Station

1700 Maxwell Road, Chula Vista, CA 91911

Medium Volume Transfer / Processing Facility

SWIS: 37-AA-0997

 Otay Organics Station is an existing permitted Registration Tier Medium Volume Transfer/Processing Facility in Chula Vista, California. On April 11, 2025, a Registration Permit application package was submitted, along with an updated Medium Volume Transfer/Processing Facility Plan to include commingled and source separated recyclable materials, outbound traffic vehicles, and methods of organic diversion sampling. The facility will operate Monday to Saturday from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm. 04/25/2025 N/A Juliet Buch-Tran

Proposed Projects – California Environmental Quality Act Public Review

The Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) is responsible for the review and approval of applications for Solid Waste Facility Permits in all areas of the County of San Diego, with the exception of the City of San Diego. Depending on the project planning process, the LEA may serve as the lead agency for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Information on current proposed projects under CEQA review is provided below.

Proposed Project

Project Description

Contact

 

 

 

 

East Otay Mesa Recycling Collection Center and Landfill

 

 

LEA is preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for a new recycling collection center and class III solid waste landfill located in East Otay Mesa in southern San Diego County.

The proposed recycling collection center and class III solid waste landfill would occupy approximately 340 acres of the 450-acre site. The remaining 110 acres would remain undeveloped. The proposed project would be located in the unincorporated area of south San Diego County, approximately two miles east of the Siempre Viva Road exit from Interstate 905, one-quarter mile from Loop Road/Paseo De La Fuente and east of planned State Route 11.

To receive notifications when there is an update to this project, please add your email to our list-serve via GovDelivery -  East Otay Mesa Landfill Updates. 

 

 

 

 

 

Catherine Dean

 

Additional Information