Communities: imperial beach

National City Public Library – u-Tool-ize Tool Lending Program

u-Tool-ize is a tool lending program intended on providing community members with free access to tools and equipment, with the goal of fostering environmental stewardship, sustainable practices, and personal empowerment. The tool library carries a diverse range of tools for home improvement, gardening, electrical, plumbing, automotive, bicycle, and crafting which can all be borrowed, just like books, by NCPL cardholders. This program launched in July 2024 and is supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

Before borrowing any tools or equipment, users must:

  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Have a National City Public Library card (full privilege and in good standing)
  • Create a tool library account in MyTurn (enter library barcode and DOB including the slashes, click login)
    • Read and sign the u-Tool-ize user agreement
    • Read and sign the liability waiver and indemnification form
  • Verify identity with a government issued photo ID

After completing those steps, users can check out up to five (5) tools at a time for up to seven (7) days.

Tools must be returned clean. View tool inventory

The u-Tool-ize tool library is located on the second floor of the library, down the hall from the Tech Lab and restrooms. Tools can be checked out during the tool library’s designated open hours. Reservations pick up and returns are available at the Computer Center during regular library hours.

Library staff are not available to train patrons on operating tools or loading/unloading tools from vehicles. Most of the tool listings include links to instruction manuals and videos.

 

Browse & Checkout: The u-Tool-ize room is open Monday & Wednesday 4 – 6pm.

Reservations: Available during regular library hours at the Computer Center (2nd floor of library)

Returns: Tools can be returned during the u-Tool-ize open hours and at the Computer Center during regular library hours.

Keller Interiors – CARE Drop-off Location

CARE carpet drop-off location

Please note: Area rugs are not covered under the CARE Program and therefore are not accepted.

California Drop-off Site Map

Do you accept carpet directly from the public? Yes
Tip Fee/Discount for Carpet: $0 for homeowners (DIYer’s); $0 per load (Pick-Up Truck/Van); $0 per load (Stake Bed/Box Van); Larger loads please call ahead for pricing (Larger than Stake Bed and Box Van with Trailers)

 

 

Holly Home Carpets – CARE Drop-off Location

CARE carpet drop-off location

Please note: Area rugs are not covered under the CARE Program and therefore are not accepted.

California Drop-off Site Map

Do you accept carpet directly from the public? Yes
Kinds of carpet accepted (e.g. nylon only) All Types
Tip Fee: For Homeowners/DIY: $15.00 per load; Pick-Up Truck/Van: $25.00 per load; Stake Bed/Box Van: $50.00 per load. Larger loads call ahead for pricing (larger than stake bed and box van with trailers)

 

 

Good Shepherd Ministry Center

Fresh produce (whole fruit & vegetables)
Shelf-stable/ non-perishable
Perishable
Prepared (food prepared in a commercial kitchen but not
served to customers)
Frozen items

Healthy Day Partners

Donate your produce to help improve local community health and strengthen the local food system – while reducing food waste! We are partnering with Fresh Food Connect to launch our Homegrown Hunger Relief program in the communities of Encinitas, Carlsbad, Solana Beach and Balboa Park!

Donation Station Locations and times:

  • San Diego Botanic Garden – 300 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas: Sundays 9:30am-5:00pm

  • Encinitas Library – 540 Cornish Dr, Encinitas: Sundays 9:30am-5:00pm

  • Olivenhain Germania Hotel – 7th & Cole Ranch Rd: Sundays 9:30am-5:00pm

  • Healthy Day Partners Harvest Yard – 425 Raphael Ct. Encinitas: Everyday 9:30am-5:00pm

  • Encinitas Community Garden – for community gardeners only: Sundays 9:30am-5:00pm

  • Village Rock Shop – Carlsbad Village – 2690 State St., Carlsbad Sundays 9:30am-4:00pm

  • Jimbo’s – Carlsbad Forum – 1923 Calle Barcelona, Sundays 9:30am-5:00pm

    Contact Mim with any questions: 714-329-1349

Caritas Care

Fresh produce (whole fruit & vegetables)
Shelf-stable/ non-perishables
Perishables
Prepared frozen items

 

Services Carlsbad, Coronado, Del Mar, Imperial Beach, National City, Oceanside, San Diego and areas of San Diego County within 40 miles of its location

 

Phone: (619) 386-5166

Email: Yessika Pena

yessika@togetherhospice.com

Walmart – Kearny Mesa

In 2021, we began offering collection bins for plastic bags and films in our U.S. stores. Our program is designed to collect these materials and mix them into a bale with other recyclables. We contract with companies to pick up these bales for sorting and recycling. Although our contracts with these companies require these items to be recycled to the maximum extent practicable, in some circumstances, the companies we contract with determine that items placed in our bins cannot be recycled—for example, a plastic bag may be contaminated.

Guess and Supercircle Free Textile Recycling – Las Americas Premium Outlets

Your items will be sent to Homeboy Recycling & Debrand Services
for upcycling, recycling, donations, or refurbishing.

 

We accept all Women’s, Men’s, and Kid’s apparel items with the exception of intimates, swimwear, and socks.

We accept apparel in any condition whether that be stained, ripped, or broken. We just ask that you launder everything before sending it our way. Once received, we’ll sort and recycle your items for a second life — from new textiles to new projects, including furniture batting, insulation, & padding — sending nothing to landfill.

 

Bring in 5+ items of unwanted clothing from your wardrobe &
receive 15% off your purchase.

 

Guess and Supercircle Free Textile Recycling – Plaza Bonita

Your items will be sent to Homeboy Recycling & Debrand Services
for upcycling, recycling, donations, or refurbishing.

 

We accept all Women’s, Men’s, and Kid’s apparel items with the exception of intimates, swimwear, and socks.

We accept apparel in any condition whether that be stained, ripped, or broken. We just ask that you launder everything before sending it our way. Once received, we’ll sort and recycle your items for a second life — from new textiles to new projects, including furniture batting, insulation, & padding — sending nothing to landfill.

 

Bring in 5+ items of unwanted clothing from your wardrobe &
receive 15% off your purchase.

 

Guess and Supercircle Free Textile Recycling – Mail In Program

Your items will be sent to Homeboy Recycling & Debrand Services
for upcycling, recycling, donations, or refurbishing.

 

We accept all Women’s, Men’s, and Kid’s apparel items with the exception of intimates, swimwear, and socks.

We accept apparel in any condition whether that be stained, ripped, or broken. We just ask that you launder everything before sending it our way. Once received, we’ll sort and recycle your items for a second life — from new textiles to new projects, including furniture batting, insulation, & padding — sending nothing to landfill.

 

How it Works

  1. Print your pre-paid shipping label
  2. Drop off your package at your local USPS
  3. Earn GUESS credit to redeem on new styles.

Marine Flares Collection Event | Saturday, October 24, 2026 8AM – 12PM | Shelter Island

Marine flares contain hazardous chemicals that pose risks to human health and the environment!

  • Date/Time: Saturday, October 24, 2026 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    Location: Northeast parking lot of Shelter Island Boat Launch, 2210 Shelter Island Dr., San Diego, CA, 92106 NOTE: Find us at the northeast Shelter Island Boat Launch parking lot near Bali Hai.

    The Port of San Diego is partnering with California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC), California State Parks, California Coastal Commission, and Arcwood Environmental to collect expired marine flares. No commercial flares accepted.

  • Make the Electronic Marine Flare Switch: Free Electronic Flare Offer

    Participants will receive one FREE electronic signal flare per vehicle (while supplies last).

    The Importance of Proper Marine Flare Disposal

    Single-use marine flares contain hazardous chemicals. Their safe disposal helps ensure the health and safety of our community and environment. We encourage all boat owners to participate and help keep our bay clean.

Jimbo’s┃Brewcycling Collective ┃Carmel Valley

PakTech beverage handles are made of High Density Polyethylene (#2 HDPE), one of the more commonly accepted plastics in curbside recycling programs. Yet though they’re made of a recyclable material they are rarely picked up or read correctly by the sorting systems at Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs).

Customers can return PakTech beverage toppers to the Jumbo’s Brewery takeback bins. The restaurant will then transport the collected PakTechs to one of our collaborative hubs. At this point, PakTechs will be put through a grinder to turn them into a small, usable size for what is to come next.

 

For more information please visit: https://sdbrewcycling.org/paktechs

 

 

Fetch Junk Removal

Our Services

  • Appliance Removal & Recycling
  • Furniture & Mattress Removal
  • Garbage Junk Removal
  • Electronics E-Waste Removal
  • Single-Item Removal
  • Property Clean-Out
  • Yard Debris Removal
  • Carpet & Flooring Demo + Removal
  • Light Interior & Exterior Demo
  • Bobcat Mini-Excavator Work
  • Office Clean-Outs

Operation Promise Community Services, Inc

To Serve individuals and families in our community with food and essentials with dignity and compassion

Services Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, National City, San Diego and surrounding areas within 20 miles.

Phone: (619) 761-6771

Email: Brenda Trejo

operationpromise630@gmail.com

 

Types of Food Accepted:

Fresh produce (whole fruit & vegetables), Shelf-stable/ non-perishables, Perishables, Prepared (food prepared in a commercial kitchen but not served to customers), Prepared frozen items

 

 

Community Roots Farm

Bring us your food scraps to add to our hot piles and worm tunnel

 

Our brown bin is located at the farm & open 24/7 for food scrap drop-offs

Acceptable items:

  • egg shells

  • coffee grounds

  • coffee filters

  • paper tea bags

  • fruit/vegetable 

  • shredded paper

  • grains (cooked or uncooked)

  • breads/flours

  • spices

  • shredded paper

  • torn paper plates/

 

Items not accepted:

  • excessive meat or dairy

  • excessive fish products

  • any plastic/foil

  • rubber bands/twist ties

  • nylon tea bags

Dream Electronic Recycling – Miramar

Free Electronics Recycling & E-Waste Drop-Off in San Diego County

Dream Electronic Recycling provides free San Diego e-waste services, free e-waste drop-off, e-waste pickup, computer recycling, and secure data destruction services for residents and businesses throughout San Diego County.

We help offices, schools, government facilities, healthcare organizations, commercial properties, property managers, IT departments, nonprofits, and residential customers safely recycle unwanted electronics while protecting sensitive data. Our services include computer recycling, laptop recycling, monitor recycling, TV recycling, server recycling, IT equipment recycling, hard drive destruction, and certified data destruction.

Dream E-Waste is a California-approved electronics recycler, CEWID #127772, and an R2v3 Certified facility, meeting strict industry standards for responsible electronics recycling, data security, environmental protection, and downstream accountability.

Please check in at the Associated Storage office

Santa Sophia Conference – FSD/SDFB Partner

Please contact FSD or SDFB to establish partnership with this Food Recovery Organization

Feeding San Diego: (619) 654-8385 or fooddonation@feedingsandiego.org

San Diego Food Bank:  (858) 863-5133 or donatefood@sandiegofoodbank.org

 

Gleaning Field Foundation – Feeding San Diego Partner

The Gleaning Field Foundation is an all volunteer faith based organization that serves poor and low income families and individuals.

For food recovery partnership, please contact Feeding San Diego at (619) 654-8385 or fooddonation@feedingsandiego.org

Fallbrook Food Pantry – SDFB and FSD partner

Business donors – Please contact SDFB or FSD to establish partnership

San Diego Food Bank:  (858) 863-5133 or donatefood@sandiegofoodbank.org

Feeding San Diego: (619) 654-8385 or fooddonation@feedingsandiego.org

Individual donors

FOOD DONATIONS/DROP-OFF HOURS

Monday-Friday 8:30am-12:30pm
Saturday 8am-11am 
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ITEMS OUTSIDE
AFTER OUR DROP-OFF HOURS

Terracycle – Febreze Air Care Free Recycling Program

All brands of air and home cartridges, air and home care plugs, air and home care trigger heads, and air and home care plastic and film packaging. Mr. Clean Deep Cleaning Mist bottles and trigger heads.

 All brands of air and home care trigger heads

All brands of air and home care plugs

 All brands of air and home care cartridges
 

IMPORTANT: Do not send in aerosol containers through this program.

Please recycle locally where possible.

Terracycle – GoGo squeeZ Snack Pouch Free Recycling Program

GoGo squeeZ® Free Recycling Program

All brands accepted
Recycle all brands of squeezable snack plastic pouches and caps
 Plastic pouches and caps
We’ve made getting started with the GoGo squeeZ® Free Recycling Program easy! Simply download a free shipping label to ship your squeezable snack plastic pouches and caps to TerraCycle, and we’ll recycle them.
Once collected, the snack plastic pouches and caps are cleaned and separated by material type. The materials are recycled into raw formats that manufacturers use to make new products. Click here to take a virtual tour of our processing facilities.

Young Actors’ Theatre Rentals

Putting on your own production?  We rent our costumes to schools, organizations and individuals looking for full show costume rentals or partial.  Please contact us for details.

CYT San Diego Costume Rentals

CYT San Diego Costume Rentals focuses our availability to theaters, schools and performance companies. Individual rentals (such as Halloween, special events or parties) are welcome, but on a limited basis.

Costume Zone

Huge Inventory Great Prices

We Have A Very Large Selection of Costumes Rental & Sales

For School Drama Department Merchandise – Weddings – Private Events – Theatre Shows

Costumes Of Any Era & Occasion – 20’s Flappers – 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, & Much More!

Accessories – Theatrical Makeup – Ben Nu – Hats, Wigs, Mustaches & Beards – Plastic Weapons & Swords – Boas – Glasses – Masquerade Masks – Wrestling Masks-Costume Masks -Largest Selection Anywhere

Get Costumes For – Renaissance – Civil War & Colonial – Pirates – Mariachi Customs – Clowns

Costumes for Adults and Kids – Rent or Buy

Gypsy Treasure

While you can only see a small selection of their costume rental options online, rest assured that they have thousands of choices in their store.

Gypsy Treasure’s prices and terms are fair, with costume rentals ranging from $45 to $150 for a 24-hour period, with an additional day costing just $15 extra.

The House of Halloween

(Re-opening early September) This is one of the most expansive costume rental companies near San Diego

STAR Theatrical Costumes and Rentals

STAR Theatrical Costumes and Rentals is located in Escondido, CA, and carries high-end theatrical quality musical theatre production costumes, props, and set pieces for rent!

Thrifty Threads

Costuming on a budget? No worries! Thrifty Threads is the perfect costume rental company in San Diego for the more frugal shoppers and renters. Luckily, you don’t have to skimp on quality here. In fact, this is one of the area’s best-reviewed and highly touted costume rental companies. Doubling as a sprawling vintage thrift store, this company has a truly staggering variety of options for everything from masquerade parties to props and gear worthy of big-budget production studios.

Whips n Furs Costume Shop

Whips n Furs Costumes & Makeup
Shopping & retail
“Clothes make a statement, Costumes tell a story.”
Open All Year.
For drag, burlesque, or Halloween costume rentals in San Diego, there’s one dedicated one-stop shop: Whips n Furs. It’s located between 28th St. and Idaho in North Park. While there are a number of Party City-adjacent costume shops around the San Diego area, there is only one Whips n Furs. Reviews touting their excellent customer service give prospective renters an idea of what’s in store. However, the only way to experience what Whips n Furs has to offer is to visit the store in person.

Goodwill Donation Priority Pick-Up – ReSupply

  • Pickups within 24-48 hours.
  • Items of ANY condition picked up
  • Item retrieval from anywhere including within residence or a storage unit.
  • Disassembly of items that need it (except doors, cabinets, or lighting).
  • Pick-up fee reflects the operating costs and is much smaller than a usual moving company or junk hauler fee (fee is not tax deductible, but donated items are).
  • For questions or support, please text (857) 342-4937 or email donorsupport@resupplyme.com

Road Runner Sports – Carlsbad

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS

Drop off your used or unwanted shoes at your local Road Runner Sports store (find it here) and they’ll be donated to Got Sneakers.

For every pair of shoes tha’s donated, Got Sneakers will donate $3.00 to Athletes Helping Athletes. Every dollar donated will help raise funds for handcycles or will go toward changing the life of a child.

Got Sneakers accepts used footwear in any condition, processes and recycles it through sustainable means. Over 80% of all footwear accepted is shipped to emerging markets & communities in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, providing consumers in these areas with accessible footwear.

Road Runner Sports – Solana Beach

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS

Drop off your used or unwanted shoes at your local Road Runner Sports store (find it here) and they’ll be donated to Got Sneakers.

For every pair of shoes tha’s donated, Got Sneakers will donate $3.00 to Athletes Helping Athletes. Every dollar donated will help raise funds for handcycles or will go toward changing the life of a child.

Got Sneakers accepts used footwear in any condition, processes and recycles it through sustainable means. Over 80% of all footwear accepted is shipped to emerging markets & communities in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, providing consumers in these areas with accessible footwear.

Road Runner Sports – Otay Ranch

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS

Drop off your used or unwanted shoes at your local Road Runner Sports store (find it here) and they’ll be donated to Got Sneakers.

For every pair of shoes tha’s donated, Got Sneakers will donate $3.00 to Athletes Helping Athletes. Every dollar donated will help raise funds for handcycles or will go toward changing the life of a child.

Got Sneakers accepts used footwear in any condition, processes and recycles it through sustainable means. Over 80% of all footwear accepted is shipped to emerging markets & communities in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, providing consumers in these areas with accessible footwear.

Road Runner Sports – San Diego

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS

Drop off your used or unwanted shoes at your local Road Runner Sports store (find it here) and they’ll be donated to Got Sneakers.

For every pair of shoes tha’s donated, Got Sneakers will donate $3.00 to Athletes Helping Athletes. Every dollar donated will help raise funds for handcycles or will go toward changing the life of a child.

Got Sneakers accepts used footwear in any condition, processes and recycles it through sustainable means. Over 80% of all footwear accepted is shipped to emerging markets & communities in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, providing consumers in these areas with accessible footwear.

Dream Electronic Recycling – Point Loma

Free Electronics Drop-Off Locations

We accept all items with a cable, plug, or battery. Customers can drop off accepted electronics for free at any of our San Diego County locations during business hours. No appointment is needed for standard e-waste drop-off.

Visit dreamewaste.com to confirm current hours, view our drop-off locations, and find free electronics recycling near you.

Free E-Waste Pickup in San Diego County

Dream Electronic Recycling offers free e-waste pickup throughout San Diego County for businesses, offices, schools, government facilities, commercial properties, property managers, healthcare organizations, IT departments, and residential customers with multiple computing devices.

If you have multiple computing devices, schedule a free e-waste pickup and our team will help coordinate a convenient pickup at your location.

Our team can collect computers, monitors, laptops, servers, printers, cables, networking equipment, phones, tablets, and other electronics for responsible recycling.

Electronics We Recycle

For a complete list of accepted items, visit our electronics we recycle page

♻️ Other Items We Accept

 Main San Diego Warehouse Only
The following items are only accepted at our main San Diego warehouse: 4009 Hicock St, Suite D, San Diego, CA 92110.
While our main focus is electronics, we also recycle certain non-electronic items that contain reusable materials or electrical components such as:

Dream Electronic Recycling provides secure paper shredding services throughout San Diego County for businesses and residents, offering one-time purge, on-site mobile paper shredding, and recurring office shredding solutions specific to your needs. $10 per standard banker’s box.

Alpine Library Friends Association

Donate Books.

Stop by the ALFA Bookstore during normal working hours;
we’re located inside the Alpine Library at:

1752 Alpine Blvd
Alpine, CA 91901

Call2Recycle Battery Collection & Recycling Services

Battery Collection & Recycling Services

Charge up battery recycling with best-in-class recycling solutions that are convenient, compliant and safe. Call2Recycle offers turnkey and flexible options to recycle your rechargeable or single-use batteries by shipping in boxes from your home or office.  For customers with larger volumes, we can also coordinate freight shipments of batteries for recycling.  Contact us at 1-877-723-1297 to learn more about these services or to discuss your recycling needs in more detail.

Encinitas Library Friends

ALL donations of books in good condition can be brought to the Friends Bookstore. Each donor is limited to four bags/boxes of books per day. We also accept magazine donations at this time.

Friends of the Encinitas Library Bookstore
540 Cornish Dr. Between “D” &  “E” Streets, two blocks east of HWY 101. 
NEW BOOKSTORE HOURS
Sunday 1PM to 4PM
Monday 10AM to 4PM
Tuesday 11AM to 4PM
Wednesday 11AM to 4PM
Thursday 10AM to 4PM
Friday 10AM to 4PM
Saturday 10AM to 4PM

Friends of the San Marcos Library

Gently used Books ,CD’s, DVD’s, Audio Books, Children’s books, Science fiction and Non-fiction books
We are just inside the library to the right when you come in.

Friends of the Fallbrook Library

We are delighted to receive your generous donations, without them there would be no bookstore!

However, we do need to set some general guidelines.
Please take a moment and review the following before bringing materials to the store.  
We can accept donations between 10 am and 3 pm, Monday through Friday.

  • ALL materials should be clean and in good condition. 

    • Magazines should be less than 6 months old
    • NO: torn covers/pages, mold/mildew, insect damage, “chewed” edges, stains, excessive highlighting/underlining or other damage

 

  • Medical/health, textbooks (other than math or science), computer related materials, law/real estate/finance

    • 5 years old or less
    • Workbooks should not be completed

  • Audio/Visual

    • DVD & DVR – movies, music, instructional (items should be in original cover/packaging)
    • CDs – will accept some music but no instructional or informational tapes (school courses)     

We CANNOT accept: 

    • ENCYCLOPEDIAS  – Most of the information is out of date and correct information can be readily accessed online
    • COLLECTIONS of National Geographic, Smithsonian, ZooNews etc
    • Phonograph records (we can provide the name of a collector)
    • Readers Digest condensed books
    • Time-Life or other “sets” (usually 10-15 volumes)
  • Please DO NOT leave materials when store is closed.  We cannot guard against theft, weather or vandalism

SodaStream Free Recycling Program | Terracycle

SodaStream® Free Recycling Program

Recycle SodaStream ® sparkling water makers
Sign up and join now!

How it works

We’ve made getting started with the SodaStream® Free Recycling Program easy! Simply download a free shipping label to ship your SodaStream sparkling water machines to TerraCycle, and we’ll recycle it.

Enrollment limits apply. If the program is full, you will be added to a waitlist.

WhatABin Trash Bin Cleaning

We provide an eco-friendly trash can cleaning service for commercial and residential customers in San Diego. We clean, sanitize and deodorize your trash cans at your curbside using hot steam 200F water, on the day after your trash is collected. We are environmentally friendly, we use less water than if you were to do it yourself. We properly dispose water after cleaning.

We also provide commercial dumpster cleaning with our super truck!  We clean and sanitize your 2-10 cubic yard dumpsters. We come to your site, back up to the dumpster, flip it to our specialized bay wash, clean and disinfect it inside and outside. The whole process takes up to 10-15 minutes and we will notify you once it’s clean. For dumpster cleaning customers we provide same-day service.

Hasbro Free Recycling Programs | Terracycle

How it works

We’ve made getting started with the Hasbro Free Recycling Program easy! Simply download a free shipping label to ship your Hasbro toys and games to TerraCycle, and we’ll recycle them. Enrollment limits apply. If the program is full, you will be added to a waitlist.

Please make sure your box is full and weighs at least 7 pounds before you ship. We recommend larger shipments to reduce the transportation carbon footprint of this program and allow more people to participate!

Get Started

Participating in this program is easy and FREE! See answers to frequently-asked questions here.

Enrollment limits apply. If the program is full, you will be added to a waitlist.

 

Sign up and join now!

Costco | Eyeglasses Donation | Chula Vista

COSTCO OPTICAL

Donation program

Your old glasses can help someone in need see clearer. Costco and Assist International, a nonprofit organization, offer an eyeglasses donation program. Look for a donation box in the optical center at your local warehouse. Costco sends your used eyewear to Assist International, and the nonprofit works with a team of volunteers and partner organizations to sort and distribute the donations to those in need, both locally and internationally. Members can donate prescription eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses and readers.

Costco | Eyeglasses Donation | Clairemont

COSTCO OPTICAL

Donation program

Your old glasses can help someone in need see clearer. Costco and Assist International, a nonprofit organization, offer an eyeglasses donation program. Look for a donation box in the optical center at your local warehouse. Costco sends your used eyewear to Assist International, and the nonprofit works with a team of volunteers and partner organizations to sort and distribute the donations to those in need, both locally and internationally. Members can donate prescription eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses and readers.

Costco | Eyeglasses Donation | Santee

COSTCO OPTICAL

Donation program

Members can drop-off prescription eyeglasses, readers, & prescription and non-prescription sunglasses at at the Costco Optical Center.

Your old glasses can help someone in need see clearer. Costco and Assist International, a nonprofit organization, offer an eyeglasses donation program. Costco sends your used eyewear to Assist International, and the nonprofit works with a team of volunteers and partner organizations to sort and distribute the donations to those in need, both locally and internationally.

Terracycle – Fabrics and Clothing – Zero Waste Box

Description

Please send us any textile or fabric-based product.

What you can recycle

  • Fabric
  • Clothing
  • Textiles

This box does not accept:

  • Liners
  • Shoes
  • Purses
  • Bags
  • Hats
  • Electronic Heating Blankets
  • Textiles With Fill
  • Leather

Republic Services Borrego Landfill

Landfills serve the nation’s communities and businesses by providing a safe area for non-hazardous solid waste to be properly deposited. Republic Services’ focus is creating minimal impact on the surrounding areas by utilizing advanced technologies and materials to create efficient and sustainable facilities. Visitors can bring a variety on non-hazardous materials to our landfills for disposal. View the location details for hours of operation, and to learn more about material drop-off instructions

O’Reilly Auto Parts – Spring Valley (Sweetwater Rd)

This location accepts used motor oil, car/motorcycle batteries and oil filters at no charge. Limit 5-gal per person per day.

Oil contaminated with water, gas, or other automotive fluids will not be accepted. Call 1-800-237-BLUE to find the nearest household hazardous waste collection center.

Call this certified collection center to ensure hours and program participation.

Tool Loaner Program

Doing a repair that requires a special tool? O’Reilly Auto Parts makes it easy with our Loaner Tool Program.

We make tough jobs easy with the O’Reilly Auto Parts loaner tool program. With over 80 specialized loaner tools available, we’re sure to have a tool in stock to help you get the job done right the first time. Simply purchase the needed parts and put down a deposit on the loaner tool. Return the tool in the original condition and receive a full refund. Need the tool for the next repair? Just keep it. The deposit is the purchase price. It’s that easy.

Tool availability may vary from store to store, contact your local O’Reilly Auto Parts store to check on the tool you need.

The Tire Choice – Spring Valley

This location accepts used motor oil and oil filters at no charge.

Oil contaminated with water, gas, or other automotive fluids will not be accepted. Call 1-800-237-BLUE to find the nearest household hazardous waste collection center.

Tires are also accepted for recycling for a fee ($5/tire)

Call this certified collection center to ensure hours and program participation.

Valvoline Instant Oil Change – Spring Valley

Oil contaminated with water, gas, or other automotive fluids will not be accepted. Call 1-800-237-BLUE to find the nearest household hazardous waste collection center.

Call this certified collection center to ensure hours and program participation.

Ramona Tire Pros

Tire recycling starts at $5 per tire. Must be clean of water and debris.

Accepts up to 10 tires per resident.

Father Joes Villages Thrift Store & Donation Center – Hillcrest

Donations accepted Tuesday-Sunday 10AM until donation capacity is reached. Please call 619-255-1255 prior to coming to the store to donate goods.
We accept most donations of items in gently used and working condition. All donations are sold as is, so they must be clean and in good condition. When we receive an item that cannot be sold in our stores or easily recycled, we have to pay for disposal. This means that less funds go towards helping our neighbors in need. Please read both the list of items we accept and the list of items we are not able to accept on the website.
https://my.neighbor.org/take-action/donate-goods/

Father Joe’s Villages Daily Auctions & Donation Center – San Diego

We accept most donations of items in gently used and working condition. All donations are sold as is, so they must be clean and in good condition. When we receive an item that cannot be sold in our stores or easily recycled, we have to pay for disposal. This means that less funds go towards helping our neighbors in need. Please read both the list of items we accept and the list of items we are not able to accept on the website.

CLOTHING: Virtually all types of clean, gently-used clothing and shoes, including women’s, men’s, kid’s, children’s, baby’s dresses, shirts, pants, skirts, shorts, sandals, tennis shoes, sneakers, heels, flats, boots and more.

JEWELRY: Virtually all types of jewelry, including rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

ACCESSORIES: Virtually all types of accessories, including purses, bags, belts, ties and wallets.

HOUSEHOLD: Small appliances in working condition (microwaves, blenders, toasters, coffee makers, etc), dishes, glasses, silverware, bedding, linens, pillows, rugs, comforters, home decor, baby items (see restrictions below), art work and frames.

FURNITURE: Any furniture that can be carried by no more than two people, including couches, love seats, armchairs, chairs, dining room sets, tables, coffee tables, mirrors, nightstands, headboards, office chairs, non-wooden desks, dressers, entertainment centers and more. All items must be gently used or in new condition. We cannot except things that are torn, stained or broken. See additional restrictions below.

ENTERTAINMENT: Books & textbooks, toys (stuffed animals, dolls, action figures, etc), sports equipment, board games, DVDs, CDs and vinyl records.

ELECTRONICS: Stereos, radios, LED, flat panel & plasma televisions, video game consoles, computers (laptops, monitors, hard drives, etc), tablets, phones, typewriters, cameras and other electronics. See notice below about donating electronics.*

OTHER: Camping gear, sporting goods, estate goods, tools, collectibles, luggage, bikes, musical instruments and MORE!

Kohl’s (Plastic Bag & Film Recycling) – Encinitas

THIS CENTER IS ACCEPTING PLASTIC BAGS AT THIS TIME!

With drop-off bins located near the front of their stores nationwide, it’s now easier than ever for customers to help the environment while shopping at Kohl’s. They accept plastic film packing, shopping bags, bread bags, ziplock bags, and dry-cleaning bags. You can also recycle hangers at Kohl’s. Please drop off your clean and dry items here!

Polycarbin – Science Lab Recycling Services

Extend the Life of Your Plastics
In the field of science alone, 12 billion pounds of plastic are wasted each year. By participating in the only circular economy in the life sciences, you can help extend the life of your plastics by ensuring they are remanufactured into new lab products rather than downcycled.
Pick which Polycarbin solution is right for your lab.
View services here

Lego Playback

LEGO® Replay is an easy-to-use platform that allows you to donate your well-loved LEGO bricks and share the power of play – helping kids to problem-solve, collaborate, and think creatively. With LEGO Replay, in partnership with Target, worlds of play can be rebuilt and reimagined many times over, inspiring the builders of tomorrow.

All donations ship for free.

 

Where do your bricks go

We work closely with multiple donation partners who proudly give your much-loved LEGO bricks new life. The children who receive the bricks continue to play with them, creating endlessly. By donating through LEGO Replay, you can help give thousands of American children the chance to learn through play and continue their growth.

Ready to donate?

Please click below to review the requirements and start your donation.

Donate now!

Mattel Playback

With Mattel PlayBack, when possible, we’ll recover the materials so they can be reused as recycled content in new products. For materials that cannot be repurposed as recycled content into new toys, Mattel PlayBack will either downcycle those materials into other plastic products or convert them from waste to energy.

The program currently accepts Barbie®, Fisher-Price®, Matchbox® and MEGA™ toys for recycling. Please see FAQs for more information.

To get a free shipping label for qualifying toys, go to Mattel’s official site and click the “Get Started” button. The label will be emailed to you one hour after submitting your request.

 

Terracycle – Zero Waste Box – Safety Equipment and Protective Gear

Shop Zero Waste Box

Zero Waste Boxes make recycling convenient and easy. They’re the perfect option for households, schools, businesses, manufacturing facilities, and events looking to recycle more and keep trash out of landfills.

Safety Equipment and Protective Gear

Items Accepted

  • Vinyl Gloves
  • Latex Gloves
  • Nitrile Gloves
  • Non Woven Disposable Sleeve
  • Non Woven Disposable Masks
  • Safety Glasses
  • Ear Plugs
  • Nylon Safety Vests

How it works

We make recycling easy: simply choose the Zero Waste Box™ for what you’d like to recycle, fill the box, and send it back to TerraCycle when you’re ready. We take care of the rest!
1. Shop
Browse our selection of Zero Waste Boxes and select the one that fits your needs.

Browse Boxes

2. Collect

Fill your Zero Waste Box with the trash you’d like to recycle.

 

3. Ship

When filled, send your box back to us using the attached prepaid shipping label and we’ll #RecycleEverything!

Terracycle – Zero Waste Box – Household Items

Shop Zero Waste Box

Zero Waste Boxes make recycling convenient and easy. They’re the perfect option for households, schools, businesses, manufacturing facilities, and events looking to recycle more and keep trash out of landfills.

Household Items Accepted

  • Plastic & Paper Packaging
  • Art Supplies
  • Books & Magazines
  • Home Cleaning Accessories
  • Fabrics
  • Clothing & Accessories
  • Office Supplies & E Waste
  • Pet Products (Non Food)
  • Shipping Materials

How it works

We make recycling easy: simply choose the Zero Waste Box™ for what you’d like to recycle, fill the box, and send it back to TerraCycle when you’re ready. We take care of the rest!
1. Shop
Browse our selection of Zero Waste Boxes and select the one that fits your needs.

Browse Boxes

2. Collect

Fill your Zero Waste Box with the trash you’d like to recycle.

 

3. Ship

When filled, send your box back to us using the attached prepaid shipping label and we’ll #RecycleEverything!

City of San Diego – Mattress Collection Site (next to HHW Collection Facility)

Bye Bye Mattress drop-off location.

phone: 858-694-7000
Drop Off Limit: 10 unit maximum per household and commercial site. Site may allow for additional drop offs free of charge on a case-by-case basis. Please call prior to arrival for details.
Service Type: free drop-off for businesses; free drop-off for residents
Hours: 7:00AM to 3:00PM Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri.

City of San Diego residents should contact Waste Management for more information about a bulky item pick up. Call 512-518-5317 or go online.

Kohl’s (Plastic Bag & Film Recycling) – Santee

THIS CENTER IS ACCEPTING PLASTIC BAGS AT THIS TIME!

With drop-off bins located near the front of every one of their 1,100+ stores nationwide, it’s now easier than ever for customers to help the environment while shopping at Kohl’s. They accept plastic film packing, shopping bags, bread bags, ziplock bags, and dry-cleaning bags. Please drop off your clean and dry items here!

Sprouts – North Park

Be a Zero Hero and Recycle Plastic!

Always check to see what you can recycle through your local curbside collection program.
If you can’t recycle it there, Kroger also offers these easy options for harder-to-recycle items:

HOW: Collect clean & dry plastic films from packaging at home and bring back to bins at the front of stores

WHAT: Plastic Film & Packaging

Grocery & retail shopping bags (remove receipts and remove hard plastic & string handles) Outer package wrapping (toilet paper, paper towels, diapers)
Dry cleaning bags Resealable zipper bags*
News paper sleeves & bags Produce bags*
Shipping materials (shipping envelopes, bubble wrap, air pillows (deflated)) Bread bags*
Case stretch wrap Plastic cereal box liners*

Packaging with instructions to recycle in store drop-off programs
*Recycle these items in EITHER the in-store or mail-in programs

 

 

Pavillions Pharmacy – California Drug Take-Back Program

California Drug Take-Back Program

The California Drug Take-Back Program has enough remaining funding to provide you with free liners (including shipping and disposal of filled liners) through early 2022. We encourage you to continue accepting unwanted medications in the med bins we’ve installed at your facility, shipping them back once they are no more than 2/3 full, and ordering replacement liners as you’ve previously done (using the process documentation provided to you upon installation of the med bin). SB 212 is expected to be fully operational, barring no delays, in 2022. ​

Pools & Spas – County Guidance

Preventing runoff from pool, spa, and fountain maintenance activities from entering our streets and storm drains helps protect our waterways from pollution!  All sources of pollution, including runoff from pools, spas, and fountains, are prohibited from leaving your property; only rainwater is allowed in the streets and storm drains.

What can I do?

  • Dispose of waste thoughtfully: discharge chlorinated or treated water into the sanitary sewer system to ensure that the chemicals often used in pools, spas and fountains do not enter our storm drains.
  • Use Best Management Practices (BMPs): BMPs are techniques or controls used to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants, such as chlorinated water, into the storm drain system. BMPs for pool, spa, and fountain maintenance include discharging water to a landscaped area.
Know before you go…

Discharging swimming pool, spa, and fountain water to a storm drain can only be done if the water is dechlorinated, has a pH in the 7.2-8 range, and has no algae or suspended solids.

 

What Can You Do To Keep Our Waterways Clean?

  • Follow manufacturer’s instructions for all pool chemicals. For more information on
    where to properly dispose of excess chemicals, call 1-877-R-1-EARTH (1-877-713-2784).
  • Dispose of liquid waste from pool and spa filters into the house sanitary sewer
    system and dispose of solids from pool and spa filters into a trash bag and then rinse
    the filter into a landscaped area or container.
  • Drain water to a landscaped or rocky area that will not cause soil erosion or runoff
    to a storm drain.
  • Drain water into a storm drain only if the water is reduced to less than 1 part per
    million of chlorine or bromine, and does not contain algaecides, acid wash, or high
    levels of salinity.
  • Pool owners are responsible for the practices of their contractors. Share these
    important facts with your pool maintenance company.

Scisters Salon & Apothecary

About Scisters Salon

Scisters Salon is San Diego’s first Zero Waste Salon, offering beauty products in bulk and various other supplies for living a zero waste, intentional lifestyle. An immense amount of thought is given to how the salon is operated, the services offered, and the options of products that are used and retailed. The team takes pride in finding and customizing products with easily recognized ingredients, eliminating toxins, and integrating wellness in your beauty routine.

Blind Speed Sparkle blinds

Your Local Window Blind Experts

For over 30 years, our business has provided the area with custom window blinds as well as window blind cleaning and repair services that serve our clients particular needs.

  • Custom Order Blinds W
  • Window Blind Cleaning
  • Window Blind Repairs

Contact Us Today For More Information – Get started on getting your blinds looking like new again, or let our experts find new blinds that will best fit your residential or commercial property. Call us today at for more information about what we have available for you.

Excess Poly

Excess Poly specializes in Plastic Recycling. We service U.S. and Canadian manufacturers, recyclers, demolition, and insurance companies. We buy truckloads and less-than-truckloads of Obsolete Plastic Parts, Virgin Plastics, Plastic Regrind, Reprocessed Plastic, and all forms of Plastic Scrap.

We offer competitive pricing, immediate pick up, and prompt payment on every load.

Working with your team, we will strive to find possible solutions for your plastic scrap waste stream. Our ultimate goal is to divert plastic waste from landfills while reducing the cost of landfill fees. Scrap plastic has value, so eventually, your expenses will convert into profit.

Call 1-888-400-5537 or email info@excesspoly.com to inquire.

 

Plastic Beach Retail Recycling

Retail recycling with Plastic Beach is an easy, hassle-free approach to getting plastic film materials recycled and supporting corporate sustainability programs. Plastic Beach also offers consumer recycling opportunities plus a monthly subscription for $14. Contact them for more information.

They are a non-profit that facilitates plastic film materials recycling at the pre-consumer stage at small and large companies. Based in Southern California, Plastic Beach is a 501(c)3 non-profit that is saving the environment one plastic sheet at a time.

Retailer interested in recycling? Please email or call them at 760-840-7231.

You collect on-site

They provide local businesses with the basic infrastructure to collect their waste plastic bags and plastic film packing material on site (instead of entering the trash stream).

They pick up and distribute

Businesses hold the plastic film in a bulk container for our regular collection and onward delivery to recycling companies by our volunteer team.

Volume reported for branding

They track each business’ recycling volume weight to inform their customers and stakeholders on their programs success.

 

We are proud to partner with a number of local locations in San Diego and Los Angeles to offer the Resident Drop-Off Program. This program provides a simple and easy way for people to responsibly dispose of your soft plastics, creating a sustainable option that protects our earth. By using a bag made from recycled materials, we are reducing our carbon footprint and keeping more plastics out of our oceans. It’s easy, fun, and convenient for everyone to participate!

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Our partner locations include the following: 

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Out of the Closet

All items must be in GOOD condition. Please see list of items they do AND do not accept.

For Free Pick-Up, please call (800) 558-8220 or fill out the form here. They are able to pick up furniture and large items at this time, and all donations must be outside for pickup.

At least 2 pieces of furniture are required to be part of your donation for a pick-up request to be scheduled. You can donate clothing, household items in store.

Items that they DO NOT take include: beds, entertainment centers, children’s items, old electronics, and large office furniture. Additionally, all items must be in resalable condition and are at the driver’s discretion.

Kohl’s (Plastic Bag & Film Recycling) – Balboa

THIS CENTER IS ACCEPTING PLASTIC BAGS AT THIS TIME!

 

With drop-off bins located near the front of every one of their 1,100+ stores nationwide, it’s now easier than ever for customers to help the environment while shopping at Kohl’s. They accept plastic film packing, shopping bags, bread bags, ziplock bags, and dry-cleaning bags. Please drop off your clean and dry items here!

Ralphs – CRV In-Store Redemption Center – Point Loma

CalRecycle’s website notifies Californians of local retailers who are obligated to offer CRV redemption in-store when there is no buyback center nearby.

Beverage dealers, retailers that sell CRV beverages, share an obligation to ensure convenient redemption opportunities for consumers.  If a beverage dealer is located in an “unserved Convenience zone” and there is no recycling center nearby, these retailers are required to either redeem CRV material in-store (Option A), or opt to pay a fee of $100 per day (Option B).

View a list of “Option A” dealers. https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Markets/RecyclingClosures/

The most efficient and effective way to lodge a complaint against a recycling center or an Option A retailer and initiate a CalRecycle inspection of that entity is by emailing your name, phone number, a brief summary of the issue, and the name and address of the subject of your complaint to: complaints@calrecycle.ca.gov.

Home Depot – Oceanside East

Home Depot accepts rechargeable batteries used in power tools and small numbers of fluorescent light bulbs for recycling. No household batteries will be accepted.

Humble Design

Help Families Emerging From Homelessness

Gently used items are accepted by appointment at their warehouse at 1300 Wilson Avenue, National City, CA 91950.

Click below to contact them about scheduling a furniture pickup. Be sure to send a list of your items as well as pictures using the pickup request form! They kindly request for a $50.00 donation to cover mover and truck expenses. Request a San Diego furniture pickup!

Please check the website for a list of accepted/non accepted items.

Dunn-Edwards – Encinitas

This location will accept architectural paint or “program products” which are defined as interior or exterior architectural coatings sold in containers of 5 gallons or less.

They do not accept:

  • Aerosol
  • Industrial
  • Original equipment
  • Specialty coatings

This location will accept paint under the following conditions:

  • Paint must be in its original container
  • Container must be labeled
  • Container must be in good condition and not leaking
  • Container must be five gallons in size or smaller.

Drop-off sites may establish limits on the quantity of products they accept. Generally, the limit in small stores will be lower than in large store. Please check with the site if you have more than 5 gallons.

In addition to residents, this program is available to trade painters, contractors and other businesses with one restriction: If your business produces more than 27 gallons of hazardous waste per month, you may only use the drop-off sites for your latex paint and not for your oil-based paint. To learn more about the 27-gallon restriction, contact PaintCare or the California Department of Toxic Substances at 855-724-6809.

Ferrellgas – Escondido

Recycle propane tanks for $10 each

Exchanging a propane tank for your grill is as easy as drop, swap, and go!

1. DROP your empty tank beside the display when you get to the store. We accept all brands.
2. See the store associate to SWAP your empty tank for a new Blue Rhino cylinder.
3. GO enjoy your Blue Rhino and your backyard barbecue knowing you’re the ultimate grill master.