San Diego Trash, Green Bin and Yard Rules That Affect Rodents

Green bins and food scraps

California's SB 1383 requires residents and businesses to keep organic waste, meaning food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings, out of the landfill. In the City of San Diego, residents put those items in the green organics bin. Households got a free kitchen pail to collect scraps indoors. The city says it will not sell extra or replacement pails, and suggests a reusable container or paper bag instead.

Food scraps in a bin are an obvious draw for rats, so the city's guidance matters. Its organics FAQ and curbside guide advise residents to:

• Keep the green bin in a shaded area with the lid closed at all times
• Drain liquid from food scraps
• Wrap food in newspaper, paper bags, paper towels or napkins
• Refrigerate or freeze scraps until collection day; the city says frozen scraps can help prevent odors and pests
• Sprinkle baking soda on top to cut odors
• Line the bottom of the bin with yard trimmings or paper
• Rinse the bin with mild soap and water when needed

The city says green bins are picked up once a week and should go out every week, even if not full. For apartments and businesses, the organic waste bin must be picked up weekly from the property.

Putting bins out and taking them in

The city's curbside guide says to place bins at the collection point by 6 a.m., space them three feet from other bins, cars and obstacles, and not to overload them. The guide says contents must not block the lid from closing. Do not bag organics or recyclables in plastic. Kitchen pails should not be left at the curb or alley.

An overfilled bin with a lid propped open is a feeding station. Bins left at the curb or in the alley long after pickup are also easy targets, and Get It Done has a Container Left Out category for reporting them. Collection days are listed through Get It Done.

The property maintenance code

Chapter 5, Article 4, Division 2 of the San Diego Municipal Code is titled Weed, Rubbish and Waste Abatement. It sets out a property owner's general duty:

• Section 54.0201 says every person has a duty to maintain real property under their control free from weeds, rubbish and other waste.
• Section 54.0208 makes it unlawful for a responsible person to fail to maintain property free from waste, and to fail to keep an abutting public walkway free from waste, weeds and plant growth.
• Section 54.0202 defines rubbish as non-functional, non-usable or abandoned material, and weeds to include dry grass, stubble and brush that create a fire hazard. It defines vectors as rodents, flies and mosquitoes capable of transmitting disease to humans.
• Section 54.0207 lets the city assess abatement costs against the property and record them as a lien.

Piles of junk, abandoned furniture, stacked lumber and dense dead brush are the conditions roof rats nest in. The code gives neighbors and the city a way to deal with them.

Dumping, dumpsters and alleys

The same division of the Municipal Code prohibits illegal dumping and littering in Sections 54.0209 and 54.0210. In Get It Done you can report Illegal Dumping, Overflowing Dumpster and Dumpster Encroaching on Public Right of Way. Alleys in older neighborhoods like North Park, Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach collect dumped mattresses, furniture and bags of trash, and rats nest in and under them.

For businesses, overflowing dumpsters and grease bins are a common source. Ask your hauler about pickup frequency if a bin fills before collection day. See commercial rodent control.

Yard advice from the county

The county Vector Control Program's advice for rats focuses on food, shelter and access:

• Seal openings wider than a quarter
• Remove food sources and debris
• Stack woodpiles at least 18 inches off the ground and 12 inches from fences and walls
• Trim vegetation at least 4 feet away from the roof

The county's hantavirus brochure, aimed at deer mice, adds:

• Clear uneaten pet food daily
• Keep garbage in sealed containers and empty it weekly
• Cut grass and weeds within 100 feet of buildings
• Raise woodpiles at least 1 foot off the ground

In a San Diego yard that usually means trimming palms, bougainvillea and ivy back from the roofline, picking up fallen citrus and avocados, moving firewood onto a rack and pulling stored items away from the house walls. See roof rats in palm and fruit trees.

Bird feeders, pet food and compost

The county lists pet food and bird seed among the things rats eat. Seed that drops under a feeder feeds rats every night. If you have rats, take feeders down for a while or use a tray that catches spilled seed and clean under it daily. Feed pets indoors or pick up bowls at night, and store pet food in metal or hard plastic bins with lids.

Backyard compost can draw rodents when it holds food scraps. The city's organics program gives residents a way to send food scraps away in the green bin instead. If you keep a home compost pile, keep meat, dairy and oily food out of it and use a closed bin.

When a neighbor's property is the problem

Talk to the neighbor first. The city suggests that step too, and it lists the National Conflict Resolution Center as a resource. If that fails, the City of San Diego's Building and Land Use Enforcement section takes requests for investigation of property violations online or on paper. It does not accept anonymous requests. You can also ask the county Vector Control Program to note an area rat problem. See how to report rats in San Diego.

Plastic bags and compostable products

The city's curbside guide says not to put plastic bags in the green bin, even bags labeled compostable, and to keep out containers and packaging labeled compostable or biodegradable. Remove produce stickers, plastic wrap, twist ties and foil from scraps. Wrapping scraps in paper is the city's suggested alternative.