Months after the City of San Diego rolled out new trash bins, residents in City Heights and other neighborhoods say their old black containers are still sitting on sidewalks and streets, some filled with trash.
Residents in City Heights say the bins have not been picked up since November, when new containers were delivered.
“They told us to put it outside on the curb so they can pick them up, but they never did,” said Angelica Virgen, a City Heights resident.
Angelica said her bin — like many others on her street — has been left outside for months.
“I even had one of my sons go after the guys that were delivering them, and the guys said that we have to wait for somebody to pick them up,” she said.
She added that the issue is affecting entire blocks.
“Even my next-door neighbor still has theirs, their black ones,” Angelica said.
A resident who contacted the city showed us an email they received back, stating that crews were scheduled to collect the old bins on Saturday, Jan. 3, but many residents say that never happened.
According to Jose Ysea, a spokesperson for the City of San Diego, the delay is part of a larger logistical challenge.
“The process of removing all the black containers has obviously been a big undertaking,” Ysea said.
The city contracted with a private company to remove the old bins, but Ysea said crews can fall behind.
“They get behind either through weather or other factors,” he said.
The problem is not limited to City Heights. A search of the city’s Get It Done app shows at least 58 open complaints about old trash bins not being picked up. Reports span neighborhoods including North Park, Pacific Beach, Normal Heights, and southeastern San Diego.
The city’s contract with the company responsible for picking up the black bins is set to end Saturday. Residents are urged to place old bins on the sidewalk or street and ensure they are completely empty. Bins containing trash will not be collected.
Residents who are missed can submit a complaint through the Get It Done app, email trash@sandiego.gov, or call 858-694-7000.
“We’re going to have city crews, special city crews, that’s going to be following along and trying to pick up all of these black cans as well,” Ysea said.
After NBC 7 and Telemundo 20 reached out, the city said crews are expected to collect old bins in City Heights and other high-concentration areas, including Mid-City and North Park this weekend. Officials say residents should continue placing the bins out for pickup.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.