Recycling is now mandatory at apartments, condominiums and townhouse complexes in San Diego. Some businesses are also required to recycle.
The San Diego ordinance requires multi-family complexes to recycle. Businesses that generate at least two standard dumpsters emptied once per week must also recycle.
This is the final phase of the ordinance which requires citywide recycling of glass, plastic, bottles, jars, cans, paper and cardboard.
Jose Ysea with the San Diego Environmental Services Department said the goal is to reduce recyclables from entering the Miramar Landfill. He said the landfill was projected to be full by 2017.
"But due to the city's new recycling ordinance and the downturn in the economy, we've been able to recalculate that and figure that at current pace we should be able to extend the life to 2019," Ysea said. "So it added an additional two years."
He said failing to recycle could bring fines ranging from $100 to $1,000.
But Ysea says that so far, fines have not been needed.
