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February is a good moment to reset — after the holidays and before spring gets busy. Whether you’re clearing out clutter, enjoying Carlsbad’s trails or planning ahead for upcoming events, these tips and updates can help you make the most of the season while reducing waste and protecting our local environment.

A winning game plan for Super Bowl waste

This Sunday is the Super Bowl, and for many households that means snacks, drinks and gathering around the TV. It can also mean a lot of waste. With a few simple choices, you can keep game-day trash to a minimum and make sure everything ends up in the right cart. 

MVP: Organics recycling 

Food scraps and food-soiled paper are the real MVPs of game day. Use the green organics cart for food scraps, pizza crusts (and boxes), avocado peels, napkins and paper towels. Composting food waste helps reduce landfill methane and keeps organic material in use. 

Recycling lineup 

Put empty bottles, cans and hard plastics in the blue recycling cart, along with clean paper and cardboard. Make sure containers are empty and free of food or liquids before tossing them in. Keeping recycling clean helps prevent contamination and ensures materials can be processed properly. 

Play defense against recycling contamination 

Food and liquids are the biggest opponents of good recycling. If an item is dirty, greasy or you’re unsure, keep it out of the blue recycling cart. When in doubt, it’s better to place something in the trash than contaminate an entire load of recycling. 

The last play: The landfill 

Some items can’t be recycled or composted. Plastic wrap, chip bags and foam containers should go in the gray trash cart. Reducing these items when possible helps limit what ends up in the landfill. 

Never pour fats, oils or grease down the sink or drain. Let them cool, collect them in a sealed container and place them in the trash to help protect sewer lines.

Extra tips for a more sustainable game day

A few small plays can make a difference:

• Use reusable plates, cups and utensils instead of disposables.
• Set up clearly labeled bins to make sorting easy for guests.
• Choose drinks in recyclable containers and skip single-use plastics when possible.
• Save leftovers to reduce food waste after the game.

Making the right calls at home helps keep waste programs working and supports a cleaner community long after the final whistle.

A fresh start for stuff you don't need

A new year is a good time to clear out clutter and make room for what you actually use. For Carlsbad residents, that doesn’t mean sending everything to the landfill. The Palomar Transfer Station and Recycling Buyback Center offer a one-stop shop with free services that make it easy to recycle and safely dispose of many common household items.

Whether you’re cleaning out a garage, upgrading electronics or tackling leftover materials from a home project, many items can be handled responsibly at one convenient location.

Free recycling and disposal options include:

• Batteries and light bulbs: Household batteries, lithium-ion batteries and LED light bulbs
• Most bottles and cans: Bottles and cans eligible for CRV (look for the "CA CRV" or other label)
• Cardboard: Large volumes of flattened cardboard
• Carpet: Clean, dry carpet for recycling
• Cooking and motor oil: Free used oil recovery kits are available; containers must be returned
• Electronic waste: Anything with a plug, including computers, printers, TVs and small appliances
• Mattresses and box springs: Accepted for recycling
• Medical sharps: Must be placed in a rigid, sealed container such as a plastic jug
• Paint: Interior and exterior architectural paints, primers, stains and sealers accepted through the PaintCare program (five-gallon maximum per drop-off)

Please note: Household hazardous waste is not accepted at the Palomar Transfer Station or Recycling Buyback Center. This includes items such as paint thinners and solvents, aerosol products, pesticides, pool chemicals and automotive fluids other than used motor oil. These items should be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, 1145 East Taylor Street in Vista or scheduled for a pickup service (free for residents over age 65).

Proof of residency is required for all programs. Accepted documents include a utility bill, waste services bill or driver’s license.

Palomar Transfer Station

5960 El Camino Real

Monday through Sunday

7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Recycling Buyback Center (same location)

Monday through Saturday

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Starting the year with less clutter can also mean fewer items in the trash and more materials put to better use, while helping protect the environment.

Winter blooms on Carlsbad trails

Winter is one of the best times to explore Carlsbad’s trails. Recent rain and cooler temperatures bring hillsides back to life, with early blooms and fresh green growth that signal the start of wildflower season.


If you head out now, you’ll spot several familiar flowers and plants that define Carlsbad’s natural landscape.

Early blooms to watch for

Some of Carlsbad’s most recognizable wildflowers begin appearing in winter and continue into early spring:

• Padre’s shootingstar (Primula clevelandii): This plant blooms late winter to early spring and produces clusters of lavender to white flowers on grassy slopes.
• California poppy (Eschscholzia californica): These bright orange flowers often show up first as scattered pops of color, especially along sunny slopes. Their numbers grow quickly as days get longer.
• Miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor) and arroyo lupine (Lupinus succulentus): Look for tall flower spikes in shades of pink, purple, blue and white along trails and grasslands where miniature lupine is found in abundance.
• Caterpillar phacelia (Phacelia cicutaria): Look for the coiled lavender flowers on coastal sage scrub-covered hills and in openings along trails.

These early bloomers change week by week, so a trail you walk today may look completely different by your next visit.

Native shrubland at its greenest

Native shrubland, such as chaparral or coastal sage scrub, is a mix of native shrubs and forbs (flowering plants that aren’t shrubs or trees) that covers many of Carlsbad’s hillsides and preserves. Winter rains bring this landscape back to life, making it one of the greenest and most vibrant times of year to visit local trails.

This plant community stays green and fragrant during the cooler months, before drying out in summer. Along many trails, you’ll see:

• California sagebrush (Artemisia californica)
• Black sage (Salvia mellifera)
• Woollyleaf ceanothus (Ceanothus tomentosus)
• Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus)
• Other native shrubs that create a lush backdrop for seasonal wildflowers

Together, these plants support local wildlife and help stabilize hillsides during the rainy season.

Where to see them

Some of the best winter and early spring views can be found along trails throughout Carlsbad, including:

• Calavera Hills Trail
• Carlsbad Highlands Ecological Reserve Trail
• La Costa Glen Trail
• Lake Calavera Preserve Trails

Many of the plants you see along these trails are protected through the city’s Habitat Management Plan, which guides how Carlsbad preserves and cares for sensitive natural areas. Staying on designated trails helps protect these habitats and allows native plants to continue thriving season after season.

Learn about Carlsbad's preserve system

Curious about how Carlsbad’s preserve system is cared for throughout the year? Join us for the 21st annual Habitat Management Plan meeting, where city staff and land managers will share updates on habitat management and biological monitoring work from the past year.

The meeting will include short presentations followed by time for questions and discussion.

Habitat Management Plan annual meeting

Tuesday, March 3

10 a.m. to noon

1635 Faraday Ave.

Conference Room 173B

The meeting will be also recorded and available to watch on the city’s website later.

Staying focused on sustainability in 2026

The Environmental Sustainability Commission identified its 2026 work plan at its Dec. 4 meeting, outlining the commission’s focus areas and priorities for the year ahead. The work plan will guide discussions and recommendations on sustainability topics and is scheduled for City Council consideration on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

At its most recent meeting on Thursday, Feb. 5, the commission received updates on the City Council Legislative Subcommittee’s environmental advocacy efforts, Oceanside’s Beach Sand Nourishment and Retention Project, and upcoming environmental sustainability outreach events and recognition opportunities. These conversations are part of the commission’s ongoing role in advising the City Council on environmental sustainability efforts.

Environmental Sustainability Commission meetings are open to the public. Recordings of past meetings are available on the city’s website, and the 2026 meeting calendar is posted online for those interested in attending a future meeting in person. You can also sign up to receive email updates about upcoming meetings.

Environmental Sustainability Commission

First Thursday of even-numbered months, 3 p.m.

City Council Chamber

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

Volunteer on Carlsbad's trails in 2026

Looking for a hands-on way to enjoy the outdoors this year? Join friends and neighbors at one of the city’s volunteer trail maintenance events. These events help keep Carlsbad’s trail system safe, accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Kick off the year’s trail volunteer season on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Hosp Grove West Trails. All tools and training are provided. Volunteers are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes, sunscreen and bring water.

If you’d like to receive future updates about the city’s trails and volunteer events, sign up to receive our Happy Trails newsletter.

The 2026 trail volunteer calendar is now available, with events scheduled throughout the year.

Save the date for Earth Month events in April

April is Earth Month, and the city is planning a full lineup of events and activities focused on sustainability, waste reduction and protecting our natural environment.

From hands-on events to educational opportunities, Earth Month offers ways for residents of all ages to learn, take action and connect with their community.

See upcoming events and updates at carlsbadca.gov/earthmonth. More details will be shared as the month approaches.

Small actions, shared learning and community involvement all play a role in caring for Carlsbad’s environment. We hope these updates help you find simple ways to take part this winter and into the months ahead.