Republic Services Palomar Transfer Station

A neighborhood transfer station for Carlsbad residents and small haulers, Republic Services Palomar is where truckloads and carloads get compacted and sent on to a landfill elsewhere. It’s the kind of place locals use when a curbside pickup won’t handle a big load or during yard cleanups.

Drive up to an entrance booth and be prepared to stop on a scale - these places typically charge by weight, so there’s usually a second stop on the way out. The site feels industrial: large concrete bays, compactors and roll-off trucks moving around, with separate areas for recyclables and green waste common in California. Weekend mornings tend to be the busiest, with a line of cars and small trailers; weekdays are quieter. Bring items sorted as much as possible so unloading goes quicker and less time is spent figuring out where things go.