Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Fortuna Foothills
Arizona residential routes operate weekly (Mon-Fri) depending on your neighborhood zone. Some municipalities shift to earlier collection hours during extreme summer heat.
State Mandate
Ensure trash is bagged to prevent debris from scattering during high desert winds.
Typically Black, Grey, or Green (varies by private hauler) Bin (Trash)
All trash must be securely bagged and tied to prevent windblown litter. The lid of the container must close completely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Small amounts of bagged yard clippings
Typically Blue (varies by private hauler) Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be completely empty, clean, and dry. Do not bag recyclables; place them loose inside the designated cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean and flattened cardboard
- ✓Newspaper and office paper
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Glass bottles and jars (often excluded, check with hauler)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food-soiled materials
- ✕Electronics and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Unless you pay for a dedicated green waste bin, small amounts of yard waste must be bagged and placed in the regular trash. Large loads must be bundled for a scheduled bulky pickup or self-hauled.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and small weeds
- ✓Small branches (cut to fit in bin)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand by subscription or self-haul
Placement
Place scheduled bulky items at the curb no earlier than 24 hours before your assigned pickup date. Ensure items are at least 5 feet away from your standard bins, mailboxes, and parked cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Broken furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances (freon must be removed)
- ✓ Bundled yard debris and tree limbs
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous materials (paint, motor oil, pool chemicals)
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Heavy construction debris (concrete, dirt, bricks)
- ✕ Liquid waste
Private haulers charge a nominal fee per bulky item or cubic yard. Self-hauling to the South Yuma County Landfill will incur a gate fee based on the weight of the load.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Major holidays typically push private hauler collection schedules back by one day for the remainder of the week. Because services are subscription-based, always verify exact holiday adjustments with your specific provider.
Yard Waste Exception
Any scheduled yard waste or bulky pickups follow the same one-day delay as regular refuse collection.
Minor federal holidays do not usually interrupt routing. Leave your bins out on your normal service day unless notified otherwise by CR&R or Republic Services.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Rinse for the Desert Heat
Unrinsed soda cans and food jars quickly bake in the Arizona sun, attracting desert ants and other pests. Always give your recyclables a thorough rinse and shake them dry before disposal.
Keep the Film Out
Never place plastic grocery bags or soft plastic wraps in your recycling bin. These materials tangle the sorting machinery at regional recycling facilities and cause extensive delays.
No Tanglers
Keep garden hoses, extension cords, wire, and ropes out of your recycling and regular trash carts. These items wrap around the automated truck axles and sorting plant gears.
Seasonal Information
Winter/Snowbird Season
November to MarchWith the massive influx of winter visitors and RVs to the Fortuna Foothills area, residential waste volumes surge. Ensure your bins are properly spaced at the curb, as collection routes may take longer to navigate the increased neighborhood density.
Summer
June to SeptemberTo beat the extreme Yuma County summer heat, private sanitation crews begin their routes very early. It is highly recommended to place your bins at the curb the night before your scheduled collection day, or no later than 5:00 AM.
Monsoon
July to SeptemberSudden microbursts and intense monsoon winds can easily knock over unsecured bins. Guarantee every piece of garbage is tied securely in a bag and cart lids are snapped shut to prevent a neighborhood litter emergency.
About Fortuna Foothills Waste Management
Managing Trash in Unincorporated Yuma County
Because Fortuna Foothills is an unincorporated census-designated place, residents do not receive municipal curbside trash collection from a city government. Instead, the area operates on an open-market system. Homeowners must set up a private subscription with a permitted hauler—such as CR&R Environmental Services (locally operating as C&D Disposal) or Republic Services—or choose to self-haul their household waste directly to Yuma County's rural transfer stations.
Desert Winds and Container Placement
The Foothills frequently experience strong desert winds that can easily scatter loose garbage. To protect the surrounding Sonoran Desert ecosystem, residents must securely bag and tie all household refuse before placing it in the trash bin. Bins should be placed at the curb with the wheels facing the home, spaced at least three feet apart from other carts, mailboxes, and thorny desert landscaping to ensure automated trucks can service them safely.
Self-Hauling and County Transfer Stations
For those who prefer not to maintain a monthly hauling contract, Yuma County Public Works operates several rural transfer stations and coordinates with the South Yuma County Landfill. These facilities accept bagged residential garbage, recyclables, and used tires. Utilizing these transfer sites is a cost-effective alternative for residents who generate minimal weekly waste or need to dispose of large loads between major hauler pickups.
Handling Bulky Desert Waste and E-Waste
Private haulers in the area, such as C&D Disposal, require residents to schedule bulky item pickups in advance for a nominal fee. Heavy items like old furniture, broken appliances, and large bundles of yard debris cannot be left loose at the curb. Furthermore, electronic waste (e-waste) like old televisions and computers are strictly prohibited from standard bins and must be handled through specialized collection requests or local county drop-off events.
Drop-off Facilities
South Yuma County Landfill (CR&R)
19536 S Avenue 1 E, Yuma, AZ 85365
Materials Accepted
Yuma County Public Works Facility (ABOP Drop-off)
4343 S Avenue 5 1/2 E, Yuma, AZ 85365
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Yuma County provide trash collection in Fortuna Foothills?
No. Because Fortuna Foothills is an unincorporated area, Yuma County does not provide county-wide residential curbside garbage collection. Residents must set up an account with a private hauler like CR&R (C&D Disposal) or Republic Services, or choose to haul their own trash to a county transfer station.
How do I dispose of old furniture and mattresses in the Foothills?
You must contact your private waste hauler to schedule a bulky item pickup, which typically requires a nominal additional fee. Alternatively, you can self-haul large items directly to the South Yuma County Landfill.
What time should I put my trash bins out for collection?
Due to the extreme summer heat in Yuma County, private haulers begin their routes very early. It is best practice to place your bins at the curb the night before your scheduled collection day, or no later than 5:00 AM.
Where can I take my old motor oil, batteries, and paint?
Private haulers will not accept liquid hazardous waste in regular curbside bins. Yuma County residents can drop off Antifreeze, Batteries, Oil, and Paint (ABOP) at the Yuma County Public Works Facility located at 4343 S Avenue 5 1/2 E.