Black Bin (Trash)
All landfill-bound waste must fit inside the black cart with the lid completely closed. Place your carts at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day, leaving at least two feet of clearance between each cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Disposable diapers and pet waste
- ✓Styrofoam (EPS) cups and packaging
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and film wrap
- ✓Broken ceramics and window glass
- ✓Treated or painted wood
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables. All items should be emptied of liquids, lightly rinsed if necessary, and placed loosely into the blue recycling cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Junk mail, office paper, and magazines
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (any color)
- ✓Aluminum cans and tin food cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (#1-#7)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or shrink wrap
- ✕Food-soiled cardboard (like greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Styrofoam packing peanuts
- ✕Electronic waste and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Place all yard trimmings and food scraps directly into the green organics cart. Do not use plastic bags to hold food waste, as they will contaminate the commercial composting process.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Tree branches and pruning debris
- ✓Kitchen food scraps (meat, dairy, produce)
- ✓Food-soiled paper towels and napkins
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Three (3) free collections per calendar year.
Placement
You must call Republic Services at (714) 238-2444 at least 48 hours before your regular collection day to schedule. Place the items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the day of your pickup.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and large furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Major household appliances (doors removed)
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computers, monitors)
- ✓ Bundled yard waste (under 4 feet long)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Concrete, asphalt, dirt, or rocks
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
These three pickups are included in your standard residential rates. Additional pickups beyond the yearly limit will incur a separate charge.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday (Monday - Friday), all residential collection services will be delayed by exactly one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
The holiday delay schedule applies to all three carts uniformly: trash, recycling, and organic waste.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no service delays and your collection will occur on its regularly scheduled day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Film Out of the Blue Cart
Never place plastic grocery bags, bubble wrap, or dry cleaning bags into your blue recycling cart. These thin film plastics easily wrap around and jam the mechanical sorting gears at the Republic Services recycling facility.
Styrofoam Always Goes to the Landfill
Expanded Polystyrene (Styrofoam) cannot be economically recycled in Brea's curbside program. Whether it is a takeout cup, a cooler, or packing peanuts, all Styrofoam must be placed securely in the black trash cart.
Bag Your Trash, Not Your Recycling
While it is highly recommended to bag the garbage in your black cart to prevent windblown litter during Santa Ana wind events, you must leave all materials in your blue recycling and green organics carts completely loose.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryRepublic Services offers free curbside Christmas tree recycling for approximately three weeks following Christmas Day. Trees taller than six feet must be cut in half. Flocked trees (coated in fake snow) cannot be composted and must be disposed of as standard trash.
Autumn
September - NovemberDuring Southern California's notoriously windy autumn months, Brea residents should ensure their black trash bags are tied tightly and cart lids are completely closed to prevent debris from blowing into local streets and storm drains.
About Brea Waste Management
Comprehensive Waste Management with Republic Services
The City of Brea partners exclusively with Republic Services to provide top-tier solid waste collection for all residential households. Operating on an automated three-cart system, Brea ensures that neighborhoods remain clean and environmentally compliant. Republic Services manages the seamless collection of standard refuse, commingled recyclables, and California-mandated organic waste, driving Orange County toward a more sustainable, zero-waste future.
Navigating SB 1383: Organics Recycling in Brea
In strict compliance with California's SB 1383 legislation, Brea requires all residents to separate their organic materials from standard landfill waste. This means that all kitchen food scraps—including meat, dairy, bones, and vegetable peelings—must be placed directly into the green organics cart alongside standard yard trimmings. Diverting these organics from the Olinda Alpha Landfill significantly reduces local methane emissions.
Unmatched Bulky Item Disposal Allowances
Brea residents enjoy one of the most generous bulky waste collection programs in Orange County. Through Republic Services, single-family households are entitled to three complimentary bulky item pickups per calendar year. What sets Brea apart is the allowance limit: residents can place up to 20 eligible items at the curb during a single scheduled pickup, making spring cleaning and home renovations highly convenient.
Access to the Olinda Alpha Landfill and HHW Centers
Conveniently located within city limits, the Olinda Alpha Landfill on Valencia Avenue provides Brea residents with an immediate local option for discarding excess household refuse and construction debris that cannot wait for curbside collection. For hazardous materials like paint and chemicals, residents are directed to the nearby Anaheim Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Center on Blue Gum Street, keeping toxic runoff out of local storm drains.
Drop-off Facilities
Olinda Alpha Landfill
1942 N. Valencia Ave, Brea, CA 92823
Materials Accepted
Orange County Anaheim HHW Collection Center
1071 N. Blue Gum Street, Anaheim, CA 92806
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides residential trash collection in Brea?
Republic Services is the exclusive, franchised waste hauler for the City of Brea, responsible for all residential trash, recycling, and organic waste collection.
How many items can I leave out for a bulky item pickup?
Brea residents have a very generous allowance. You can schedule up to three free bulky item pickups per year, and you are permitted to leave out up to 20 bulky items per collection. You must call Republic Services in advance to schedule the pickup.
Can I throw food waste into the green yard waste bin?
Yes. To comply with California's SB 1383 mandate, the City of Brea requires all food scraps—including meat, dairy, vegetables, and bread—to be placed directly into the green organics cart along with your grass clippings and leaves.
Where can I safely dispose of old paint and batteries?
Hazardous waste cannot be placed in any of your curbside carts. Brea residents can drop off paint, batteries, motor oil, and other chemicals for free at the Orange County HHW Collection Center located at 1071 N. Blue Gum Street in nearby Anaheim.