Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Brea
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Varies by neighborhood zone
Yard Waste
Varies by neighborhood zone
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash, recycling, and organics services provided by Republic Services are billed directly on your monthly City of Brea utility statement alongside water and sewer charges.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
A Lifeline Discount is available for qualifying low-income residents enrolled in the Southern California Edison or SoCalGas CARE programs (applied to water service rates).
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Republic Services and Curbside Waste Collection in Brea
In the city of Brea, residential solid waste collection is managed through a franchise agreement with Republic Services, locally recognized as Brea Disposal. To maintain an orderly and clean neighborhood environment, residents are equipped with a standard three-cart system. It is imperative that your bins are rolled out to the curb early on your designated pickup day to prevent any missed collections. Whether you have questions regarding missed services, broken cart lids, or need to rent a temporary dumpster for a home project, all customer inquiries should be directed to the Republic Services local dispatch at (714) 238-2444. Furthermore, automated trucks require proper spacing to operate their mechanical arms; always leave several feet of clearance between each cart and avoid placing them too close to parked vehicles.
Recycling Standards: The Empty, Clean, Dry Rule
When dealing with recyclable materials, Brea adheres to the nationwide 'Empty, Clean, Dry' methodology to minimize contamination. Your designated recycling container is meant for clean corrugated cardboard, mixed paper, rigid plastics, and glass bottles. Before you throw away items like peanut butter jars, yogurt tubs, or beverage containers, make sure you thoroughly rinse out the food residue and allow them to dry. Heavily soiled items, such as greasy pizza boxes or liquid-filled bottles, ruin otherwise good batches of recyclables at the sorting facility. Remember that plastic bags and flimsy film wraps should never be tossed into this bin, as they can severely jam the processing equipment.
Organics Collection and SB 1383 Compliance
To meet California’s rigorous SB 1383 environmental mandates, the City of Brea requires all households to participate in organics recycling. Your green or brown-lidded organics cart is strictly reserved for compostable materials. This includes all traditional yard trimmings—such as grass clippings, leaves, and pruned branches—as well as kitchen food scraps. Residents can confidently discard meat, dairy products, fruit peels, bones, and even food-soiled paper napkins into this organics bin. Keeping these items out of the landfill significantly reduces harmful methane gas emissions. Note that pet waste and treated lumber are not permitted in the organics cart and must be handled differently.
Bulky Item Disposal and Orange County Facilities
It is illegal to dump large household items on the sidewalk or stuff them into standard residential carts. If you need to dispose of bulky waste like old mattresses, heavy wooden furniture, or outdated appliances, Republic Services provides convenient large-item pickup services for Brea residents. You must pre-schedule these pickups by calling their customer service line in advance. For household hazardous waste, such as lithium-ion batteries, fluorescent tubes, wet paint, and motor oil, you cannot use your curbside bins at all. These dangerous materials must be safely transported to a designated Orange County Waste and Recycling facility to protect local groundwater and sanitation workers.
Holiday Delays and Upcoming Service Rate Adjustments
Throughout the year, Brea observes six major holidays that will impact your standard collection routine: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If your usual service day falls on or after one of these dates, collection will be pushed back by exactly one day for the rest of that week. Additionally, staying informed about your municipal costs is essential. Beginning in July 2026, residential waste utility rates are scheduled for a structured adjustment. This rate change accommodates updated county disposal fees and operational costs, bringing the standard three-container monthly residential rate to $34.34, ensuring sustainable waste management for the community's future.
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.