Black Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the container with the lid closed completely. The cart cannot accommodate more than 200 pounds and should not be overloaded with heavy sand, soil, or dirt.
Accepted Items
- ✓Unrecyclable plastics (#3, #4, #6, #7)
- ✓Compostable plastics and bioplastics
- ✓Styrofoam and foam products
- ✓Pet waste and horse manure
- ✓Diapers and household garbage
- ✓Flocked or artificial Christmas trees
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be at least 4 inches in size and placed completely loose in the bin. Do not bag your recyclables in plastic garbage bags. Dropping glass off at the Recycle Center is preferred over using the blue bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and pizza boxes
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, and #5 (No black plastic)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and office paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and wrappers
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, lights, cords)
- ✕Tiny plastics (under 3 inches in size)
Yard Waste Bin
Organics must be placed in the green cart loose or wrapped in paper. No plastic bags or 'compostable' bioplastics are permitted. Pet waste, dirt, and horse manure are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and branches
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, eggshells)
- ✓Food-soiled paper with no plastic lining
- ✓Shrubs and twigs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand (Schedule at least 1-2 business days before normal collection)
Placement
Do not put bulky items out until the night before collection. Place them at least 5 feet away from all fixed objects. Remove doors from refrigerators.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches, chairs, and dressers
- ✓ Bed frames and metal furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (fee applies)
- ✓ Large appliances and refrigerators (fee applies)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Dirt, rock, concrete, and construction debris
- ✕ Items pertaining to a business operation
- ✕ Liquid waste
Basic furniture is collected with no special handling fee. Certain items like mattresses, air conditioners, and tires require a $12.14 Special Handling Fee billed to your utility account.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Burbank's Solid Waste Services operate Monday through Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., including all City and Federal Holidays. There are absolutely no delays to your collection schedule.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics, recycling, and trash are all picked up on schedule, regardless of the holiday.
Because the City of Burbank does not observe holiday trash delays, you must always ensure your carts are at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on your regularly assigned weekday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ban the Bioplastics
Even if your disposable fork, cup, or produce bag claims to be '100% compostable', it cannot break down in Burbank's organics facilities. All compostable bioplastics must be thrown directly into your black trash cart.
Keep Glass Out of the Blue Bin
Although technically accepted curbside, Burbank highly prefers that you drop off glass bottles and food jars directly at the Burbank Recycle Center. This prevents glass shards from shattering and cross-contaminating clean paper bales during transit.
Avoid Tanglers
Never throw garden hoses, string lights, or plastic grocery bags into the blue bin. These items are notorious for tangling around the spinning gears of the recycling sorting machines, causing dangerous system shutdowns.
Seasonal Information
Winter (Post-Holiday)
Late December through Mid-JanuaryBurbank offers free curbside holiday tree collection on your regular trash day. Remove all lights, stands, and ornaments. Flocked trees (sprayed with fake snow) are considered landfill trash and must be cut to fit inside the black bin.
Year-Round
January to DecemberIf you generate extra waste that does not fit in your regular carts, you can schedule an extra pick-up on any weekday (other than your normal collection day) for an additional fee by calling Public Works Field Services.
About Burbank Waste Management
Navigating Burbank's City-Issued Tri-Color Carts
In Burbank, residential solid waste services are provided directly by the City of Burbank Public Works Department. Each eligible home utilizes three sturdy, automated carts: a black container for regular trash, a blue container for recycling, and a green container for organics. To guarantee proper collection, residents must face all containers in the same direction—with the lid arrow pointing toward the center of the street and wheels near the curb. The automated mechanical arm requires a strict three-foot clearance from parked cars, mailboxes, trees, and other objects to function safely without causing property damage.
Burbank's Approach to SB 1383 Organics
Like the rest of California, Burbank enforces the SB 1383 organic waste mandate, requiring residents to recycle all food scraps. However, the city strictly bans all plastic bags, including bioplastics and items heavily marketed as '100% compostable,' from the green organics cart. Food scraps, such as meat, dairy, and bones, must be placed directly into the green bin alongside standard yard trimmings. To manage odors, residents are encouraged to freeze food waste before collection day, sprinkle baking soda inside the bin, or line their kitchen pail with newspaper or a paper bag—but never a plastic liner.
Year-Round Uninterrupted Holiday Collection
A surprisingly unique feature of Burbank's municipal waste program is its relentless schedule. The solid waste collection service operates every single weekday, Monday through Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., without exceptions for city or federal holidays. Whether it is Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, or New Year's Day, if the holiday falls on a weekday, your trash, recycling, and green waste will be picked up on your normally scheduled day with absolutely zero delays. This eliminates the common holiday confusion found in neighboring cities.
Navigating the Bulky Item Program
Burbank residents can easily dispose of large, unmanageable items by scheduling a bulky item pickup up to two business days prior to their standard collection date through the 'Our Burbank 311' portal. Be aware that most bulky collections are sent directly to the landfill, so donating usable goods is highly encouraged. There are no special handling fees for basic items like bed frames, couches, or dressers. A nominal handling fee of $12.14 is required for specific items like mattresses, refrigerators (with doors safely removed), and air conditioners.
Burbank Recycle Center and the Drop Zone
The City of Burbank heavily relies on the Burbank Recycle Center on South Flower Street to manage hard-to-recycle items and protect local infrastructure. While glass is technically accepted in your blue curbside cart, the city explicitly prefers that you drop off glass bottles and food jars at the Recycle Center to prevent dangerous shattering and color-mixing in the collection trucks. The facility also hosts a convenient 'Drop Zone' open on weekdays, where residents can securely dispose of electronic waste, computers, household batteries, and antifreeze.
Drop-off Facilities
Burbank Recycle Center & Drop Zone
500 South Flower Street, Burbank, CA 91502
Materials Accepted
S.A.F.E. Collection Center - Sun Valley (L.A. County)
11025 Randall Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Burbank delay trash pickup for holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas?
No. Unlike most neighboring municipalities, the City of Burbank Solid Waste Services operate Monday through Friday, including all City and Federal holidays. Your collection day will never be delayed due to a holiday.
Can I use compostable bags for my food waste in Burbank?
No. Burbank explicitly bans all plastic bags in the green organics cart, including those labeled '100% compostable' or 'biodegradable.' You can line your kitchen pail with newspaper or a paper bag, but all food waste must go into the green bin without plastic.
Where should I throw away glass bottles and jars?
While glass is technically allowed in your blue curbside recycling cart, the City of Burbank strongly prefers that residents drop off glass bottles and food jars directly at the Burbank Recycle Center to avoid shattering and cross-contaminating clean paper bales inside the automated trucks.
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup in Burbank?
You can schedule a pickup through the 'Our Burbank 311' app or web portal at least two business days before your normal collection day, or by calling Public Works at (818) 238-3800 at least one business day prior. Place the items out the night before your trash day, keeping them 5 feet away from any obstacles.