Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Claremont
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone (Monday through Thursday)
Recycling
Same day as trash pickup
Yard Waste
Same day as trash pickup
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Single-family residential customers are billed quarterly by the City of Claremont based on cart size, and trash, recycling, and food/yard waste bins are all serviced on the same designated day.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Low-income sanitation discounts and utility user tax exemptions are available for eligible households, along with discounted valet pull-out service for elderly and disabled residents.
Black (or Gray) Bin (Trash)
Items must fit entirely within the automated container with the lid securely closed. Overloaded bins that drop debris onto the street will not be serviced.
Accepted Items
- ✓Shredded paper
- ✓Soiled food packaging
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Broken ceramics and window glass
- ✓Plastic bags and film wrapping
- ✓Non-recyclable household rubbish
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclable items must be placed in the blue cart completely loose, unbagged, empty, clean, and dry to prevent contaminating the truckload.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard boxes
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and junk mail
- ✓Aluminum, steel, and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles and rigid containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Plastic bags or plastic film
- ✕Food-stained cardboard
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Green waste and yard clippings must be mixed loose in the container. Food waste may be enclosed in a clear, transparent plastic bag for cleanliness before being deposited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and autumn leaves
- ✓Plant prunings, weeds, and flowers
- ✓Small tree branches under 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length
- ✓Food waste including scraps, meat, bones, dairy, and coffee grounds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
3 items per calendar year
Placement
Items must be positioned directly in the street against the front curb by 6:00 AM on the scheduled collection date. Glass panels or mirrors must be taped and completely wrapped in heavy plastic.
Accepted
- ✓ Large household appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ Furniture items (couches, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Electronic waste (boxed safely in sturdy cardboard)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Loose bagged trash or unbundled construction debris
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, motor oil)
- ✕ Automotive batteries and light bulbs
- ✕ Excessively heavy objects that a single worker cannot lift
Once the three free annual choices are exhausted, residents can book additional large-item collections through the Community Services department for an established per-load fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major observed holiday occurs on or before a regular pickup day, collection operations are pushed back exactly one day for the remainder of that week. For example, a Thursday route shifts to Friday.
Yard Waste Exception
Organic and yard waste collections follow the exact same delayed holiday timeline as standard trash and recycling.
If an official holiday falls natively on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, normal Monday through Thursday neighborhood pickup schedules are completely unaffected.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter Tree Recycling
JanuaryLive Christmas trees are collected curbside on regular pickup days during the first two weeks of January. Residents must strip all ornaments, tinsel, lights, and stands. Trees exceeding 6 feet must be cut completely in half.
High-Volume Foliage Collection
October to DecemberDuring peak autumn leaf drops, ensure your organic carts are not tightly packed or overflowing. If your yard waste consistently exceeds cart capacity, contact Community Services to arrange for temporary extra containers.
Summer Heat Odor Management
June to SeptemberTo reduce odors and pests caused by high summer temperatures, the city allows food scraps to be tied inside clear, see-through plastic bags before being placed into the organic waste container.
Local Tips & Community Info
City-Managed Refuse Operations
Unlike many neighboring municipalities that contract out their sanitation needs, the City of Claremont proudly operates its own dedicated solid waste division through the Community Services Department. This internal management ensures highly responsive service for residents in the 'City of Trees.' On your scheduled neighborhood collection day, you must wheel your municipal carts to the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. If you realize your household consistently overflows its current garbage receptacle, property owners can contact the City Yard directly to request a larger barrel or an additional bin for a nominal monthly fee increase.
Blueprint for Commingled Recycling
Environmental stewardship is deeply ingrained in Claremont's community culture. Your blue commingled cart is the destination for clean, dry, and unsoiled household recyclables. The city accepts rigid plastics (numbered 1 through 7), aluminum cans, tin foil, glass jars, and uncontaminated paper products. A strict rule enforced by the processing center is that all items must be placed loosely inside the container. Securing recyclables inside plastic garbage bags or film wraps will cause severe mechanical issues at the local material recovery facility, often leading to the entire batch being sent to the landfill.
Organics and Kitchen Scraps Integration
California's SB 1383 legislation fundamentally changed how Claremont handles organic matter. The green waste barrel is no longer reserved just for lawn clippings, weed pullings, and pruned branches. Residents are legally required to mix all of their compostable food scraps into this same green bin. This includes coffee grounds, eggshells, dairy products, spoiled vegetables, and meat bones. By diverting these materials away from traditional landfills, the city actively combats harmful methane gas production and contributes to the creation of nutrient-dense agricultural compost.
Arranging Free Oversized Load Removals
Disposing of a damaged couch, an obsolete washing machine, or a worn-out mattress is incredibly convenient for Claremont homeowners. The Community Services Department provides single-family residential accounts with up to three complimentary bulky item pickups per calendar year. To take advantage of this benefit, you cannot simply drag your items to the sidewalk. You must pre-schedule the collection by calling the sanitation division at least one week in advance. The dispatch team will instruct you on volume limits and prohibited materials, such as construction debris.
Sidewalk Placement and Retrieval Protocols
Because the city utilizes automated side-loading sanitation trucks, proper cart spacing is absolutely critical. Residents must leave a minimum of two feet of clearance between each container to allow the robotic arm enough room to operate. Additionally, carts must be positioned at least three feet away from parked vehicles, fire hydrants, and low-hanging tree branches. Once the trucks have completed their route, Claremont municipal code dictates that all empty barrels must be removed from the public right-of-way and stored out of public view by 8:00 p.m. on the day of collection.
Safe Disposal of Dangerous Household Goods
Dumping hazardous chemicals into standard residential trash bins poses a severe threat to public safety and groundwater integrity. Products such as leftover house paint, motor oil, swimming pool chemicals, and lithium-ion batteries are strictly banned from curbside collection in Claremont. To safely discard these dangerous goods, residents must participate in the free household hazardous waste (HHW) roundups hosted periodically by Los Angeles County. E-waste, like old televisions and computer monitors, can often be dropped off at the City Yard during specified collection events.
Drop-off Facilities
Claremont Residential Recycling Center
1616 Monte Vista Ave, Claremont, CA 91711
Materials Accepted
City Yard Community Services Office
1616 Monte Vista Ave, Claremont, CA 91711
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I dispose of used motor oil and automotive filters safely in Claremont?
The City of Claremont provides a free, grant-funded curbside used motor oil recycling program. Residents can call Community Services at 909-399-5431 to request official collection containers and schedule a free porch or curb pickup.
Where should I drop off residential sharps and medical needles?
Claremont residents can utilize the drop-off program at the City Yard (1616 Monte Vista Avenue). Sharps must be securely sealed inside an approved hazardous waste container and turned in Monday through Thursday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
What happens if my trash cart is consistently full or overflowing?
If you routinely outgrow your container volume, you can contact the Community Services Department to request an additional trash cart for a monthly fee. Additional blue recycling or green organic carts can also be requested.
Can I put residential renovation materials like concrete or plaster into my black cart?
No. The city will not collect dirt, rocks, mortar, concrete, plaster, or heavy building materials in standard curbside containers. Residents must contact Community Services to rent a dedicated temporary roll-off container or lowboy bin for construction projects.