Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Coachella
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Same day as trash pickup (weekly)
Yard Waste
Same day as trash pickup (weekly)
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Water consumption is billed monthly by the City of Coachella, while residential sewer fees are billed semi-annually on the Riverside County property tax roll.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (ACH), Mail, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
The City of Coachella Utilities Assistance Program (partnered with United Way's Help2Others) offers bill credits for eligible low-income households.
Gray (or Dark Red/Burgundy transitioning to Gray) Bin (Trash)
All refuse must be placed completely inside the cart with the lid closed. Excess bags of trash placed outside the barrel will not be collected. Maximum weight is 150 lbs per cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard non-recyclable garbage
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)
- ✓Chip bags and multi-layer snack wrappers
- ✓Broken ceramics and heavily soiled materials
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items should be clean, dry, and empty of food or liquid residue. Do not place recyclables inside opaque bags; place them loose in the blue cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, dry paper and junk mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard and cereal boxes
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (empty)
- ✓Plastic containers, jugs, and bottles (#1-7)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Electronic waste (e-waste)
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and film
- ✕Wax-coated cardboard
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste MUST be placed loose in the cart (no plastic bags). If bagging food waste, use a paper bag, newspaper, or a clear/transparent plastic bag so facility workers can open it.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food waste (meat, dairy, bones, vegetables)
- ✓Green waste and grass clippings
- ✓Landscape and pruning waste
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, dirty napkins)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (Up to 4 items per week)
Placement
Place items securely at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your normal service day, ensuring they do not block standard trash carts, mailboxes, or parked vehicles.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (chairs, sofas, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses, box springs, and bed frames
- ✓ Major and small household appliances
- ✓ Standard and LCD TVs (up to 37 inches)
- ✓ Carpet rolled and bundled (up to 4 feet in length)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires and automotive parts
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (dirt, concrete)
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, oil, pool chemicals)
- ✕ Items exceeding 150 lbs, 8 feet in length, or 4 feet in width
This weekly service is free for active residential accounts. TVs over 37 inches require special handling; notify Burrtec when scheduling.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, all curbside collection services for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same delayed holiday schedule as regular trash.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no interruption or delay to your normal weekday service schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryBurrtec offers curbside Christmas tree recycling from December 26th through January 7th [2.1.2]. Place your tree at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your normal collection day. Trees over 6 feet tall must be cut in half, and all lights, tinsel, and stands must be removed.
Summer
June - SeptemberCoachella Valley summer temperatures routinely exceed 110 degrees, which accelerates decomposition and odors in your green organics cart. Try freezing meat and dairy scraps indoors until the morning of your collection day.
Year-Round
January - DecemberDue to occasional high desert winds, ensure your cart lids are completely closed and that carts are spaced at least two feet apart to allow the automated arms to safely grasp them without spilling debris.
Local Tips & Community Info
Curbside Refuse Collection in Coachella
The City of Coachella partners with Burrtec Waste & Recycling Services to manage residential garbage, recycling, and green waste. For seamless curbside service, it is crucial to follow the city's specific placement rules. All barrels must be rolled out to the curb before 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection morning. Position your carts with the front facing the street and ensure the hinged lids are completely closed. Burrtec's automated trucks require strict clearances to operate safely: keep containers at least five feet away from stationary objects like mailboxes, fences, or trees, and a full fifteen feet away from any parked vehicles. If you have multiple carts, space them at least two feet apart. Overloaded bins exceeding the 150-pound weight limit will not be serviced.
Sorting Rules for the Three-Cart System
Coachella utilizes a standard three-container system to maximize environmental sustainability and landfill diversion. Your standard trash barrel is meant for non-recyclable items and heavily soiled materials. The recycling bin accepts traditional clean items like glass bottles, aluminum cans, rigid plastics, and paper. If you have excess cardboard boxes that simply do not fit inside the recycling cart, you must flatten them, tie them together securely, and place them neatly next to the barrel. The green waste container is designed exclusively for yard trimmings and approved organics. Refuse left on the ground outside of the carts, other than bundled cardboard, will be ignored by the collection drivers.
Scheduling Your Free Bulky Item Pickup
Are you upgrading your home furnishings or finally clearing out the garage? Coachella residents do not need to haul large items to the local transfer station themselves. Burrtec offers a free bulky item pickup program for household objects that are far too large for the standard residential barrels. You can place up to four heavy items, such as old furniture, mattresses, or major appliances, at the curb on your regular collection day. However, you must contact Burrtec customer service at (760) 340-2113 at least 48 business hours prior to your scheduled service day to arrange the special dispatch.
Proper Disposal of Household Hazards
Certain dangerous materials are strictly prohibited from entering any of your three curbside bins. Hazardous substances like pool chemicals, harsh cleaning products, motor oil, car batteries, and medical syringes pose severe risks to sanitation workers and the environment. Additionally, hot ashes or coals must be completely cooled to room temperature before disposal, though they still belong in the trash, not the recycling. Universal waste, including old cell phones, fluorescent light bulbs, and computer monitors, must be taken to specialized e-waste collection events or approved county drop-off facilities.
Commercial and Multi-Family Complex Requirements
California state laws mandate extensive recycling efforts that extend beyond single-family homes. In Coachella, businesses generating four cubic yards or more of solid waste weekly, as well as apartment complexes with five or more units, must maintain an active recycling program. Furthermore, mandatory commercial organics recycling requires that food waste and landscape clippings be separated for composting. Burrtec provides free on-site recycling audits for local businesses and property managers to help them incorporate sustainable practices, which can often reduce their overall waste removal costs.
Drop-off Facilities
East Coachella Valley ABOP Facility (Coachella Transfer Station)
87-011A Landfill Road, Coachella, CA 92236
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How often can I request a bulky item pickup in Coachella?
Coachella residents receive an exceptional bulky item allowance. You can request the pickup of up to four bulky items every single week at no additional charge. Simply call Burrtec Customer Service to schedule the items for your regular trash day.
Can I bag my food waste before throwing it in the green cart?
Yes, but you must use clear/transparent plastic bags or standard paper bags. Opaque trash bags are not allowed because workers at the composting facility need to visually verify the contents before ripping the bags open. Do not bag your yard trimmings.
Where can I safely dispose of old motor oil and wet paint?
Coachella residents can take their household hazardous waste completely free of charge to the East Coachella Valley ABOP Facility, conveniently located at 87-011A Landfill Road in Coachella. Never throw these chemicals in your curbside carts.
What happens if a holiday falls on my trash day?
If an observed holiday (like Thanksgiving or Christmas) falls on a weekday, your trash collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. If the holiday falls on a weekend, your schedule will not change.