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
!Contamination Tips
No E-Waste in the Blue Cart
Old cell phones, extension cords, and small appliances cannot be recycled in the blue cart. They damage the sorting equipment and cause toxic fires. Schedule them as a bulky item pickup or take them to the Transfer Station.
Pizza Boxes Belong in the Green Cart
While clean cardboard is highly recyclable, greasy pizza boxes and food-soiled paper napkins are not. Under SB 1383, these items must be placed in your green organics cart to be composted.
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.
About Coachella Waste Management
Embracing Coachella's SB 1383 Organics Mandate
To combat climate change and comply with California's SB 1383, the City of Coachella and Burrtec have transitioned to a strictly regulated three-cart system [2.1.4]. Residents are provided with a gray cart for landfill waste, a blue cart for recyclables, and a green cart for all organic material. Diverting methane-producing food scraps—like meat bones, vegetable peels, and coffee grounds—into the green organics cart is now a mandatory practice for all households in the Coachella Valley.
The Unique Perk of Weekly Bulky Item Collection
While most Southern California municipalities limit residents to just a handful of bulky item pickups per year, Burrtec provides Coachella residents with an exceptional benefit: the ability to place up to four bulky items at the curb every single week at no additional charge. Whether you are disposing of an old mattress, a rolled-up carpet, or a broken microwave, you can simply contact Burrtec to schedule the pickup for your regular trash day.
Bagging Rules for Food Scraps vs. Yard Waste
When separating messy food waste in your kitchen, you may prefer to bag it before tossing it into the outdoor green cart. Burrtec allows residents to use clear, transparent plastic bags or standard paper bags for food scraps, as processing facility workers must be able to see the contents and physically rip the bags open. However, this rule does not apply to yard waste; grass clippings, leaves, and branches must always be placed completely loose inside the green cart.
Local Access to the ABOP Facility
Hazardous materials like wet paint, motor oil, and old batteries are highly combustible and strictly prohibited from your curbside carts. Fortunately, residents have incredibly convenient access to the East Coachella Valley ABOP (Antifreeze, Batteries, Oil, and Paint) Facility located right at the Coachella Valley Transfer Station on Landfill Road. This local drop-off center allows residents to safely and legally dispose of toxic household fluids and electronic waste.
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.