Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Colton
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
Residential trash, recycling, and organics services provided by CR&R are bundled and billed directly through your monthly City of Colton utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Phone, Mail, Payment Kiosk, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Low-income assistance programs and senior citizen discounts are available for eligible residential customers.
Black Cart Bin (Trash)
Bag all trash to prevent odors and spills. Place carts at the curb with wheels against the curb and handles facing the home. Remove from the street within 12 hours after service.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable household garbage
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Treated wood or heavily painted wood
- ✓Styrofoam packing materials
- ✓Chip bags and wrappers
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the blue cart. Flatten all cardboard boxes to conserve space.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Rigid plastic bottles and containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Food or liquid waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronic waste
Yard Waste Bin
Never put plastic bags in the green cart. Keep food scraps and yard trimmings loose, or use a certified compostable paper bag.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Tree branches and brush
- ✓Fruit and vegetable scraps
- ✓Meat, dairy, bones, and table scraps
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
8 free pickups per year (max 4 items per pickup, up to 32 items total annually).
Placement
Place bulky items at the curb no earlier than the evening before your scheduled pickup date. Ensure they do not block sidewalks or traffic.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and mattresses
- ✓ Refrigerators and large appliances
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✓ Bundled branches
- ✓ Large carpets
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or rocks
- ✕ Vehicle bodies or car parts
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
Single-family residents receive this service for free up to the 32-item annual limit. Additional items or cleanups may incur a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a designated holiday falls on a weekday, collection for the remainder of the week will be postponed by one day. (e.g., Thursday routes will be serviced on Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
All three carts (trash, recycling, and organics) run on the exact same holiday delay schedule.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays to your regular weekday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryChristmas trees can typically be recycled at the curb after the holidays. Trees must be stripped of all ornaments, lights, tinsel, and stands. Flocked trees are often treated as trash.
Summer
June - SeptemberDuring peak Inland Empire summer heat, food scraps in the green cart can generate intense odors. Consider freezing meat and dairy scraps in a reusable container until the morning of your collection.
Local Tips & Community Info
Partnership with CR&R Environmental Services
In the City of Colton, solid waste and recycling collection is streamlined through an exclusive partnership with CR&R. Interestingly, residents do not receive a separate invoice from the hauler; instead, refuse charges are conveniently consolidated into your municipal Colton Public Utilities bill. Households are equipped with designated carts to manage their daily refuse, and the city is actively transitioning all neighborhoods into a fully compliant state-mandated three-bin system. To guarantee uninterrupted service, make sure your containers are placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your specific neighborhood collection day.
Proper Cart Spacing and Street Sweeping Compliance
Automated hydraulic trucks require specific conditions to empty your garbage safely. When rolling your carts to the gutter, align the wheels against the curb and leave a minimum of three feet between each container. You must also steer clear of parked vehicles, mailboxes, and low-hanging branches. Additionally, Colton enforces strict street sweeping schedules from Monday through Thursday between 6:00 a.m. and noon. Be highly mindful of posted street signs; leaving your bins or vehicles in the sweeper’s path during these restricted hours will result in a municipal citation.
Organics and Clean Recycling Sorting Directives
Separating your waste accurately is crucial for keeping Colton sustainable. The blue recycling cart is designated for clean, dry materials such as aluminum cans, flattened cardboard boxes, glass bottles, and rigid plastics. Your green cart handles all yard trimmings and organic materials, meaning grass clippings, leaves, and bagged food scraps must go here to comply with California’s organic diversion laws. General household trash, styrofoam, and non-recyclable plastics belong in the standard black refuse container. Never bag your recyclables, as plastic bags jam the sorting machinery at the processing facility.
Specialized Tire Recycling and Community Clean-Ups
Disposing of unusual or bulky items in Colton is supported by excellent community programs. Rather than scheduling individual residential bulk pickups, the city frequently coordinates large-scale Community Clean-Up events where locals can drop off heavy furniture, old electronics, and appliances. Furthermore, to combat illegal dumping, CR&R has partnered with CalRecycle to offer free tire recycling for Colton residents. Households can responsibly dispose of up to nine tires per customer—including those with rims intact—at no extra cost during these designated municipal drop-off days.
Managing Yard Debris Efficiently
Maintaining a pristine lawn during the warm Southern California summers generates plenty of green waste. All routine yard debris must fit securely inside your green organics cart with the lid completely closed. Overloaded carts or overflowing brush left indiscriminately on the sidewalk will not be serviced by the automated trucks. If you undertake a massive landscaping project or tree trimming operation, you may need to rely on the city's community dumpster events or contact CR&R to rent a temporary roll-off container for the excess organic material.
Holiday Disruptions to the Normal Route
Your regular weekly sanitation routine will experience brief delays during major national holidays. CR&R officially pauses operations for New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If your standard trash day falls on or after one of these recognized holidays during a business week, your neighborhood’s collection will be postponed by exactly one day. For example, a Wednesday pickup will shift to Thursday. The schedule automatically resets to its normal cadence at the start of the following week.
Drop-off Facilities
CR&R Colton Disposal Site
2059 E Steel Rd, Colton, CA 92324
Materials Accepted
San Bernardino County Fire Dept HHW
2824 East W Street, Building 302, San Bernardino, CA 92415
Materials Accepted
City of Rialto Maintenance Yard (HHW Drop-off)
246 S. Willow Avenue, Rialto, CA 92376
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bulky items can I throw away for free each year in Colton?
Colton single-family residents have a very generous limit. You can schedule up to eight free curbside pickups a year, with a maximum of four items per pickup, allowing you to dispose of up to 32 large items annually.
Can I put food scraps like meat and dairy into my green cart?
Yes. To comply with California's SB 1383 mandate, all Colton residents must separate organic waste. You should place food scraps, including meat, bones, and soiled paper, directly into the green organics cart along with your yard waste.
Who do I contact if my trash cart is broken or missed?
The City of Colton contracts with CR&R Environmental Services for all residential waste collection. You can report a missed pickup or request a cart replacement by calling CR&R customer service directly at (909) 370-3377.
What are Community Dump Days in Colton?
Community Dump Days are free quarterly events where residents can drop off excess household trash and shred up to four banker boxes of documents. They are held on the second Saturday of April and October (at Gonzales Community Center) and the fourth Saturday of January and July (at the CR&R Yard on Steel Rd).