Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Costa Mesa
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Same day as trash collection
Yard Waste
Same day as trash collection
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash collection and wastewater services provided by the Costa Mesa Sanitary District (CMSD) are billed annually as special assessments directly on your Orange County property tax bill.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Property Tax Assessment, Online, Phone, Mail
Black or Grey (Landfill Cart) Bin (Trash)
All standard garbage, non-recyclable plastics, and bones must go into the Landfill Cart. Carts cannot be overfilled; lids must close completely to avoid spillage.
Accepted Items
- ✓Broken ceramics and mirrors
- ✓Clothing and textiles
- ✓Coffee pods (K-cups)
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Flexible packaging (chip bags, candy wrappers)
- ✓Plastic bags and film
- ✓Meat and fish bones
- ✓Mixed-material products
Blue (Recycling Cart) Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be kept loose, clean, and dry. Do not bag recyclables in plastic bags. Dirty food or beverage containers should be rinsed before being placed in the bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Empty aerosol cans
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Clean paper (newspaper, mail, shredded)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7
- ✓Milk and detergent containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Clothing
- ✕Broken glass or mirrors
- ✕Diapers
Yard Waste Bin
Combine yard waste and approved food scraps in the Organics Cart. Palm fronds and bones from meat or fish are strictly prohibited from this bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Small branches and weeds
- ✓Fruits and vegetables
- ✓Meat and seafood (no bones)
- ✓Bread and dairy
- ✓Coffee grounds and food-soiled paper
- ✓Cooking fats, oils, and grease (in compostable bags)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
3 free pickups per year (up to 10 items per pickup)
Placement
Once verified and scheduled, place approved bulky items curbside, separate from your regular carts, by 6:00 a.m. on the collection date.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, mattresses)
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ E-waste
- ✓ Bagged waste
- ✓ Scrap metal
- ✓ Contained yard debris (up to 1 cubic yard)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Asphalt, concrete, and soil
- ✕ Building materials
- ✕ Car bodies and tires
- ✕ Chemicals and hazardous waste
- ✕ Items larger than 8x4 ft.
- ✕ Items heavier than 150 lbs.
The first three bulky pickups per calendar year (up to 10 items each) are completely free for eligible CMSD residential customers. Additional requests may incur extra fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling collection for the remainder of the week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics collection follows the exact same one-day holiday delay schedule as standard landfill waste and recycling.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no service interruptions, and trash will be collected on your normal collection day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer
June to SeptemberDuring the hot summer months, CMSD recommends storing your food scraps in the refrigerator or freezer. Wait until the morning of your collection day to toss them into your Organics Cart to heavily reduce odors and pests.
Winter
December to JanuaryBare, unflocked Christmas trees are collected curbside on your regular trash day after the holidays. Remember that collections following Christmas and New Year's Day will be delayed by one day.
Local Tips & Community Info
Costa Mesa Sanitary District Collection Guidelines
Residential waste management in Costa Mesa is overseen by the Costa Mesa Sanitary District (CMSD) in partnership with CR&R Environmental Services. Every single-family home and qualifying multi-family residence is equipped with a standard automated three-cart system. This setup includes a blue container for recyclables, a green one for organics, and a black-lid cart for landfill-bound trash. Customers typically receive 65-gallon containers by default, but they have the flexibility to request 35-gallon or 95-gallon alternatives by contacting CR&R customer support.
Timings and Proper Container Positioning
To ensure a successful pickup, all receptacles must be positioned at the curb no earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the evening prior to your service day. They must be placed out by 7:00 a.m. on the morning of collection. Proper spacing is mandatory; leave roughly one foot of space between each cart and at least three feet of clearance from parked vehicles or fire hydrants. Make sure the cart handles and wheels face your property. Following service, residents must pull their bins away from the street by midnight and store them out of public view.
Sorting Requirements Under State Law
Complying with statewide recycling and composting mandates is a priority for the local sanitary district. The blue recycling cart is designated for clean paper, flattened cardboard, aluminum, and glass. Plastic bags and batteries should never go into the curbside bins. Meanwhile, the green organics cart handles both landscaping debris and food scraps, directly supporting California's SB 1383 regulations. Items like fruit peels, leftover meals, and grass clippings must be diverted from the landfill to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Disposing of Oversized Junk and Hazardous Materials
Getting rid of large appliances or toxic chemicals is incredibly convenient for Costa Mesa locals. Each residential household is entitled to three complimentary bulky item pickups annually. This service covers heavy items like sofas, refrigerators, and washing machines. Furthermore, residents can schedule up to three free curbside pickups per year for Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). You can safely dispose of up to 125 pounds of paint, oil, or e-waste per scheduled appointment without ever leaving your home.
Schedule Shifts for National Holidays
CR&R Environmental Services observes six primary holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Whenever one of these major events falls on a weekday, the regular garbage collection routine is pushed back by a single day for the remainder of that week. Normal Monday through Friday schedules will resume at the start of the following week. For any missed pickups unrelated to holiday delays, customers should submit a report through the CMSD website.
Drop-off Facilities
Huntington Beach HHW Collection Center
17121 Nichols Lane, Gate 6, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Materials Accepted
Irvine HHW Collection Center
6411 Oak Canyon, Irvine, CA 92618
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many carts am I allowed to have in Costa Mesa?
Standard residential service through CMSD includes one Recycling Cart, one Landfill Cart, and up to two Organics Carts. If you require more capacity, you can request additional carts for a fee of $10.00 per month, per extra cart, by calling CR&R.
Can I throw meat and fish bones in my Organics Cart?
No. While most food waste like fruits, vegetables, bread, dairy, and meat are accepted in the Organics Cart, the actual bones from meat and fish cannot go in. Bones must be disposed of in the black Landfill Cart.
How does the door-to-door household hazardous waste program work?
CMSD offers eligible solid waste customers up to three free door-to-door HHW pickups per year. You can schedule a pickup through CR&R for up to 15 gallons or 125 pounds of materials like paint, batteries, and cleaning supplies, and leave them in front of your house by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled day.
What time do I need to place my bins on the street for pickup?
Carts must be placed at the curb or alleyway between 5:00 p.m. on the evening before your collection day and 7:00 a.m. on the day of service. After collection, all carts must be removed from the street by midnight.