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
!Contamination Tips
Keep Bones and Palm Fronds Out of Organics
While Costa Mesa's Organics Cart accepts a wide variety of food waste, meat and fish bones must go in the Landfill Cart. Palm fronds are also prohibited because their tough fibers wrap around processing equipment.
Ditch the Plastic Bags in Recycling
Never place your clean recyclables inside a plastic garbage bag. Flexible plastics like chip bags, candy wrappers, and grocery bags must go straight into your Landfill Cart to avoid jamming recycling sorters.
Tape Glass for Bulky Pickups
If you are utilizing your free large item pickup for furniture that includes glass (like mirrors or tabletops), you must tape the glass in a star shape to ensure it does not shatter and injure the CR&R collection crew.
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.
About Costa Mesa Waste Management
Navigating Costa Mesa's 3-Cart Curbside System
The Costa Mesa Sanitary District (CMSD) provides a standardized 3-cart waste collection system for single-family homes and multi-family units with four or fewer residences. To ensure smooth automated collection, residents must set carts out between 5:00 p.m. the evening prior and 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Place your carts side-by-side with the wheels facing your home, maintaining at least a one-foot gap between bins and a three-foot clearance from parked vehicles, fire hydrants, or other obstructions. All carts must be pulled back from the curb by midnight on the day of service.
Maximizing the Organics Recycling Program
In compliance with state mandates, Costa Mesa offers robust organics recycling to keep methane-producing materials out of landfills. Residents are provided up to two Organics Carts where they can mix standard yard trimmings (like grass and leaves) with food scraps. Acceptable food items include fruits, vegetables, dairy, bread, and even cooking fats and oils (if soaked up by paper towels or placed in a compostable bag). However, it is vital to keep meat and fish bones, as well as palm fronds, entirely out of this cart; these specific items belong in your Landfill Cart.
Exclusive Door-to-Door Hazardous Waste Collection
A uniquely convenient feature for CMSD customers is the free door-to-door Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection program. Instead of driving dangerous chemicals to a county facility, eligible households can request up to three at-home pickups per year. Each collection has a maximum allowance of 15 gallons or 125 pounds, covering items like old paint, motor oil, batteries, pool chemicals, and electronic waste. You simply schedule with CR&R, package the items as instructed, and leave them safely in front of your home by 6:00 a.m.
Bulky Item Collection Allowances and Safety Rules
Disposing of a broken mattress, old couch, or heavy appliance is hassle-free with Costa Mesa's large item collection service. Every CMSD household is granted three complimentary pickups per year, with a generous limit of 10 items per appointment. Pickups must be scheduled in advance with CR&R Customer Service, and trucks will only collect the specific items listed on your request. If you are discarding furniture with glass panels or mirrors, you must secure the glass by taping it in a star pattern to prevent shattering and protect the hauling crew.
Proper Handling of Flexible Plastics and Textiles
One of the most common recycling mistakes is wish-cycling flexible materials. In Costa Mesa, plastic film, grocery bags, chip wrappers, and candy bags must never go into the blue Recycling Cart, as they tangle the sorting machines at the material recovery facility. Similarly, textiles, clothing, diapers, and coffee pods (K-cups) cannot be recycled at the curb. All of these mixed-material or flexible items must be placed directly into your designated Landfill Cart.
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.