Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Dana Point
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Varies by neighborhood zone
Yard Waste
Varies by neighborhood zone
Set Out Time
6:30 AM
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash, recycling, and organics services are billed directly by CR&R based on your chosen container size, and include two free curbside bulky item pickups and one free cart wash/swap per calendar year.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
A 10% Senior Discount is available for qualifying residential customers aged 65 and older by contacting CR&R Customer Service.
Black Bin (Trash)
All household trash must be securely bagged and placed inside the cart. Carts must be set out by 6:00 AM on scheduled collection days with the wheels facing your home.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged pet waste
- ✓Polystyrene and Styrofoam packaging
- ✓Disposable diapers and wipes
- ✓Soiled plastic wrap and grocery bags
- ✓Palm fronds and yucca leaves
- ✓Broken toys and household ceramics
Blue or Brown Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables. Clean, rinse, and thoroughly dry all items before placing them loosely in the blue or brown recycling bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, dry cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Aluminum and steel soup or beverage cans
- ✓Glass jars and bottles
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and rigid food tubs
- ✓Clean juice and milk cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or trash liners
- ✕Styrofoam products
- ✕Mirrors, window glass, and light bulbs
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes and food scraps
- ✕Garden hoses and extension cords
Yard Waste Bin
Do not place rocks, soil, plastic bags, animal feces, or treated lumber inside the organics bin. Food scraps may be layered with yard clippings to minimize odors.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves, flowers, and shrub prunings
- ✓Untreated and unpainted wood scraps
- ✓Meat, bones, dairy, and food leftovers
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, bread, and pasta
- ✓Greasy pizza boxes, paper towels, and napkins
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
2 free bulky item pickups per calendar year
Placement
Place your scheduled bulky items at the curb by 6:00 AM on your standard collection day, keeping them clear of fire hydrants, parked vehicles, and street access.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, desks, chairs, and tables
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Washers, dryers, and microwave ovens
- ✓ Refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners
- ✓ Televisions, computers, and general electronic waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous household waste (fuels, chemicals, motor oil)
- ✕ Automotive tires, batteries, and engines
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (concrete, drywall)
- ✕ Dirt, loose rock, sod, and sand
The first two pickup requests of the year are free. Additional bulky collection requests can be arranged with CR&R for a standard nominal service fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday (Monday through Friday), collection schedules shift by exactly one day for the remainder of the week. For example, if a holiday lands on a Thursday, Thursday routes are serviced on Friday, and Friday routes on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling services align directly with the delayed holiday trash schedule.
Normal collections proceed as scheduled if an observed holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer Coastline Collection
June - AugustTo accommodate heavy beach tourism and rental volume, single-family homes along Beach Road receive an additional weekly collection on Fridays, supplementing their standard Monday route.
Holiday Tree Recycling
December - JanuaryNatural Christmas trees are collected curbside for composting during the three weeks following December 25th. Residents must remove all tinsel, stands, and ornaments. Trees exceeding 6 feet in height must be cut in half.
Local Tips & Community Info
Coastal Waste Management with CR&R Environmental Services
Protecting Dana Point’s pristine beaches and vibrant harbor starts right at the curb. CR&R Environmental Services serves as the exclusive waste hauling partner for the city, managing all residential garbage, recycling, and organic materials. Homeowners are required to have their rolling carts out on the street by 7:00 a.m. on their assigned pickup day. Because ocean breezes can easily carry loose debris into storm drains, it is mandatory to keep all cart lids securely closed. Furthermore, once the trucks have serviced your address, empty bins must be removed from the public right-of-way by 8:00 p.m. to keep neighborhoods looking pristine.
The Green Cart: Food Scraps and Yard Trimmings
In a concerted effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under California’s SB 1383, Dana Point requires mandatory organics recycling. Your green cart is no longer limited to grass clippings, leaves, and branches. You must now deposit all kitchen food waste—including meat, dairy, bones, vegetable peels, and coffee grounds—directly into this container. To prevent contamination that ruins the composting process, traditional plastic bags are strictly banned. If you wish to bag your food scraps before throwing them in the green bin, you must use paper bags or certified compostable liners approved by CR&R.
Recycling Rules to Protect the Pacific
Effective recycling is critical for a coastal community. The blue cart is designed to collect clean paper, flattened corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans, and rigid plastic containers. However, one of the biggest threats to the local recycling infrastructure is flexible film plastic, such as grocery bags, bubble wrap, and shrink wrap. These materials tangle in the processing machinery and must be excluded from your blue bin. Additionally, residents should ensure that glass jars and plastic jugs are lightly rinsed to remove food residue, which prevents cross-contamination of clean paper products during transit.
Bulky Item Recovery and Heavy Waste Disposal
If you are remodeling or simply clearing out the garage, CR&R offers an incredibly helpful bulky item pickup program. Single-family households in Dana Point can request up to three specialized curbside collections per year at no additional charge. This service covers the removal of large appliances, discarded furniture, mattresses, and bundled branches that exceed normal cart capacities. To utilize this perk, you must contact CR&R customer service directly to arrange a pickup date. Heavy construction materials like concrete, dirt, and hazardous liquids are not accepted and require separate, specialized disposal.
Drop-off Facilities
Prima Deshecha Landfill
32250 La Pata Avenue, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my refuse collection get delayed during the holidays?
Yes, CR&R observes major holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. If the holiday falls on a weekday, service will be pushed back one day for the remainder of that week.
Where can I safely get rid of used boat oil or marine flares?
Hazardous marine and household materials like oil, flares, batteries, and paint must be taken to an Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center. The closest facilities are located in San Juan Capistrano and Irvine.
Who do I call if my trash cart is damaged or has a broken wheel?
You can contact CR&R Environmental Services directly to report a damaged cart. They will dispatch a technician to repair the wheels or swap out the entire container on your next scheduled service day.