Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Desert Hot Springs
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected once per week on the same day as regular trash collection.
Yard Waste
Yard and organics waste is collected weekly on your regular collection day.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash and recycling services are managed and billed directly through the city's franchised hauler, Desert Valley Disposal.
Billing Cycle
Monthly or Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Burgundy, Dark Gray, or Black Bin (Trash)
All residential trash items must fit entirely within the automated container with the lid resting flat. Trash stacked loosely next to or piled on top of the container will not be handled by automated mechanical arms.
Accepted Items
- ✓Unrecyclable snack wraps and potato chip bags
- ✓Diapers, personal facial wipes, and sanitary products
- ✓Bagged pet waste and clean or soiled cat litter
- ✓Broken window pane shards, mirrors, and ceramics
- ✓F flimsy plastic grocery sacks and sticky wrap films
- ✓Wax-covered cardboard boxes and single-use coffee cups
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclable items must be dropped into the blue bin loose, clean, dry, and unbagged. Small paper fragments or shredded documents must be enclosed in a paper sack or small cardboard box to prevent blowing away.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean aluminum beverage cans and steel soup cans
- ✓Glass jars and bottles (clear, brown, and green tints)
- ✓Rigid plastic containers and detergent jugs labeled #1-#5
- ✓Flattened dry cardboard boxes and clean cereal cartons
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, junk mail, and phonebooks
- ✓Styrofoam packing blocks (clean and dry)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Loose plastic grocery sacks or stretch wraps
- ✕Food-contaminated pizza boxes or greasy papers
- ✕Electronic components or household consumer batteries
- ✕Ceramic dishes, flower vases, or light bulbs
- ✕Hardback books (unless front and back covers are removed)
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste and food waste must be consolidated loosely inside the green cart. Do not place materials in plastic bags, compostable bags, or tie them with metallic wire, as they damage processing shredders.
Accepted Items
- ✓Fresh lawn clippings, weeds, and organic thatch
- ✓Dry garden leaves, shrub prunings, and flowers
- ✓Tree limbs and palm fronds (under 4 inches wide and 4 feet long)
- ✓Household food scraps, fruit peelings, vegetable stems, and coffee grounds
- ✓Cooked meat remnants, bones, dairy cast-offs, and bread crusts
- ✓Food-soiled paper plates and greasy pizza boxes
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Allocated free pickups per year + 2 items per Curbside Clean-up Event
Placement
Items must be positioned neatly at the street curb edge by 6:00 AM on the day of your approved collection appointment. Do not block public thoroughfares, sidewalks, or access to standard carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Major household appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers)
- ✓ Large home furniture (couches, mattresses, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Consumer electronics and television sets (Universal Waste)
- ✓ Passenger car tires
Not Accepted
- ✕ Commercial liquid chemicals or industrial hazardous materials
- ✕ Loose construction demolition debris (concrete blocks, dirt, bricks)
- ✕ Automotive components, engine blocks, and heavy vehicle parts
- ✕ Any individual loose item that exceeds 150 pounds
Once a household exhausts their allocated free yearly bulk slots, extra collections can be arranged through Desert Valley Disposal for an established service handling fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a scheduled weekday, residential collection routes for the holiday and all remaining service days for that week shift back exactly one business day. Regular Thursday routes are completed on Friday, and Friday routes are serviced on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Organic and yard waste collections shift on the exact same delayed timeline as standard trash carts during major holiday updates.
If one of these major calendar holidays falls naturally on a Saturday or Sunday, the regular Monday through Friday neighborhood pickup routines remain completely unchanged.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer Heat Organic Odor Controls
June to SeptemberWith Coachella Valley temperatures regularly exceeding 110 degrees, organic bins degrade rapidly. Layer kitchen food scraps beneath a heavy layer of dry yard trimmings or leaves, keep the cart in a shaded spot, and ensure the lid is sealed tightly to prevent pests.
Post-Holiday Tree Recycling Loops
December to JanuaryNatural Christmas trees are collected curbside on regular collection days for the first two weeks of January. Residents must remove all ornaments, stands, tinsel, and lights. Trees exceeding 6 feet must be sawn in half.
High-Wind Windstorm Precautions
March to MayDesert spring windstorms can blow light recyclables out of open bins. Ensure all cardboard is securely wedged, avoid setting out half-empty carts, and consider waiting until the following week if winds are severe.
Local Tips & Community Info
Sanitation Services by Desert Valley Disposal
In the city of Desert Hot Springs, all residential curbside garbage and recycling operations are exclusively franchised to Desert Valley Disposal (DVD). Homeowners and renters must ensure their provided carts are out by 6:00 a.m. on their specific neighborhood collection day. The automated trucks operated by DVD require plenty of clearance to grab the bins without causing damage to personal property. Therefore, you must leave at least three feet of space between your refuse, recycling, and green waste containers. Additionally, keep them completely clear of parked cars, low-hanging tree branches, and streetlights. All lids need to be completely closed to prevent desert winds from scattering debris across the neighborhood.
Navigating California's Organic Waste Mandates
To comply with California Senate Bill 1383, Desert Hot Springs residents must separate all organic material from their general landfill trash. The green cart is specifically designated for your yard trimmings, weeds, leaves, and all kitchen food scraps. Bagging food waste in standard plastic grocery bags is strictly prohibited because it ruins the composting process. Instead, you can place food remnants directly into the green bin or utilize compostable paper bags. Throwing organic matter into the regular garbage can result in state-mandated contamination fines, so properly sorting your kitchen scraps is both environmentally and financially beneficial.
Recycling Guidelines for the Blue Cart
Your blue cart is your primary tool for keeping reusable materials out of local landfills. Acceptable items include clean paper products, flattened corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and rigid plastic containers. It is essential that you lightly rinse out jars and bottles to prevent sticky residue from contaminating the rest of the recyclable load. A common mistake made by residents is bagging their recyclables; please leave all items loose inside the blue container. Items like styrofoam, plastic wrap, hoses, and clothing do not belong in the recycling bin and must be thrown in the standard trash cart.
Coordinating Bulky Item Collections
When it is time to upgrade your living room furniture or replace an old washing machine, do not drag these massive items to the curb unannounced. Desert Valley Disposal offers residential customers a convenient way to dispose of oversized waste through scheduled bulky item pickups. Eligible households can arrange for the removal of mattresses, couches, and electronic waste by calling the DVD office in advance. Leaving large debris on the street without a confirmed appointment is considered illegal dumping by local code enforcement and could subject you to hefty municipal fines.
Riverside County Hazardous Waste Protocols
Due to the sensitive desert ecosystem, dumping toxic household chemicals into standard trash cans or local drains is a severe hazard. Materials such as antifreeze, motor oil, swimming pool chemicals, pesticides, and old televisions are classified as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). Since DVD trucks cannot process these items, Desert Hot Springs residents must utilize Riverside County Department of Waste Resources drop-off events or permanent regional collection facilities. Safely box up your leaking batteries and half-empty paint cans and bring them to a certified HHW center to ensure they are handled with the utmost environmental care.
Holiday Schedule Interruptions
Your normal routine might shift during major national holidays. Desert Valley Disposal generally observes New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, all curbside services for the remainder of that week are pushed back by exactly one day. For example, a Wednesday holiday means Wednesday pickups move to Thursday, and Friday collections shift to Saturday. Regular service timelines always resume the following Monday.
Drop-off Facilities
Palm Springs Permanent HHW Collection Facility
1100 Vella Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92264
Materials Accepted
Desert Valley Disposal Main Office
4690 E Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, CA 92264
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Which company handles trash pickup for Desert Hot Springs?
Desert Valley Disposal (DVD) is the official franchised waste hauler responsible for all residential solid waste, recycling, and organic collection in Desert Hot Springs.
Can I put my food scraps in plastic bags before throwing them in the green bin?
No. Plastic bags are prohibited in the green organics cart. You should place food scraps directly into the bin loose or use a biodegradable paper bag.
What is the rule for placing trash bins on the street?
All carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your service day, with at least a three-foot gap between each bin to allow the automated truck arms to function properly.