Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for East Hemet
Collections in California municipal routes run weekly (Mon-Fri). Your specific collection day is determined by your local neighborhood route.
State Mandate
Follow SB 1383 guidelines for food waste.
Burgundy or Gray with a Black Lid Bin (Trash)
All refuse must be bagged securely to prevent windblown litter. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day with the handles facing your home and at least three feet of clearance around the bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene)
- ✓Treated or painted wood
- ✓Non-recyclable wrappers and plastics
- ✓Broken ceramics and window glass
Gray with a Blue Lid Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables. Place all items loosely into the recycling cart. Ensure all containers are completely empty and reasonably clean of food residue.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and clean paperboard
- ✓Mixed paper, junk mail, and magazines
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Rigid plastic containers (bottles, jugs, tubs)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or film
- ✕Food or liquid waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, wire fencing)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Batteries and electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Never place plastic bags in the organics cart, even those labeled 'compostable' or 'biodegradable'. Food scraps can be tossed in loose or wrapped in plain paper.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and desert weeds
- ✓Tree branches and prunings
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, produce)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (napkins, pizza boxes)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two (2) free pickups per calendar year
Placement
You must contact Waste Management at least 48 hours in advance to schedule. Place approved bulky items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated pickup day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (concrete, dirt)
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
- ✕ Items requiring more than two people to lift safely
Exceeding your annual limit of two free pickups or placing unauthorized, excessively heavy items out may result in additional bulky item disposal fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, trash, recycling, and organics collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday service moves to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling carts follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the trash cart.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there will be no delay in your regularly scheduled curbside service.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Recycling Cart
The number one recycling contaminant is plastic film. Never place plastic garbage bags or grocery sacks in your recycling cart, as they wrap around the sorting gears at the Material Recovery Facility and halt operations.
Pet Waste is Strictly Landfill
Although dog waste and kitty litter are organic, they carry harmful pathogens that commercial composting facilities cannot safely break down. Always bag pet waste and place it in the black-lidded trash cart.
Styrofoam is Not Curbside Recyclable
Expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) cups, blocks, and takeout packaging cannot be processed in your recycling cart. Regardless of any recycling symbol stamped on the bottom, Styrofoam must always go in the trash.
Seasonal Information
Fire Season / Weed Abatement
May to OctoberAs Santa Ana winds increase fire danger in the valley, property owners must maintain defensible space by clearing dry brush and tumbleweeds. Place unbagged vegetation directly into your green organics cart. If you generate more brush than your cart can hold, contact WM to schedule a specialized yard waste pickup or request an additional cart.
Winter Holidays
Late December to Mid-JanuaryWaste Management provides free curbside Christmas tree recycling for up to two weeks following the holiday. Remove all lights, ornaments, and stands, and ensure the tree is un-flocked before placing it near your green cart. Trees taller than six feet must be cut in half.
About East Hemet Waste Management
Navigating Unincorporated Riverside County Waste Rules
Because East Hemet is an unincorporated census-designated place (CDP), residential waste collection operates differently here than in the neighboring incorporated City of Hemet. While city residents use CR&R, East Hemet households (which typically have 5-digit property addresses) fall under Riverside County's franchise system. Waste Management of the Inland Empire holds the exclusive contract for this zone, providing automated three-cart service designed to meet the county's ambitious waste diversion goals.
Mandatory Organics Recycling (SB 1383)
In alignment with California's SB 1383 climate legislation, East Hemet residents must divert all organic materials away from local landfills to reduce methane emissions. Your organics cart (now featuring a green lid) is not just for desert brush and grass clippings; it is the required container for all household food scraps, including meat, dairy, bones, vegetable peels, and food-soiled paper products. All organics must be placed in the cart loosely or in paper bags, as plastic is strictly prohibited.
Managing Bulky Waste to Prevent Desert Dumping
Illegal dumping in the open spaces of the San Jacinto Valley is a significant community concern. To combat this, Riverside County's franchise agreement ensures that East Hemet residential customers have access to up to two free bulky item pickups per calendar year through Waste Management. Utilizing this on-call service keeps the neighborhood aesthetic pristine and protects the local desert ecosystem from contamination.
Safe Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
Protecting the groundwater and local environment means keeping toxic materials out of standard curbside carts. Hazardous items like motor oil, wet paint, pesticides, and lithium-ion batteries cannot be discarded in the trash, recycling, or organics bins. East Hemet residents are encouraged to utilize Riverside County Department of Waste Resources' mobile HHW collection events or bring toxic materials safely to the nearby Lamb Canyon Sanitary Landfill in Beaumont.
Drop-off Facilities
Lamb Canyon Sanitary Landfill
16411 Lamb Canyon Rd, Beaumont, CA 92223
Materials Accepted
Riverside County Mobile HHW Collection Events
Various locations across Riverside County
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
I live in East Hemet; why is my hauler different from the City of Hemet?
Because East Hemet is an unincorporated community, residential waste collection is managed under Riverside County's franchise system rather than the city's. Waste Management of the Inland Empire holds the exclusive contract for your area, whereas the incorporated city uses CR&R.
Can I throw food scraps directly into my green cart?
Yes. To comply with state law (SB 1383), all food waste—including meat, dairy, produce, and food-soiled paper—must go into the green organics cart. You can toss it in loose or wrap it in a plain paper bag, but you cannot use plastic bags of any kind.
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup for an old mattress?
East Hemet residents are entitled to two free bulky item pickups per year. You must call Waste Management Customer Service at (800) 423-9986 at least 48 hours before your normal collection day to schedule the removal. Do not leave items on the curb without a confirmed appointment.
What should I do with my old paint and motor oil?
Household hazardous waste (HHW) is strictly prohibited in all curbside carts. You can safely dispose of these materials at the Lamb Canyon Sanitary Landfill on designated days, or attend one of Riverside County's free weekend mobile HHW collection events.