Black Lid Bin (Trash)
Place carts at the curb or alley by 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Keep carts side-by-side, approximately 1 foot apart and 3 feet from cars or hydrants.
Accepted Items
- ✓General household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Palm fronds [1.2.3]
- ✓Cacti and succulents
- ✓Dirt and rock
- ✓Animal waste and pet litter
Blue Lid Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be clean, empty, and dry. Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely inside the blue-lidded cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper [2.3.2]
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Green waste
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Electronic waste [2.2.3]
Yard Waste Bin
Do not include palm fronds, cacti, dirt, or pet waste. Food waste can be chilled indoors before being layered with green waste outside.
Accepted Items
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and grains [1.2.3]
- ✓Meats, bones, and dairy
- ✓Coffee grounds and eggshells
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Twigs and small branches (under 4 inches diameter/4 feet long)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Three bulk items per single-family household per calendar year at no charge.
Placement
Items must be listed at the time of scheduling. Place approved items against the front curb by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled pick-up day (rain or shine).
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and couches [1.2.1]
- ✓ Large household appliances
- ✓ E-waste and televisions
Not Accepted
- ✕ Bagged, boxed, or bundled materials [1.2.1]
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Unsealed glass items or mirrors
- ✕ Infested items not sealed in heavy plastic
Additional bulky item pickups beyond the three free allocations can be scheduled directly with CR&R for a nominal fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, residential collection services will be postponed by one day for the remainder of the week (e.g., Thursday collection moves to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
There are no exceptions. The green organics cart follows the same holiday delay schedule as the regular trash and recycling carts.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no interruption to the weekday service schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Chill Your Scraps in the Desert Heat
El Centro's extreme summer temperatures can cause food scraps in your green bin to smell quickly. The City recommends utilizing your 2-gallon countertop pail to collect scraps, then storing it in your refrigerator or freezer until the night before your collection day to mitigate odors and pests.
Layering is Key for Organics
When depositing loose kitchen food waste into your green cart, layer the wet food scraps between dry yard trimmings (like leaves and grass clippings). This helps absorb moisture, keeps the cart cleaner, and prevents materials from getting stuck to the bottom when the truck empties it.
Keep E-Waste Out of All Bins
Never place old cell phones, printers, or batteries in your black or blue carts. Heavy metals in electronic waste are extremely dangerous in landfills. El Centro residents can schedule a free curbside e-waste pickup by calling the Imperial Valley Resource Management Agency (IVRMA) or CR&R.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryCR&R provides a two-week curbside holiday tree collection program beginning the day after Christmas [2.1.1]. Remove all ornaments, lights, and stands. If your tree is over six feet tall, it must be cut in half before being placed at the curb on your normal service day.
Spring
March - MayThe City of El Centro typically partners with CR&R to host an annual compost giveaway event. This is a great opportunity for residents to receive free, nutrient-rich soil amendments generated directly from the community's green organics recycling program.
Year-Round
January - DecemberThe City sponsors free paper shredding events twice a year alongside scheduled bulky item drop-off events. Certified shredding trucks destroy documents securely onsite, providing a safe way to dispose of sensitive financial papers without contaminating the recycling stream.
About El Centro Waste Management
Navigating El Centro's 3-Bin System with CR&R
The City of El Centro maintains an exclusive franchise agreement with CR&R Environmental Services to provide comprehensive weekly trash, recycling, and organic waste collection [1.2.2]. While CR&R manages the physical collection and operational routing, single-family residential accounts and billing are handled directly by the City's Finance Department. This partnership ensures that Imperial Valley residents have the necessary 96-gallon automated carts to meet California's aggressive landfill diversion goals.
SB 1383 Compliance and Kitchen Food Scrap Pails
In direct compliance with California Senate Bill 1383, El Centro households must separate all organic material from the standard landfill waste stream. Your green-lidded cart is no longer just for yard trimmings; you must deposit all food scraps—including meats, dairy, bones, and vegetable peels—directly into this organics bin. To make this transition easier, the City provides every household with a free 2-gallon countertop composting pail to securely collect food scraps before transferring them to the green curbside barrel.
Free Saturday Drop-Offs at the CR&R Transfer Station
El Centro provides a highly valuable drop-off perk for its residents. Every Saturday morning from 7:00 a.m. to noon, single-family residents can drop off excess solid waste completely free of charge at the CR&R transfer station on East Main Street. To utilize this service, you must present a current City water bill as proof of address, and California Highway Patrol regulations require that you completely cover and secure your truckload during transit.
Managing Tricky Desert Landscaping Debris
Because El Centro is situated in the arid Imperial Valley, residents frequently need to dispose of desert landscaping like palm fronds, cacti, and succulents. However, these specific materials are strictly prohibited from the green organics cart. Their tough, fibrous structures and high water content prevent them from breaking down at commercial composting facilities. These items, along with dirt and rock, must always be placed in the black-lidded landfill trash cart.
Drop-off Facilities
CR&R El Centro Transfer Station [1.2.1]
599 E Main Street, El Centro, CA 92243
Materials Accepted
SA Recycling El Centro
460 East Holton Road, El Centro, CA 92243
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I throw palm fronds and cacti in the green yard waste bin?
No. Because palm fronds, cacti, and succulents are fibrous and hold excessive water, they disrupt the local commercial composting process. In El Centro, these specific desert plants must be thrown in the black trash cart.
How do I schedule a free bulky item pickup in El Centro?
Single-family residents are entitled to have three bulk items picked up per year at no cost. You must call CR&R at (760) 482-5656 to schedule an appointment. Only items explicitly listed during the scheduling call will be collected.
Where can I take my extra garbage if I miss trash day?
The City provides a free solid waste drop-off service at the CR&R transfer station (599 E Main Street) every Saturday between 7:00 a.m. and noon. You must bring your current water bill to prove residency, and state law requires you to cover your load while driving.
Does El Centro offer free curbside used motor oil collection?
Yes. Through a partnership with CR&R and the Imperial Valley Resource Management Agency (IVRMA), residents can schedule a free curbside collection for used motor oil. Simply call CR&R at (760) 482-5656 to request the specialized oil collection containers.