Black or Gray Bin (Trash)
Bag all regular trash to prevent neighborhood litter, especially during Fontana's high wind events. Notably, palm fronds and cactus must go into this bin, not the green yard waste barrel.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cactus and palm fronds
- ✓Pet waste and diapers
- ✓Plastic bags, wrappers, and shrink wrap
- ✓Clothing, textiles, and old shoes
- ✓Broken window glass and dishware
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loosely in the blue barrel. Do not bag your recyclables in plastic bags. Ensure that all bottles and containers are reasonably clean and free of liquid.
Accepted Items
- ✓Empty aerosol cans and tin cans
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paper cartons
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastics labeled #1 through #7
- ✓Clean paper products, magazines, and mail
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and bubble wrap
- ✕Food-soiled pizza boxes
- ✕Tanglers like garden hoses and cords
- ✕Electronic waste and batteries
- ✕Clothing
Yard Waste Bin
To comply with SB 1383, Fontana allows residents to place bagged food waste and food-soiled paper directly into the green barrel alongside loose, traditional yard trimmings.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Prunings, twigs, and small branches
- ✓Bagged food waste
- ✓Food-soiled paper
- ✓Dead plants and untreated wood
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Three times per calendar year
Placement
Contact Burrtec to schedule your specific pickup day. Place the approved items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the collection day, ensuring they do not block sidewalks, driveways, or street traffic.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, mattresses, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Large household appliances
- ✓ Tree stumps and large bundled branches
- ✓ Electronic waste (e-waste)
- ✓ Water heaters
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, and concrete
- ✕ Tires and automotive parts
The first three bulky pickups per year are completely free. Additional pickups, or the rental of a roll-off bin (three cubic yards or larger), will incur additional service fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collection for trash, recycling, and green waste will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Green waste and blue recycling barrels follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the regular black trash barrels.
If a major holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no interruption or delay in your standard weekday service schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Palm Fronds Are Not Yard Waste
Due to their exceptionally tough and fibrous nature, palm fronds and cactus plants cannot be processed at the municipal composting facility. Always place them in your black trash barrel.
Bag Your Food Waste
While many California jurisdictions demand loose organics, Fontana's SB 1383 program specifically instructs residents to bag their kitchen food scraps and soiled paper before dropping them into the green yard waste bin.
Plastic Bags Ruin Recycling
Never throw plastic grocery bags or film wrap into the blue recycling bin. They quickly tangle around the automated sorting gears at the material recovery facility. Drop them off at a local grocery store instead.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryBurrtec provides an annual curbside Christmas Tree Recycling program. You must remove all stands, lights, and ornaments before placing the bare tree out on your regular collection day.
Year-Round
January - DecemberThe City of Fontana offers a complimentary pull-out or back-yard collection service for senior citizens and disabled residents who are physically unable to roll their heavy bins to the curb.
About Fontana Waste Management
Maximizing Fontana's Three-Barrel Waste System
The City of Fontana partners closely with Burrtec Waste Industries to provide comprehensive automated collection services for single-family residences. To help the city exceed California's stringent landfill diversion goals, residents are equipped with a standard three-barrel system: a black or gray container for landfill trash, a blue container for mixed recyclables, and a green container for organic waste. Bins must be rolled to the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day, ensuring there is plenty of space between each barrel so the automated mechanical arms can safely grab them.
Fontana's Unique Approach to Organics and SB 1383
In response to California's SB 1383 climate mandates, Fontana has adopted a specialized organics recycling program. While many neighboring cities require residents to keep their food waste completely loose, Fontana's program specifically directs residents to bag their food scraps and food-soiled paper products before placing them into the green yard waste barrel. This bagged organic waste is then processed alongside traditional yard trimmings, keeping powerful methane emissions out of the county landfills.
Handling Trash Collection During Santa Ana Wind Events
Because Fontana is geographically situated to receive intense Santa Ana winds, the city has a unique 'Windy Day Warning' protocol. On days with severe wind advisories, the city officially recommends that residents do not set their barrels out at the curb, as they are highly likely to tip over and scatter debris across the neighborhood. Instead, residents are permitted to wait until the following week, and Burrtec will collect the accumulated extra waste along with the normal weekly refuse.
Scheduling Your Free Bulky Item Collections
Getting rid of large, unwanted household junk is straightforward and economical in Fontana. Every residential household is entitled to three complimentary bulky item pickups per calendar year. This free service handles large items like old appliances, furniture, mattresses, and even tree stumps. Residents must contact Burrtec directly at least 24 hours in advance to schedule the appointment. Setting large items on the curb without prior approval is considered illegal dumping.
Curbside Oil Pickups and Saturday HHW Drop-offs
Toxic household chemicals and electronics pose a massive fire risk to collection trucks and should never be thrown in any of the three curbside barrels. Fontana provides a dedicated Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility on Orange Way, which is open exclusively on Saturdays for safe drop-offs. Additionally, the city offers a highly convenient Curbside Used Oil Program; residents can call 909-350-6789 to schedule a free at-home pickup of their used motor oil and filters.
Drop-off Facilities
Fontana Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility
16454 Orange Way, Fontana, CA 92335
Materials Accepted
Mid-Valley Sanitary Landfill
2390 Alder Avenue, Rialto, CA 92377
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do with my trash bins on very windy days in Fontana?
Because of the intense Santa Ana winds common in the area, the city frequently issues 'Windy Day Warnings.' Residents are officially advised not to set their containers out on extremely windy days to prevent blow-overs and neighborhood litter. Instead, wait until the following week, and Burrtec will collect the extra waste along with your normal trash.
How does Fontana handle food waste for the SB 1383 mandate?
To comply with California's SB 1383 organic waste reduction mandate, Fontana residents are uniquely instructed to bag their kitchen food scraps and food-soiled paper products, and then place those bags directly into the green yard waste barrel alongside traditional yard trimmings.
How do I get rid of an old mattress or refrigerator in Fontana?
Fontana residents receive three free curbside bulky item pickups every calendar year. You can schedule a collection for large items like mattresses, furniture, or appliances by calling Burrtec Customer Service at (909) 822-9739.
Where can I dispose of old paint and used motor oil?
Hazardous materials can be safely dropped off at the Fontana HHW Facility at 16454 Orange Way, which is open exclusively on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Alternatively, you can schedule a free at-home curbside pickup specifically for used motor oil and filters by calling (909) 350-6789.