Brown Bin (Trash)
Place all non-recyclable, non-compostable trash in the brown cart. Carts must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. with the lid completely closed and the opening facing the street.
Accepted Items
- ✓Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Garden hoses and broken toys
- ✓Dishes, ceramics, and mirrors
- ✓Fats, oils, and grease (in sealed containers)
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
- ✓Treated wood and normal household refuse
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be completely empty, clean, and dry. Do not bag your recyclables; keep them loose in the blue cart to ensure they can be successfully sorted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper bags
- ✓Mixed paper, mail, and newspaper
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and steel cans
- ✓Empty plastic bottles and rigid plastic containers
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Liquids
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Textiles or clothing
Yard Waste Bin
Food waste can be placed directly into the green cart or contained within an uncoated paper bag. Do not use plastic bags, and avoid using so-called 'compostable' plastic cups or utensils, as they are not accepted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Tree branches and shrubbery trimmings
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products
- ✓Breads, pastas, and plate scrapings
- ✓Food-soiled paper and uncoated paper bags
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Four free collections per year (up to 10 items each).
Placement
Call Republic Services at (714) 847-3581 to schedule your 10/4 pickup in advance. Place approved items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled morning.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture, mattresses, and box springs
- ✓ Appliances (refrigerators, washers, ovens, water heaters)
- ✓ Area rugs (rolled, secured, max 6 feet)
- ✓ Bagged trash exceeding cart capacity (max 40 lbs per bag)
- ✓ Excess moving boxes
- ✓ Bundled palm fronds and branches (max 4 feet and 40 lbs)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Remodeling debris (intact vanity cabinets, sinks, toilets, doors)
- ✕ Cast iron tubs
- ✕ Construction and demolition waste
- ✕ Universal waste (e-waste)
- ✕ Hazardous waste
Commercial and multi-family bin customers can also schedule bulk collections but are subject to a per-item fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after an observed major holiday, your trash, recycling, and street sweeping service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
The one-day holiday delay applies equally to the green organics and yard waste cart.
Ticketing for street sweeping is historically paused when the collection schedule is adjusted for these specific six holidays. Always verify exact sweeping hours via the signage on your neighborhood's street light poles.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Layering Organics Prevents Odors
Keep your green cart clean and reduce pests by lining the bottom of the container with yard waste first, then placing your wet food waste on top of the dry leaves and grass.
Skip the 'Compostable' Plastics
While many cups, utensils, and bags are marketed as 'compostable' or 'biodegradable', they are not compatible with Republic Services' regional commercial composting facilities. Place all bioplastics in the brown landfill cart.
Do Not Bag Blue Cart Items
Recyclables must remain loose inside the blue container. Bagged recyclables are considered contamination because plastic garbage bags severely jam the mechanical gears at the local materials recovery facility.
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December to mid-JanuaryDuring the holiday season, remember that wrapping paper with foil or glitter cannot be recycled. Please place these materials in the brown trash cart.
Year-Round Maintenance
ContinuousIf heavy storms or seasonal landscaping result in excess palm fronds or oversized tree branches that exceed your green cart's capacity, you can bundle them (under 4 feet in length and 40 pounds) and use one of your free 10/4 Program pickups for removal.
About Fountain Valley Waste Management
Standard Three-Cart System Powered by Clean Energy
Residential solid waste collection in Fountain Valley is managed through an exclusive franchise agreement with Republic Services. To help achieve California's rigorous landfill diversion mandates, homes utilize a standardized three-cart system consisting of three 95-gallon containers—blue for recycling, brown for landfill waste, and green for combined organics. Notably, the local collection fleet operates on clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG), meaning fewer emissions and much quieter neighborhoods on your designated trash day.
Complying with SB 1383: Fountain Valley's Organics Program
In direct compliance with California Senate Bill 1383, Fountain Valley residents must separate all organic material from standard garbage. Food scraps, such as vegetable trimmings, meat, dairy, and plate scrapings, along with food-soiled paper products, must be deposited directly into your green yard waste cart. Using an indoor kitchen pail to collect daily scraps is highly encouraged; you can line it with a paper bag and transfer the entire bundle into your green organics cart without using plastic.
The Highly Popular 10/4 Bulky Item Program
One of the most valuable perks of the local waste management program is the 10/4 Program. Eligible residential cart customers can request up to four free bulky item curbside collections each calendar year, with a generous allowance of up to 10 large items per appointment. This makes disposing of bulky furniture, excess securely tied palm fronds, or large household appliances remarkably easy and cost-effective compared to private hauling solutions.
Strict Contamination Monitoring in Place
Republic Services actively monitors residential recycling and organics carts for prohibited contamination. Incorrectly sorting items—like putting non-recyclable styrofoam into the blue cart or plastic bags into the green cart—will result in a courtesy notice left on the bin. Repeated contamination offenses may lead to additional processing fees assessed to the homeowner's utility account.
Drop-off Facilities
Republic Services HHW Collection Center (Gate 6)
17121 Nichols Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is the Fountain Valley 10/4 Program?
The 10/4 Program is a bulky item collection service for residential cart customers in Fountain Valley. It allows you to schedule up to four free large-item pickups per calendar year, with a generous limit of 10 qualifying items per appointment. You must call Republic Services to schedule this service.
How do I properly recycle food waste in Fountain Valley?
Under SB 1383, all organic food waste—such as meat, dairy, vegetable scraps, and food-soiled paper—must be placed in your green organics cart. You can put these items directly into the green cart or contain them within an uncoated paper bag. Do not use plastic bags.
Are there delays to my Republic Services trash pickup on holidays?
Yes. Republic Services observes six major holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If your pickup falls on or after one of these days during the workweek, your collection will be delayed by one day.
Where can Fountain Valley residents take old paint and household chemicals?
Household hazardous waste cannot go in your curbside carts. Fountain Valley residents can drop off these toxic materials for free at the nearby Republic Services facility located at 17121 Nichols Street (Gate 6) in Huntington Beach, open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.