Black Bin (Trash)
Place your cart at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. Ensure the lid is completely closed and the bin is clear of vehicles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam and foam packaging
- ✓Chip bags and flexible pouches
- ✓Broken ceramics and glass
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Pet waste
- ✓General landfill garbage
Green Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables. All items must be placed loosely in the green container and follow the 'Empty, Clean, Dry' rule.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean and dry paper
- ✓Flattened cardboard boxes
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (#1-#7)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Clothing and textiles
- ✕E-waste
- ✕Hazardous materials
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags, even if labeled 'compostable'. Place all organics directly into the brown container to prevent processing contamination.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, vegetables, bones)
- ✓Yard trimmings and leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Flower waste
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, paper napkins)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Unlimited bulky item pickups per calendar year for residential customers.
Placement
Schedule your pickup by calling 1-800-700-8610. Place the approved items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the day of your scheduled collection.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, dressers, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ E-waste (televisions, computers, stereos)
- ✓ Large household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Building and construction materials
- ✕ Concrete and dirt
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Paint and chemicals
- ✕ Automotive parts
This service is completely free and unlimited for residents of the City of Fullerton.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a major observed holiday falls on a weekday, residential collection services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. If the holiday falls on a weekend, there is no delay.
Yard Waste Exception
The one-day delay applies equally to all three carts (black trash, green recycling, and brown organics).
Republic Services operates normally on non-listed holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents' Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Universal Waste is Strictly Banned
Household batteries, fluorescent tubes, and mercury thermostats have been banned from all California trash bins since 2006. Tossing these in your black or green carts is a major fire hazard. You must take them to the nearby Anaheim HHW center.
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Green Bin
Never place your recyclables inside a plastic garbage bag. Thin plastic bags and film easily tangle and jam the sorting machinery at the Republic Services recycling facility. Drop off clean plastic grocery bags at local supermarket collection bins instead.
Rinse Your Recyclables
A half-full peanut butter jar or unrinsed soda bottle can contaminate an entire load of clean paper and cardboard in your green bin. Always give your plastics and glass a quick rinse and shake dry before recycling them.
Seasonal Information
Spring
MarchThe City of Fullerton and Republic Services typically host a free Compost Giveaway event at Independence Park. Residents can bring their vehicles to receive up to four free bags of nutrient-rich compost generated from the city's organics recycling program.
Summer
July to SeptemberTo combat strong odors in your brown organics cart during hot Southern California summers, keep your food scraps in a sealed container in the freezer or refrigerator, and empty them into the cart on the morning of your collection day.
Autumn
October to NovemberDuring Orange County's Santa Ana wind season, ensure that your brown yard waste cart lid is securely closed. Overfilled bins can blow open, scattering leaves and lightweight organics throughout your neighborhood.
About Fullerton Waste Management
Navigating Fullerton's Unique Tri-Color Cart System
Unlike most of California where green bins are standardized for organic waste, Fullerton utilizes a highly distinctive color scheme for its automated curbside collection via Republic Services. In Fullerton, your green container is designated exclusively for clean recyclables, the brown container is used for green yard waste and organics, and the black container is for standard landfill trash. This unique system was designed to optimize the city's clean-burning LNG automated truck routes while efficiently processing materials at the local MRF.
Unmatched Convenience: Unlimited Bulky Item Pickups
One of the most generous waste services in Orange County is Fullerton's bulky item program. Single-family residents receive unlimited free bulky item pickups per calendar year, with no cap on the number of items per collection! Whether you're replacing old furniture, tossing a broken television, or getting rid of a worn-out mattress, you can easily schedule a curbside collection by calling Republic Services. This extraordinary benefit severely cuts down on illegal dumping and keeps Fullerton neighborhoods pristine.
Mastering SB 1383 Organics in Your Brown Cart
To comply with California's SB 1383 short-lived climate pollutant mandates, Fullerton residents must actively separate their organic waste. All food scraps—including meat, dairy, vegetables, and 100% plant-fiber food-soiled paper—must go directly into your brown green-waste container, not the black trash bin. These organics are then transported to newly constructed commercial composting facilities at Orange County landfills, transforming waste into nutrient-rich soil instead of harmful methane gas.
The New WISE Agreement and Landfill Upgrades
To secure long-term disposal capacity as the nearby Olinda Alpha Landfill in Brea approaches closure, Fullerton has entered a 10-year Waste Infrastructure System Enterprise (WISE) Agreement with the County of Orange. This partnership helps fund over $600 million in major expansions at the Frank R. Bowerman and Prima Deshecha landfills. While this introduced a rate adjustment in 2026, it guarantees Fullerton residents reliable, state-of-the-art waste disposal and full compliance with strict environmental regulations for the next decade.
Drop-off Facilities
Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center
1071 N. Blue Gum Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92806
Materials Accepted
Fullerton Recycling Center (CRV Buyback)
1101 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, CA 92833
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fullerton have a limit on how many bulky item pickups I can request?
No! Unlike most municipalities that limit residents to two or three pickups a year, the City of Fullerton offers unlimited free bulky item collections per calendar year, with no limit on the number of items per collection. Simply call Republic Services at 1-800-700-8610 to schedule your pickup.
What color are the trash and recycling carts in Fullerton?
Fullerton uses a unique color scheme for its automated carts. Your Black container is for standard trash, the Green container is exclusively for recyclables (like paper, plastic, and glass), and the Brown container is for organics and yard waste.
How do I dispose of food waste to comply with SB 1383 in Fullerton?
All organic materials, including food scraps, meat, dairy, and 100% plant-fiber food-soiled paper, must go directly into your Brown green-waste container. Do not place food scraps in your black trash bin, and never put them inside plastic bags.
Where can I safely dispose of household hazardous waste like paint and batteries?
Hazardous waste is strictly prohibited in your curbside bins. Fullerton residents can utilize the Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center, conveniently located at 1071 N. Blue Gum Avenue in nearby Anaheim. The facility is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.