Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Garden Grove
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone (Monday through Friday)
Recycling
Same day as trash pickup
Yard Waste
Same day as trash pickup
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential waste and recycling services are contracted through Republic Services on behalf of the Garden Grove Sanitary District. Each household is eligible for up to three free bulky item pickups per year.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
A discounted rate is available for qualifying low-income seniors aged 65 and older enrolled in programs such as SCE CARE.
Black (or Gray Body with Gray Lid) Bin (Trash)
All regular household trash should be bagged. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day (but no earlier than noon the day before) with handles facing the home.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable household garbage
- ✓Styrofoam packing materials
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Palm fronds and cacti
- ✓Treated wood and broken ceramics
- ✓Chip bags and candy wrappers
Green (or Gray Body with Blue Lid) Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be empty, clean, dry, and placed loosely inside the cart. Do not bag recyclables in plastic.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Junk mail and office paper
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Rigid plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film wrap
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Clothing or textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Organics must be placed directly into the cart or contained in a paper bag. Do not use plastic bags, compostable bioplastics, or include dirt, rocks, or palm fronds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Tree and brush trimmings
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, bones, produce)
- ✓Food-soiled paper products
- ✓Paper bags (for containing food waste)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Up to 3 free collections per calendar year.
Placement
You must schedule the pickup by calling Republic Services at (714) 238-3300 at least 24 hours prior to your regular collection day. Place items safely at the curb alongside your regular carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, mattresses, tables)
- ✓ Large household appliances (non-refrigerant)
- ✓ Computers and electronic waste
- ✓ Excess bundled yard waste
- ✓ Refrigerators and AC units (may require a small recovery fee)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, motor oil)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (concrete, dirt, rocks)
- ✕ Automotive tires and car batteries
- ✕ Industrial or commercial waste
If you exhaust your three free pickups, or have items containing Freon (like older refrigerators), additional fees may apply. Always verify when scheduling.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your normal collection day falls on or after an observed holiday during the workweek, your collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the standard trash collection.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, your standard collection schedule remains unaffected.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to JanuaryRepublic Services provides free holiday tree recycling for several weeks following Christmas. Trees must be bare (no ornaments or stands). Trees taller than 6 feet must be cut in half. Flocked trees cannot be composted and must go in the trash cart.
Bi-Monthly
Year-RoundThe City hosts Community Cleanup Days every other month at varying locations. These self-serve events allow residents to drop off bulky items, e-waste, and batteries for free. Proof of Garden Grove residency is required.
Year-Round
January to DecemberSB 1383 mandates cart contamination inspections. Republic Services conducts random lid flips. If your cart is heavily contaminated with incorrect items, it may be tagged and serviced as trash, which can incur additional fees.
Local Tips & Community Info
Orange County Waste Management in Garden Grove
Residential sanitation across Garden Grove is exclusively managed by Republic Services. To maintain a clean and orderly neighborhood, residents must ensure their bins are wheeled out to the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the day of their scheduled route. You must position the carts side by side, leaving approximately 18 to 24 inches of space between each one. Make sure the handles are facing your home, allowing the automated arms of the sanitation trucks to smoothly lift and empty the containers without tipping them over.
Sorting Your Recyclables
Garden Grove strongly emphasizes sustainability, making proper use of the blue recycling cart essential. You are encouraged to place flattened cardboard, junk mail, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and clean plastic containers directly into this bin. It is incredibly important that you do not place these items inside plastic grocery bags. Plastic film gets easily tangled in the heavy machinery at the regional sorting center, which can cause significant operational delays and increase local processing costs.
Kitchen Scraps and the Organics Mandate
Aligning with California's SB 1383 environmental regulations, the city requires all households to separate their organic waste. Your green cart is designed to hold both standard yard trimmings and everyday food scraps. This means you should toss your banana peels, eggshells, coffee grounds, and meat trimmings right in with your lawn clippings. Diverting this material away from traditional landfills helps lower greenhouse gas emissions and creates valuable compost for local farming initiatives.
Bulky Item Pickups at Your Door
Getting rid of a broken refrigerator or an old mattress is convenient with the city's large-item collection program. Residential customers are eligible to receive up to three complimentary bulky waste pickups per year from Republic Services. Each scheduled appointment allows for the removal of up to ten bulky items. You must contact the customer service center ahead of time to book your collection date; leaving furniture out on the curb unannounced is a violation of municipal codes.
Disposing of Household Hazardous Waste
Toxic items such as pool chemicals, wet paint, motor oil, and lithium batteries must never be tossed into any of your three curbside bins. Because Garden Grove is part of Orange County, residents have free access to the regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers located in nearby Anaheim or Huntington Beach. Taking your dangerous materials to these facilities ensures they are disposed of safely without risking fires in the sanitation trucks.
Adjustments for National Holidays
Republic Services pauses residential routes for six major holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If one of these specific events falls on a weekday, all neighborhood collections for the remainder of that week will occur one day later than usual. Standard scheduling resumes automatically on the following Monday.
Drop-off Facilities
North Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center
1071 North Blue Gum Street, Anaheim, CA 92806
Materials Accepted
CVT Public Disposal and Recycling Center
1071 North Blue Gum Street, Anaheim, CA 92806
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a free bulky item pickup in Garden Grove?
Garden Grove residents receive up to three free bulky item pickups per calendar year, with a maximum of 10 items per pickup. You must call Republic Services Customer Service at (714) 238-3300 at least 24 hours before your normal collection day to schedule the appointment.
Can I use plastic bags in the organics cart for my food waste?
No. Plastic bags, including those marketed as 'compostable' or 'biodegradable,' are strictly banned from the organics cart as they contaminate the compost. If you wish to bag your kitchen food scraps before placing them in the cart, you must use a standard paper bag.
Where can I recycle my used motor oil without driving to a hazardous waste center?
Garden Grove offers a free curbside collection program specifically for used motor oil and oil filters. You can schedule a free pickup by calling the toll-free hotline at (800) 449-7587. Ensure the oil is in a clean, sealed plastic container no larger than 5 gallons.
What should I do with old cans of paint and cleaning chemicals?
Household hazardous waste cannot go in your curbside bins or be collected during bulky item pickups. Garden Grove residents should transport paint, chemicals, and pesticides to the North Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center at 1071 North Blue Gum Street in Anaheim. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.