Black (or Black with Black Lid) Bin (Trash)
All refuse should be bagged to prevent litter. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day, spaced 1 foot apart, and removed within 12 hours after service.
Accepted Items
- ✓General household refuse
- ✓Plastic bags and wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam packaging
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Broken ceramics and glass
- ✓Pet waste
Blue (or Black with Blue Lid) Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be loose, not bagged. Ensure items are empty, clean, and dry before tossing them into the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Metal cans (aluminum and tin)
- ✓Clean paper and cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Food-soiled cardboard (like greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Styrofoam products
- ✕E-waste or batteries
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags to hold yard waste or food scraps. Organic material must go loosely into the green cart. Dirt, rocks, and pet waste are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Small branches and prunings
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, vegetables, fruit)
- ✓Food-soiled paper
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two (2) free bulky item pick-ups per calendar year for residential customers.
Placement
Items must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day, positioned away from vehicles and mailboxes.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches, chairs, desks, and tables
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Washers, dryers, and water heaters
- ✓ Up to four (4) automobile tires
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, monitors)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, and concrete
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Commercial waste
- ✕ Items requiring Freon removal (without an extra fee)
Appliances requiring Freon removal (like refrigerators) incur an additional fee. Additional pickups beyond the two free annual appointments are available for a nominal charge.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a designated holiday falls on a weekday, all collection services for the remainder of that week will be postponed by one day. (e.g., Thursday pickups will move to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular refuse.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is generally no interruption to the weekday curbside pickup schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Green Cart
Never line your green organics cart with plastic bags, and do not place bagged food scraps inside. Plastic bags contaminate the commercial composting process and can result in your bin not being serviced.
E-Waste is a Curbside No-Go
Electronic waste like old cell phones, monitors, and TVs contain hazardous heavy metals such as lead. These items are strictly banned from all three curbside carts. You must schedule a bulky item pickup to dispose of them safely.
Avoid Hiding Hazardous Materials
Tossing household batteries, fluorescent bulbs, motor oil, or pesticides into your black trash cart is illegal and dangerous. These items can spark fires in collection trucks. Take them to a designated Riverside County HHW collection facility.
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December to JanuaryPost-holiday natural Christmas tree recycling is typically supported. Trees must be completely stripped of ornaments, tinsel, lights, and stands. Flocked trees cannot be composted and must be chopped to fit in the black trash cart.
Year-Round
January to DecemberHemet residents are encouraged to utilize their two free annual bulky item appointments during spring cleaning or home renovation projects to responsibly discard large items without incurring extra dump fees.
About Hemet Waste Management
Determine Your Hauler by Your Address Length
Hemet has a highly unusual split-service model when it comes to waste management. If you live in a home with a standard 4-digit street address, your solid waste, recycling, and organics services are managed by CR&R Environmental Services. However, if your residence features a 5-digit address, your property falls under the jurisdiction of Waste Management (WM) of the Inland Empire. Always verify your provider before scheduling bulky item pickups or cart repairs.
Complying with California's Organics Mandate
Following the guidelines of California's SB 1383, Hemet residents must divert organic matter away from landfills to mitigate short-lived climate pollutants. Your green waste cart—or the black cart with a green lid—is now meant for a mix of traditional yard trimmings and all household food scraps. Coffee grounds, meat bones, vegetable peels, and even food-soiled paper should be tossed directly into the green cart to be processed into compost.
Quarterly Community Clean-Up Events
In addition to standard curbside collections, the City of Hemet sponsors four large-scale Community Clean-Up events throughout the calendar year, typically held in February, April, August, and November. These drive-through events offer residents an excellent opportunity to properly dispose of excess bulky waste, yard debris, and unwanted household items that exceed their standard curbside allowance, entirely free of charge.
Free Sharps and Needle Disposal Kiosks
Safely disposing of home-generated medical sharps is crucial for the safety of sanitation workers. Through a grant from CalRecycle, the Riverside County Department of Waste Resources has installed dedicated sharps collection kiosks accessible to Hemet residents. You can drop off approved, sealed sharps containers at these locations for free, ensuring needles never end up loose in the municipal trash or recycling streams.
The PaintCare Stewardship Program
Do not throw old paint cans into your curbside bins. Hemet actively participates in PaintCare, an industry-sponsored non-profit program that establishes convenient drop-off sites at local hardware stores and recycling centers. This allows residents to easily recycle leftover architectural paint, primers, and stains, keeping harmful chemicals out of the local soil and groundwater.
Drop-off Facilities
Lamb Canyon Sanitary Landfill
16411 Lamb Canyon Rd, Beaumont, CA 92223
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if CR&R or Waste Management collects my trash in Hemet?
Service providers in Hemet are determined by your address format. If you have a 4-digit house number, your service provider is CR&R Environmental Services (951-943-1991). If your house number is 5 digits long, you are serviced by Waste Management of the Inland Empire (1-800-423-9986).
Does Hemet delay trash pickup for holidays?
Yes. CR&R observes New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If the holiday falls during the workweek, service for the remainder of the week is delayed by one day.
How do I get rid of an old mattress or couch in Hemet?
Residential customers receive two free bulky item pickups per calendar year. You can include up to two large items (like a mattress and a couch) or up to 3 cubic yards of loose materials. Call CR&R at (800) 755-8112 to schedule an appointment.
Can I put food waste in my green yard waste cart?
Yes. Due to California's SB 1383 mandate, all residents must recycle organic waste. Your green cart (or black cart with a green lid) is designated for both yard trimmings and all food scraps, including meat, dairy, coffee grounds, and food-soiled paper.