Black Bin (Trash)
All non-recyclable and non-compostable household refuse must go in the black barrel. Ensure the lid is completely closed and wheels are facing the curb/property line.
Accepted Items
- ✓Diapers and wipes
- ✓Pet waste and cat litter
- ✓Dishware and ceramics
- ✓Garden hoses and plastic toys
- ✓Plastic bags, shrink wrap, and straws
- ✓Window glass and mirrors
- ✓Styrofoam packing peanuts and meat trays
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not contaminate your blue barrel with trash or yard waste. All recyclables should be placed loosely in the cart and must be relatively clean, dry, and empty.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Cardboard and binboard (cereal boxes)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (any color)
- ✓Newspaper, mixed paper, and magazines
- ✓Junk mail and envelopes
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7 (clean and empty)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste or soiled paper
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Clothing and textiles
- ✕Diapers or bathroom waste
- ✕Pizza boxes with food residue
- ✕Electronic waste or batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste like grass and branches should remain loose in the green barrel. However, all food waste and food-soiled paper MUST be placed inside a sealed plastic bag before going into the green barrel. The bag does not need to be compostable.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged food waste (fruits, meats, dairy, bread, scraps)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (bagged)
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves and small branches (under 4 feet)
- ✓Shrubbery prunings and twigs
- ✓Untreated, clean wood scraps
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Four (4) free curbside collections per calendar year.
Placement
You must contact Burrtec Customer Service at (909) 889-1969 at least 24 hours in advance of your regular collection day to arrange a pick-up. Place items at the curb by 6:00 a.m.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances
- ✓ Certain electronic devices (e-waste)
- ✓ Large yard waste bundles
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil)
- ✕ Construction materials (concrete, brick, drywall)
- ✕ Commercial or business waste
- ✕ Dirt, rock, or roofing material
- ✕ Vehicle parts
Any additional items beyond the five-item limit will incur a $12.21 fee per item. If you require more than four trips per year, an additional pickup trip fee of $42.73 applies.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed Burrtec holiday falls on a weekday, residential collection services 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 barrel and the blue recycling barrel.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no service interruption or delay. Your normal collection day will remain the same.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Recyclables Loose and Dry
Never bag your recyclables. Plastic garbage bags wrap around the sorting gears at the Burrtec recycling facility, causing severe machinery jams. Toss your clean recyclables directly into the blue barrel.
Bag Your Food Scraps
While it goes against common SB 1383 guidelines elsewhere, Highland strictly requires you to place all wet food waste inside a standard plastic bag before putting it in your green organics barrel to reduce odors and pests.
Hazardous Items Cause Fires
Never throw lithium-ion batteries, fluorescent bulbs, hot ashes, or motor oil into your black trash barrel. These items are highly flammable and must be taken to a designated HHW center.
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December to mid-JanuaryBurrtec will collect and recycle natural holiday trees placed at the curb on your regularly scheduled collection day for two to three weeks following Christmas. Trees longer than 6 feet must be cut in half, and all tinsel, ornaments, and stands must be removed.
Spring & Fall
Variable (Announced in Re-Pete Newsletter)The City of Highland Public Service Division and Burrtec team up to host free compost giveaways for residents to tackle seasonal lawn and garden projects. Check your Burrtec bill inserts for exact dates and locations.
About Highland Waste Management
Automated Three-Barrel System in Highland
Residential solid waste in the City of Highland is exclusively managed by Burrtec Waste Industries through an automated three-barrel collection program. To ensure efficient pickup, residents must separate their waste into the black barrel for landfill trash, the blue barrel for clean recyclables, and the green barrel for yard trimmings and food organics. Carts should be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day, spaced at least two feet apart and three feet away from parked vehicles.
The Unique Bagged Food Waste Rule
In order to comply with California's SB 1383 organics recycling mandate, Highland has adopted a very specific and unique procedure for food waste. Unlike many neighboring municipalities that strictly prohibit plastic in the green cart, Highland residents are actually required to place their food scraps (like meat, dairy, and plate scrapings) into a sealed plastic bag before tossing it into the green organics barrel alongside loose yard waste. Burrtec explicitly states these bags do not need to be compostable or biodegradable.
Generous Bulky Item Collection Limits
Highland residential customers receive an excellent perk through Burrtec: four free curbside bulky item collections per calendar year. Each scheduled pickup allows you to dispose of up to five large items, such as old furniture, broken appliances, mattresses, or electronic waste, at no additional charge. You must call Burrtec's customer service at least 24 hours prior to your normal collection day to arrange the pickup.
Property Vacancy Exemption Policy
Under the City of Highland Municipal Code, refuse collection is strictly mandatory for all eligible properties. However, the city offers a unique exemption for property owners facing extended vacancies. If a property has been completely vacant for at least 90 consecutive days, the owner can apply for a six-month service exemption by submitting proof of disconnected utilities and a small administrative fee, temporarily pausing their mandatory waste billing.
Safe Disposal of Hazardous and Universal Waste
Toxic items such as automotive fluids, pool chemicals, lithium-ion batteries, and old paint pose severe safety hazards to Burrtec's drivers and local landfills, and are strictly prohibited from all curbside barrels. Highland residents can safely dispose of these dangerous materials for free at the nearby San Bernardino County Household Hazardous Waste facility located at the San Bernardino International Airport.
Drop-off Facilities
San Bernardino County HHW Collection (SB International Airport)
2824 East 'W' Street, Bldg. 302, San Bernardino, CA 92415
Materials Accepted
Redlands City Yard HHW Collection
500 Kansas Street at Park Avenue, Redlands, CA
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I correctly dispose of food waste in Highland?
Unlike most other cities in California, Highland's program with Burrtec requires you to collect all food waste (including meat, dairy, and food-soiled paper) in a sealed plastic bag before tossing it into your green organics barrel. The plastic bags do not have to be compostable.
How many free bulky item pickups can I schedule with Burrtec?
Each residential household in Highland is eligible for four (4) free curbside bulky item collections per calendar year. You are allowed up to five (5) items per scheduled collection. Call Burrtec at (909) 889-1969 to schedule your pickup.
Does Burrtec delay trash pickup in Highland for holidays?
Yes. Burrtec observes New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If the holiday falls on a weekday, your collection service will be pushed back by one day. Weekend holidays do not cause a delay.
Can I leave extra garbage bags next to my black barrel on collection day?
No. All trash, recycling, and organic waste must fit completely inside the appropriate barrel with the lid fully closed. Extra bags, boxes, or loose items left beside the carts will not be collected by the automated trucks.