Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Imperial
Trash Day
Wednesday (South of Neckel Road) or Thursday (North of Neckel Road)
Recycling
Wednesday (South of Neckel Road) or Thursday (North of Neckel Road)
Yard Waste
Wednesday (South of Neckel Road) or Thursday (North of Neckel Road)
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash, sewer, and water charges are combined on a single monthly municipal utility bill due by the 15th of each month, with no extra fee for credit card payments.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, In Person, Mail
Black Bin (Trash)
All waste disposed of in the black toter should be securely bagged before being placed inside. Ensure the lid can close completely. Hot ashes or coals are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Composite items made of multiple materials
- ✓Juice and soy milk boxes with foil liners
- ✓Styrofoam meat trays and packaging
- ✓Disposable diapers
- ✓Pet waste and bagged kitty litter
- ✓Ceramics and Pyrex glass
- ✓Wet or soiled paper
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Make sure all recyclables are empty, clean, and dry (less than a teaspoon of liquid). Do not bag your recyclables; place them loosely in the blue bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum foil and metal cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Clean cardboard and uncoated paper
- ✓Hard plastic containers, tubs, and jugs
- ✓Envelopes and junk mail
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Green waste
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Items labeled 'compostable' or 'biodegradable'
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags for organic waste. Place food scraps and green yard trimmings directly into the green or brown toter to be processed at the composting facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, pits, and shells
- ✓Coffee grounds
- ✓Meat, bones, and seafood
- ✓Dairy products (no liquids)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins, paper cups)
- ✓Leaves and plant trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One item per week OR up to four items once a month
Placement
You must contact Allied Waste (Republic Services) at 760-337-2418 to schedule your bulky item pickup. Place approved items at the curb by 6:00 AM on the scheduled day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ White goods and large appliances
- ✓ Large plastic or wood items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or asphalt
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (chemicals, oil, paint)
- ✕ Car batteries
- ✕ Hot ashes
This service is provided at no extra cost to contracted residential customers. Exceeding the frequency limits may incur a hauling fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a recognized holiday falls on or before your Wednesday collection day, service will be delayed by one day, pushing pickup to Thursday. If the holiday falls on a weekend, the regular Wednesday schedule is unaffected.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and yard waste collections observe the exact same holiday delays as regular landfill trash and recycling.
Republic Services' customer support and local administrative offices may also be closed on these observed holidays.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryPrepare for potential collection schedule shifts around Christmas and New Year's Day. When disposing of a natural Christmas tree, it must be completely stripped of all ornaments, tinsel, lights, and stands, and cut into manageable pieces to fit inside your green organics cart.
Summer
June - SeptemberDue to the extreme heat in the Imperial Valley, it is highly recommended to store your food scraps in a sealed container or bag in the freezer until Tuesday night. Tossing frozen food waste into your green cart helps minimize odors and prevents pests.
Local Tips & Community Info
Partnering with Republic Services
Keeping the streets of Imperial clean is a collaborative effort between the local government and Republic Services. As the franchised waste management provider for the community, Republic Services handles all weekly residential collections. Every household is outfitted with a standardized three-cart system designed to seamlessly separate household garbage, mixed recyclables, and organic compost. Because the extreme desert heat can exacerbate odors, maintaining a consistent and efficient pickup routine is vital for neighborhood hygiene.
Mastering the Curbside Routine
Timing and placement are everything when it comes to guaranteeing your bins are emptied. Republic Services requires all residential carts to be positioned at the edge of the street no later than 6:00 a.m. on your designated trash day. Ensure that the handles face your property and the lids are firmly shut. Automated mechanical arms perform the heavy lifting, so you must leave a minimum gap of three feet between each cart, as well as clear space away from mailboxes, parked vehicles, and low-hanging branches.
Tackling Large Household Clutter
When it is time to upgrade a mattress, toss out a broken refrigerator, or dispose of heavy yard debris, you do not need to make a trip to the landfill yourself. Imperial residents with active residential accounts can schedule bulk item pickups directly through Republic Services. These special collections must be organized over the phone ahead of time. Once your date is locked in, simply place the oversized items on the curb the night before, making sure they do not obstruct sidewalk access for your neighbors.
Complying with Organic Waste Laws
In accordance with California’s statewide SB 1383 regulations, discarding food waste into the standard landfill bin is no longer permitted. Your green organics cart must be used for all food scraps, soiled paper plates, and yard trimmings. Diverting this material is especially important in the Imperial Valley, as reducing methane emissions helps combat extreme climate shifts. Be incredibly careful to exclude plastics, glass, and metals from the green bin, as contamination can ruin an entire truckload of viable compost.
Safeguarding Against Hazardous Materials
The intense summer temperatures in Imperial make the proper disposal of hazardous waste a serious safety issue. Combustible items like motor oil, wet paint, pool chemicals, and lithium-ion batteries must never be thrown into your curbside carts. Pressurized cans and volatile chemicals can easily ignite inside the collection trucks. To dispose of these dangerous goods, residents should utilize the Imperial County Public Health Department’s designated Household Hazardous Waste collection facility, which safely processes toxic substances away from residential areas.
Navigating Holiday Service Shifts
Throughout the calendar year, a handful of major national holidays will slightly alter your normal collection rhythm. Republic Services typically pauses operations for New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Whenever one of these recognized dates falls on a weekday, all subsequent collections for that week are pushed forward by one 24-hour period. If the holiday lands squarely on a weekend, your standard weekday pickup schedule will proceed without any interruptions.
Drop-off Facilities
Republic Services Imperial Landfill
104 E. Robinson Road, Imperial, CA 92231
Materials Accepted
Imperial Valley Resource Management Agency (IVRMA) HHW Facility
Various regional collection events (Check ivrma.org for schedule)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides garbage collection for the City of Imperial?
Republic Services is the contracted waste management company responsible for all residential and commercial garbage, recycling, and organics hauling in Imperial.
What time do I need to put my trash cans out?
All carts must be rolled out to the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your assigned pickup day to ensure the automated trucks do not miss your property.
How do I throw away a broken couch or appliance?
Residents can dispose of bulky furniture and appliances by calling Republic Services in advance to schedule a specialized curbside bulk item pickup.