Dark Gray Body with Black Lid Bin (Trash)
All waste must fit inside the cart with the lid completely closed. Set out by 6:00 a.m. No hazardous materials, electronics, or needles.
Accepted Items
- ✓General household refuse
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam packaging
- ✓Broken ceramics and glass
Dark Gray Body with Blue Lid Bin (Recycling)
All items should be empty, clean, and dry. Do not bag your recyclables; keep them loose in the blue-lidded bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Paper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Glass and plastic bottles, jars, and containers
- ✓Food and beverage cans
- ✓Cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags, film, or foam
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Liquids and food waste
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags, film, or foam. Keep materials loose. Dirt, logs, rocks, and non-organic materials are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, bread, eggs)
- ✓Compostable food-soiled paper (tea bags, coffee filters)
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, flowers, and weeds
- ✓Small branches and prunings
- ✓Nonhazardous, untreated wood
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Unlimited opportunities; up to four (4) items may be collected per week.
Placement
Avoid setting out bulky items or Electronic Waste more than 24 hours prior to the scheduled pick-up to prevent visual nuisances and discourage illegal dumping.
Accepted
- ✓ Old sofas and chairs
- ✓ Refrigerators and large appliances
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Electronic waste (computer screens, printers, TVs)
- ✓ Bulky household material too large for the cart
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste materials (oil-based paint, pesticides)
- ✕ Car batteries
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, and concrete
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Regular household trash
This service is completely free for residential customers.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday service moves to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular trash.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, there is no interruption to the weekday curbside pickup schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Dirt and Rocks Out
While yard trimmings go in the green organics cart, heavy landscaping materials like dirt, rocks, and thick logs do not. These items can break the mechanical arms on Burrtec's collection trucks and are considered contamination.
E-Waste Requires a Call
Electronic waste like computer monitors and printers contain harmful contaminants and are illegal to put in regular trash. You must call Burrtec to schedule a free bulky item pickup for all e-waste.
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December to JanuaryBurrtec provides holiday tree recycling for approximately two weeks following Christmas [2.1.1]. Place your un-flocked, bare tree at the curb by 6:00 a.m. Trees taller than 6 feet must be cut in half, and all lights, tinsel, and stands must be removed.
Summer
June to SeptemberTo manage odors in the green organics cart during extreme desert heat, consider freezing meat and dairy scraps in a container during the week and tossing them into the green cart the night before collection.
Year-Round
January to DecemberHigh desert winds can easily blow loose trash through neighborhoods. It is highly recommended to bag your standard trash in the black-lidded cart and ensure all cart lids are completely closed to prevent litter.
About Indio Waste Management
California's SB 1383 Organics Mandate in Indio
To comply with California's SB 1383, the City of Indio has implemented a comprehensive residential organics recycling program. Your green-lidded cart is no longer just for yard trimmings; all food scraps, including meat, dairy, bones, and compostable food-soiled paper, must go into this bin. By diverting these organic materials away from landfills, the city helps reduce methane emissions. Burrtec is currently transitioning all city carts to a uniform dark gray body, using a green lid for organics, a blue lid for recycling, and a black lid for trash.
An Unprecedented Bulky Item Perk
While most municipalities strictly limit bulky item pickups to a few times a year, the City of Indio offers an incredibly generous policy. Residential customers are provided unlimited opportunities to dispose of Bulky Items and Electronic Waste for free. You can schedule a pickup of up to four large items—such as sofas, refrigerators, or TVs—every single week. You simply need to contact Burrtec at least 5 days prior to your regular collection day to arrange the service.
Vacation Holds for Seasonal Residents
Given Indio's popularity as a winter destination for 'snowbirds,' Burrtec offers a specialized Vacation Hold program. Residents who leave the Coachella Valley for extended periods can submit a Burrtec Vacation Hold Form to pause their solid waste and recycling services. This ensures that seasonal residents aren't paying for services they aren't using while minimizing unnecessary truck routes in empty neighborhoods.
Strict 24-Hour Curbside Enforcement
To combat visual blight and discourage illegal dumping in neighborhoods, the City of Indio strictly enforces a 24-hour curbside rule. Carts, bulky items, and electronic waste cannot be set out on the curb more than 24 hours prior to your scheduled pickup time. Carts must also be promptly retrieved and stored out of public view following collection.
The Coachella/Indio Waste Transfer Station
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) such as oil-based paint, car batteries, pesticides, and air conditioning units are strictly prohibited from all curbside carts. Fortunately, residents have easy access to the Coachella/Indio Waste Transfer Station located on Landfill Road. This facility serves as a secure drop-off point for toxic materials, ensuring they do not contaminate the local desert groundwater.
Drop-off Facilities
Coachella/Indio Waste Transfer Station
87-011 Landfill Road, Coachella, CA 92236
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put food waste in my green yard waste bin in Indio?
Yes. Due to California's SB 1383, the City of Indio rolled out an organics program requiring residents to put food scraps (like meat, bones, dairy, and produce) into the green-lidded organics bin along with yard trimmings. Do not use plastic bags.
What happens to my trash schedule on holidays?
Burrtec observes New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If the holiday falls on a weekday, service is delayed by one day for the rest of that week.
How do I handle my trash service if I leave Indio for the summer?
Seasonal residents can submit a Burrtec Vacation Hold Form to pause their waste and recycling services while they are away. Contact Burrtec customer service at (760) 340-2113 to make the arrangements.