Black Bin (Trash)
All landfill-bound waste should be bagged to prevent litter. Carts must not be overfilled; the lid must close tightly, and the cart should weigh no more than 100 pounds to prevent damage to the collection trucks.
Accepted Items
- ✓Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam containers and packaging)
- ✓Pet waste and diapers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
- ✓Garden hoses and broken ceramics
- ✓Palm fronds and cactus trimmings
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables. All items must be empty, clean, dry, and placed loosely inside the blue cart. Break down all cardboard boxes to conserve space in your cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Flattened cardboard and cereal boxes
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and rigid containers (CRV #1-#7)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or film wrap
- ✕Food-soiled paper and pizza boxes
- ✕Electronic waste and batteries
- ✕Tanglers (cords, wires, hoses)
- ✕Textiles or clothing
Yard Waste Bin
Keep organic waste loose in the green cart, or collect it in standard paper bags. Do NOT place plastic bags or 'compostable/biodegradable' plastics in this cart, as they disrupt the commercial composting process.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Kitchen food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, vegetables, bread)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (napkins, coffee filters, paper towels)
- ✓Small branches and prunings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two free pickups per calendar year (Four pickups for Great Park Neighborhoods)
Placement
Place approved bulky items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your regular collection day once your appointment is confirmed. Placing items out without an appointment is considered illegal dumping.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, tables, dressers)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers)
- ✓ Water heaters
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, monitors, computers)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, sandbags, and rocks
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
Placing more than 4 items out for collection will count as an additional bulky item pickup. Once your free yearly allotment is exhausted, additional pickups can be scheduled for a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday (Monday-Friday), collection services scheduled on or after that holiday will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. For example, a Thursday pickup will move to Friday.
Yard Waste Exception
Your blue recycling and green organics carts follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as your standard trash collection.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, or if a holiday is not listed above (such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day or Veterans Day), there are no delays and service will occur on your normally scheduled day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Avoid 'Compostable' Bio-Plastics
Even if a plastic bag or utensil is heavily marketed as 'biodegradable' or 'compostable', it does not belong in your green organics cart. The local composting facilities cannot properly break these down. Use newspaper or paper bags for your food scraps instead.
Palm Fronds Belong in the Trash
Palm fronds, yucca, and cactus trimmings are extremely tough and fibrous. Because they do not break down into mulch or compost effectively, you must place them into your black trash cart, not your green yard waste cart.
Keep Film Plastics Out of Recycling
Plastic grocery bags, bubble wrap, and shrink wrap are the number one cause of equipment failure at the material recovery facility. Keep your recyclables completely loose and return plastic film to designated drop-offs at local grocery stores.
Seasonal Information
Rainy Season
November - MarchThe Irvine Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center at Oak Canyon automatically closes during rainy weather. Always check the forecast or call ahead before loading your vehicle with hazardous materials.
Winter
Late December - JanuaryWaste Management collects clean, un-flocked Christmas trees at the curb following the holidays. Trees must have all lights, tinsel, and stands removed. If a tree is exceptionally large, it should be cut into smaller sections.
About Irvine Waste Management
Irvine's Village-Based Collection System
The City of Irvine contracts exclusively with Waste Management of Orange County to provide residential waste services across the city's 22+ distinctive villages. Collection routes are highly organized by neighborhood, ensuring consistent weekly service for the standard three-cart system: trash, recycling, and organics. Residents must wheel their carts to the curb by 6:00 a.m. on their designated collection day. To allow the automated mechanical arms to function safely, carts must be placed at least three feet apart from each other and from any obstacles like parked cars or mailboxes.
Meeting SB 1383 Climate Mandates
To combat the harmful methane emissions generated by landfills, Irvine strictly enforces the California Senate Bill 1383 organics recycling mandate. Residents are no longer allowed to put food waste in the black trash cart. Instead, all kitchen scraps—including meat, dairy, bones, and food-soiled paper like greasy pizza boxes—must be placed directly into the green organics cart alongside standard yard trimmings. These materials are transported to specialized regional facilities where they are broken down into nutrient-rich agricultural compost and renewable energy.
Free Bulky Item and E-Waste Pickups
Irvine residents benefit from a generous curbside bulky item program that makes disposing of large household junk incredibly easy. Standard single-family households receive two free bulky item pickups per calendar year, with a limit of four items per appointment. Residents of the Great Park Neighborhoods receive an enhanced four free pickups per year. This service covers everything from old mattresses and sofas to electronic waste like televisions and computers. You must call Waste Management or schedule online in advance to confirm your pickup date.
Managing Household Hazardous Waste Locally
Items like liquid paint, harsh chemicals, used motor oil, and lithium-ion batteries pose serious fire hazards and can never be tossed into any of your three curbside carts. Fortunately, Orange County operates the Irvine Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center conveniently located on Oak Canyon. Irvine residents can safely drop off up to 15 gallons or 125 pounds of toxic household chemicals per trip completely free of charge. This local facility is an essential asset for keeping local groundwater safe and pristine.
Drop-off Facilities
Irvine Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center
6411 Oak Canyon, Irvine, CA 92618
Materials Accepted
Frank R. Bowerman Landfill
11002 Bee Canyon Access Rd, Irvine, CA 92602
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use compostable plastic bags for my food scraps in Irvine?
No. Waste Management requests that you do not place plastic bags, including those labeled 'compostable' or 'biodegradable', inside the green organics cart. You should keep your organic waste loose, line your kitchen pail with newspaper, or use a standard brown paper bag.
What holidays actually delay trash pickup in Irvine?
Waste Management only delays collection by one day for six major holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If your pickup day falls on or after one of these holidays during the week, it will be delayed. All other holidays do not affect the schedule.
How do I get rid of an old couch or TV in Irvine?
Irvine residents receive two free bulky item pickups per year (four if you live in the Great Park Neighborhoods), with a limit of 4 items per appointment. E-waste like TVs is accepted. You must schedule the pickup in advance by calling Waste Management at 949-642-1191 or requesting it through your online WM account.
Where can I drop off hazardous waste like old paint and batteries?
You can drop off household hazardous waste for free at the Irvine Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center located at 6411 Oak Canyon. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., but automatically closes during rainy weather and on major holidays.