Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for La Habra
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Varies by neighborhood zone
Yard Waste
Varies by neighborhood zone
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential waste and recycling services provided by CR&R are billed directly by the City of La Habra bundled with municipal water service.
Billing Cycle
Bi-Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, In-Person, Phone
Gray or Black Bin (Trash)
Place your cart in the street against the curb with handles facing your home. Keep at least 2 feet of space between carts and recommend parking cars 6 feet away. Ensure the lid is completely closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓General household garbage
- ✓Plastic bags and film
- ✓Painted or treated wood
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Small amounts of dirt, soil, or tree stumps
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely in the blue cart. Do not bag your recyclables. Containers should be empty, clean, and dry before disposal.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and junk mail
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Food and liquid waste (soiled materials)
- ✕Hazardous or e-waste
- ✕Clothing or textiles
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, chains)
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use standard plastic bags. You may only use bags that are explicitly labeled 'Compostable' to contain food scraps. Keep the lid closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass and lawn clippings
- ✓Leaves, weeds, and prunings
- ✓Tree branches, shrubs, and sawdust
- ✓Meat, fish, poultry, and dairy
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and bread
- ✓Fats, oils, and grease
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Four free pickups per calendar year
Placement
Pickups are by appointment only. You must call CR&R Customer Service at 562-694-3730 to schedule your collection before placing items at the curb.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, beds)
- ✓ Major household appliances
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Up to 20 bags of refuse or yard waste bundles
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Building materials and construction debris
- ✕ Automotive parts
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or soil
The first four pickups per year are free. Any additional bulky item pickups beyond the four free appointments can be scheduled for a nominal fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a designated holiday falls on a weekday, trash, recycling, and green waste collection services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
This one-day delay applies to all residential carts universally.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no delay to the regular weekday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December to JanuaryFollowing the holidays, CR&R provides curbside Christmas tree recycling. Trees must be stripped of all ornaments, lights, tinsel, and stands before being placed at the curb.
Spring
MayThe City of La Habra typically hosts an annual Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off event in May at the Public Works City Yard. Check your water bill insert or the city website for specific dates to safely dispose of spring cleaning chemicals.
Local Tips & Community Info
La Habra Residential Waste Services Overview
The City of La Habra partners exclusively with CR&R Incorporated to handle all residential solid waste and recycling collection. Every household is supplied with a set of three automated carts: a gray container for standard refuse, a blue one for mixed recyclables, and a green one for organic materials. Interestingly, while CR&R manages the physical hauling and street routing, the City of La Habra directly bills residents for these services on their unified municipal utility statement. If you have billing inquiries, you will need to contact the city directly, whereas missed pickups and bin replacements are handled directly by the hauler.
Curbside Bin Placement and Storage Rules
Proper cart positioning is required for the automated trucks to safely navigate the neighborhood. CR&R asks that all bins be placed at the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day. Leave a minimum gap of one foot between each cart, and keep them at least three feet away from parked cars, fire hydrants, and street trees. Furthermore, the local Trash Container Removal Policy dictates that bins may be placed on the street starting at 4:00 p.m. the day before pickup, but they must be completely removed from public view by 10:00 p.m. on collection day to prevent neighborhood blight.
Organics and Food Waste Compliance
To comply with state organic waste mandates, La Habra residents must utilize their green cart for all yard clippings and kitchen scraps. This includes fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, and bread. A critical rule to remember is that regular plastic garbage bags are strictly prohibited in the green bin, as they contaminate the compost and damage the facility machinery. However, if you prefer to bag your food scraps to reduce odors, you are permitted to use certified compostable bags, which can be purchased at most local La Habra grocery stores.
Free Bulky Item and Universal Waste Pickups
When you have large household items that cannot fit inside your gray cart, CR&R offers a generous bulky item program. Each residential address is entitled to four free collection events every calendar year. During a single appointment, you can dispose of up to four heavy items, such as furniture and appliances, or up to 20 bags of extra trash. Uniquely, this program also accepts universal waste, allowing you to safely get rid of household batteries, e-waste, and fluorescent bulbs by scheduling a pickup online or calling 562-694-3730.
Hazardous Waste Collection Events
Certain toxic materials should never be placed in any of your curbside containers. Items like motor oil, pool chemicals, pesticides, and liquid paint are considered Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). To assist the community with safe disposal, CR&R organizes special weekend HHW collection events twice a year specifically for La Habra residents. These events provide a secure environment to drop off dangerous chemicals without risking environmental damage or collection truck fires.
Holiday Schedule Postponements
Your standard trash pickup day may shift depending on the calendar. CR&R officially observes New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. If any of these major holidays falls on a weekday, all subsequent collections for that week will be pushed back by exactly one day. For example, a normal Thursday pickup will be executed on Friday. Service automatically resets to the normal schedule the following Monday.
Drop-off Facilities
La Habra Public Works City Yard
521 W. Mountain View Avenue, La Habra, CA 90631
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides residential trash collection in La Habra?
The City of La Habra contracts exclusively with CR&R Incorporated to provide automated residential trash, recycling, and organics collection services.
Can I put food waste in my green yard waste cart?
Yes. To comply with state law (SB 1383), all food scraps including meat, dairy, vegetables, and fats must be placed in your green organics cart. You can place them loosely or use a certified 'Compostable' bag.
How do I schedule a free pickup for an old sofa or mattress?
La Habra residents receive four free bulky item pickups per year. You can schedule an appointment by calling CR&R at 562-694-3730. You may leave up to four large items or 20 bags of refuse per scheduled pickup.
What should I do with old paint and household chemicals?
Hazardous materials cannot be placed in your curbside carts. The City of La Habra periodically hosts free Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off events at the Public Works City Yard, or you can utilize regional Orange County HHW collection centers.