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
!Contamination Tips
Only Use Certified Compostable Bags
Never use standard plastic grocery or trash bags in your green organics cart. You may only use bags to contain food waste if they are explicitly marked 'Compostable' on the box and are typically greenish in color.
Palm Fronds Go in the Trash
Although palm fronds come from a plant, they are incredibly fibrous and cannot break down in the commercial composting process. Always place palm fronds and branches in your standard trash cart.
Keep Plastic Bags Out of Recycling
Bagging your clean recyclables in plastic trash bags ruins the recycling process because the film tangles in the sorting machinery. Always place your paper, glass, and plastic loosely into the blue cart.
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.
About La Habra Waste Management
Automated Three-Cart System by CR&R
The City of La Habra partners exclusively with CR&R Incorporated to manage residential waste through an automated three-cart system. Households receive specialized containers for trash, mixed recyclables, and green waste to help divert recoverable materials from local landfills. Carts should be placed at the curb with handles facing the home and at least two feet of clearance from other objects to ensure safe, efficient service by automated collection trucks.
SB 1383 Organics Recycling and Compostable Bags
In compliance with California’s SB 1383 climate mandates, La Habra requires residents to separate all organic waste. Your green organics cart is the designated receptacle for yard trimmings as well as kitchen food scraps, including meat, dairy, bones, and even fats or oils. While standard plastic bags are strictly prohibited in the green cart because they contaminate the compost, the city uniquely allows the use of certified 'Compostable' bags (typically greenish in color and clearly labeled) for containing messy food waste.
Generous Curbside Bulky Item Program
La Habra offers a highly accommodating bulky item collection program for both single-family and multi-family residents. Each household is entitled to four free pickups per year. During a single appointment, residents can set out up to four large items (like sofas or major appliances) or an impressive 20 plastic bags of refuse or bundled yard waste, provided each bag weighs less than 50 pounds. This robust service drastically cuts down on illegal dumping across the city.
Local Household Hazardous Waste Events
Properly disposing of toxic materials is critical to protecting Orange County's groundwater. To make this convenient, the City of La Habra routinely hosts free, residential Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection events at the Public Works City Yard on West Mountain View Avenue. Residents can safely drop off old paint, electronic waste, cleaning chemicals, and securely stored medical sharps directly within their own community rather than driving to regional county facilities.
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.