Black or Grey Bin (Trash)
Place out by 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Carts must be stored completely out of public view on non-collection days.
Accepted Items
- ✓Pet waste
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Synthetic materials
- ✓Treated wood
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Flatten all cardboard boxes to maximize space. Do not bag recyclables; place them loose in the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers (1-7)
- ✓Glass jars and bottles
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clean flattened cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper and junk mail
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Liquids
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Hazardous materials
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags. If you need to line your kitchen pail to eliminate odors, use only a paper bag or a BPI-certified compostable bag.
Accepted Items
- ✓Yard trimmings and leaves
- ✓Fruits and vegetables
- ✓Meat, fish, and bones
- ✓Bread and dairy
- ✓Food-soiled paper napkins and towels
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
As scheduled with CR&R
Placement
Place scheduled bulky items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the designated collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Desks
- ✓ Chairs
- ✓ Large appliances (non-hazardous)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Liquid paint
- ✕ Chemicals
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Automotive parts
Contact CR&R to confirm your eligibility for complimentary pickups included in your residential tier; exceeding your limit or disposing of specialized items may incur an additional fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as trash and recycling.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays to your regularly scheduled service. Street sweeping is also canceled on these major holidays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Out of the Green Cart
Never use standard plastic grocery bags to hold your food scraps. Either toss them in loose, or use a BPI-certified compostable bag or a plain paper bag to avoid contaminating the municipal compost.
Palm Fronds Belong in the Trash
While most plant material goes in the organics cart, palm fronds are too fibrous for the composting facility to break down properly. Always place palm fronds in your black/grey landfill cart.
Bag Pet Waste for the Landfill
Pet waste and kitty litter carry pathogens and parasites that survive the composting process. Bag all animal waste securely and dispose of it exclusively in your landfill cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter Holidays
Late December to mid-JanuaryCR&R collects holiday greenery, including Christmas trees, for a three-week period between December 26th and January 15th. Place bare, un-flocked trees next to or inside your organics cart on your regular collection day.
Storm Season
November to MarchDuring heavy rains, many coastal residents utilize sandbags. After the storms pass, do not place full sandbags in the trash. Empty the sand for reuse (or take it to the landfill for a nominal fee), and then place the empty bag into your landfill cart.
About Laguna Beach Waste Management
Coastal Stewardship and the CR&R Transition
In July 2024, Laguna Beach officially transitioned to CR&R Environmental Services as the city's exclusive franchise waste hauler. This modern partnership was established to elevate the community's environmental sustainability—a crucial goal for a municipality globally celebrated for its pristine beaches, tide pools, and marine protected areas. CR&R provides dedicated customer service specifically for Laguna Beach residents to ensure smooth waste diversion.
Strict Cart Visibility and Placement Regulations
Laguna Beach enforces rigorous municipal codes regarding trash can visibility. To preserve the aesthetic charm of the coastal neighborhoods, all landfill, recycling, and organics carts must be stored completely out of public view from the street on non-collection days. On your scheduled pickup day, carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. and removed from the right-of-way by 6:00 p.m.
Organics Recycling and SB 1383 Compliance
As part of California's SB 1383 mandate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Laguna Beach residents are provided with designated organics carts and a free 1.9-gallon kitchen pail. Food scraps—including meat, dairy, bones, and bread—along with yard trimmings and food-soiled paper, must be diverted from the landfill and placed directly into the green organics cart.
Convenient Door-to-Door HHW Collection
Keeping hazardous materials out of the local watershed and the Pacific Ocean is a top priority. Instead of driving to a county landfill, Laguna Beach residents receive four complimentary door-to-door Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) pickups per year (one per quarter). This makes it effortless to safely dispose of used motor oil, old paint, electronics, and batteries right from your porch without risking environmental contamination.
Drop-off Facilities
San Juan Capistrano Collection Center (Prima Deshecha Landfill)
32250 Avenida La Pata, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Materials Accepted
Laguna Beach City Hall
505 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Materials Accepted
Community and Susi Q. Center
380 Third Street, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I dispose of used motor oil and old paint in Laguna Beach?
Residents can utilize the city's Door-to-Door Hazardous Waste Pick-Up program. You are entitled to four free HHW pickups annually (one per quarter). Call CR&R at (949) 662-3819 to easily schedule a collection straight from your home.
What time should I put out my carts, and where should they be kept on other days?
Carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day and brought back in by 6:00 p.m. Laguna Beach municipal code strictly requires that bins be stored completely out of public view from the street on non-collection days.
Can I put meat and bones in the green organics cart?
Yes. Laguna Beach's organics program accepts all food scraps, including meat, fish, dairy, and bones. While the city discourages composting these items in your backyard bin due to local pests, they are perfectly acceptable and encouraged in your green CR&R cart.
Does the city offer a program for safe needle and sharps disposal?
Yes, Laguna Beach offers a free Sharps Disposal Mail-Back Container Program. This service provides residents with compliant containers for needles, injector pens, and syringes, which can then be safely returned by mail for proper medical waste disposal.