Black Bin (Trash)
Use the black container for all non-recyclable, non-hazardous, and non-compostable household refuse. Ensure the lid closes completely and place it at the curb by 6:00 a.m.
Accepted Items
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Pet waste
- ✓Treated or painted wood
- ✓Chip bags and snack wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam packing peanuts
- ✓Broken ceramics
Grey Bin (Recycling)
Keep recyclables loose inside the grey container; never place them in plastic grocery bags. Cardboard boxes must be broken down to save space.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Metal cans (aluminum and tin)
- ✓Clean paper and junk mail
- ✓Corrugated cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires)
- ✕Polystyrene foam
Yard Waste Bin
Mix your food scraps directly with your yard waste in the green cart. Never use standard plastic bags for your organic materials.
Accepted Items
- ✓Kitchen food scraps (meat, dairy, bread, veggies)
- ✓Food-soiled paper
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves and prunings
- ✓Small tree branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two (2) free bulky item pick-ups per calendar year.
Placement
You must schedule your pickup in advance via CR&R. Place the approved bulky items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your regular waste collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Washers and dryers
- ✓ Sofas and chairs
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Desks and tables
- ✓ Patio furniture
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household Hazardous Waste
- ✕ Construction materials
- ✕ Car parts or tires
- ✕ Items that cannot be handled by a two-person crew
The two pickups (up to 4 items total annually) are free. Additional bulky item pick-ups can be provided for a nominal charge.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls during the week (Monday-Friday), CR&R service is postponed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
The one-day delay applies to all collection services, including organics and recycling.
If the holiday falls on a weekend, your regular collection schedule remains unaffected. For example, if Independence Day is on a Monday and your normal collection day is Thursday, you will be serviced on Friday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep plastic bags out of the organics and recycling carts
Plastic bags jam recycling equipment and contaminate the anaerobic digestion process used for your green waste. Return plastic grocery bags to local store drop-offs or throw them in the black trash cart.
Rinse out jars and bottles
Food residue can ruin an entire batch of clean paper and cardboard in the recycling stream. Give your glass jars, plastic bottles, and metal cans a quick rinse before tossing them in the grey cart.
E-waste does not belong in curbside bins
Old electronics, batteries, and fluorescent tubes contain toxic materials and can spark fires in collection trucks. Never place them in any of your three CR&R carts; take them to the Langstaff Street HHW facility instead.
Seasonal Information
Summer
June - SeptemberDue to extreme summer heat in the Lake Elsinore valley, the local Household Hazardous Waste drop-off facility shifts its operating hours to earlier in the day, running from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month.
Autumn/Winter
October - DecemberHigh winds sweeping across Lake Elsinore can blow loose trash down the streets and into the lake. Always ensure your cart lids are tightly closed, and consider waiting until the morning of your collection to put your bins out on windy nights.
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing the holidays, CR&R offers curbside Christmas tree recycling. Remove all decorations, lights, tinsel, and stands. Flocked trees are typically not recyclable and may need to go in the trash. The Lake Elsinore HHW facility is completely closed during the month of January.
About Lake Elsinore Waste Management
Lake Elsinore's Automated Three-Cart System by CR&R
Residential solid waste in Lake Elsinore is exclusively managed by CR&R Environmental Services. The city relies on an automated three-cart system: a black cart for regular refuse, a grey cart for comingled recyclables, and a green cart for green waste and organics. To guarantee collection, residents must wheel their carts to the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on their scheduled service day. Always place them side-by-side, at least one foot apart, and maintain a three-foot clearance from vehicles, mailboxes, and trees. Carts must be removed from the curb within 12 hours after service.
Turning Food Scraps into Renewable Fuel
To meet California's SB 1383 mandates, Lake Elsinore's organics recycling program takes an innovative approach. CR&R transports the food scraps and yard clippings collected from your green cart directly to their state-of-the-art Anaerobic Digester (AD) Facility in neighboring Perris, CA. Instead of just creating compost, this anaerobic digestion process converts your organic waste into Renewable Natural Gas—the cleanest fuel produced in California. CR&R even provides the first kitchen food scrap pail free of charge to help residents easily separate organic waste before tossing it into the green bin.
Scheduling Your Two Free Bulky Item Pickups
Whether you are doing a spring cleanout or replacing an old appliance, Lake Elsinore residents are entitled to two free bulky item pickups per calendar year. Each of these free collections allows you to set out up to two large items, such as a mattress, sofa, washer, or dryer. Because bulky items require a special two-person crew, you must schedule your pickup in advance via CR&R's online portal or by calling customer service. Do not leave large furniture on the curb without an appointment, as uncontainerized items will not be collected by standard automated trucks.
Navigating Hazardous Waste Disposal at the Public Works Yard
Properly disposing of chemicals, old paint, and batteries is straightforward thanks to the Lake Elsinore Permanent Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility located at the Public Works Yard on North Langstaff Street. The facility is typically open on the first Saturday of the month, but hours shift based on the season. To beat the intense Inland Empire heat, summer hours run from 7:00 a.m. to noon, while cooler months operate from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Remember that the site is entirely closed during the month of January and on holiday weekends.
Drop-off Facilities
Lake Elsinore Permanent HHW Facility (Public Works Yard)
512 N Langstaff St, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulk pickup for an old mattress in Lake Elsinore?
Lake Elsinore residential customers get two free bulky item pick-ups (up to two items each) per calendar year. You must contact CR&R Environmental Services at (951) 943-1991 or use their Online Scheduling Service to arrange the pick-up on your regular collection day.
What happens to the food scraps I put in my green cart?
Unlike traditional composting programs, organic materials collected from your green cart in Lake Elsinore are transported to CR&R's Anaerobic Digester (AD) Facility in Perris, CA. There, the mixture of food and yard waste is converted into a rich soil amendment and Renewable Natural Gas.
Where can I safely dispose of old paint and batteries?
Household hazardous waste cannot go in your curbside bins. You can take these items to the Lake Elsinore Permanent HHW Facility located at 512 North Langstaff Street. It is open on the first Saturday of every month (except January), though hours vary depending on the season.
Does my trash get delayed if a holiday falls on a weekend?
No. CR&R only delays collection service if one of their six observed holidays (like Thanksgiving or Christmas) falls on a weekday. If the holiday lands on a Saturday or Sunday, your normal pickup day will not change.