Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Mission Viejo
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Varies by neighborhood zone (collected weekly on trash day)
Yard Waste
Varies by neighborhood zone (collected weekly on trash day)
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside waste and recycling services in Mission Viejo are provided directly by Waste Management of Orange County and billed on a quarterly schedule.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
A senior and low-income discount is available for qualifying residential customers through Waste Management.
Black Lid (Black/Dark Gray Body) Bin (Trash)
All regular refuse should be bagged to prevent littering. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day with lids completely closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓General household refuse
- ✓Plastic bags, film, and wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam packing materials
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Treated or painted wood
Blue Lid (Black/Dark Gray Body) Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be empty, clean, and dry. Place items loosely inside the blue-lidded cart; do not bag your recyclables in plastic.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and junk mail
- ✓Aluminum and steel (tin) cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (lightly rinsed)
- ✓Rigid plastic containers (#1-7)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or garbage bags
- ✕Food-soiled paper and greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wire)
- ✕Styrofoam or expanded polystyrene
- ✕Clothing or textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Do not line your organics cart with plastic bags. Food and yard waste must be placed directly into the green-lidded cart. Dirt, rocks, and non-organic materials are prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (vegetable trimmings, plate scrapings, spoiled food)
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves and flowers
- ✓Small branches and prunings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Three (3) FREE bulky item pickups per calendar year for single-family residences.
Placement
Place your scheduled bulky items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your regular trash collection day. Ensure items are not blocking sidewalks or vehicles.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, desks, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ Electronic equipment (TVs, monitors)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition waste (drywall, concrete)
- ✕ Car bodies or large auto parts
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (chemicals, paint)
- ✕ Loose bags of regular garbage
- ✕ Dirt and rocks
The first three collections (up to 5 items each) are completely free. Additional pickups beyond the annual allowance will incur an extra charge.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a designated holiday falls on a weekday, all residential collection services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday collections move to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular trash.
If the holiday falls on a weekend, there will be no interruption to the weekday curbside pickup schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December to mid-JanuaryWaste Management collects and recycles Christmas trees for the first three weeks following Christmas on your regular trash collection day. Remove all lights, ornaments, and stands. Note that flocked trees will be collected but cannot be composted, meaning they will go to the landfill.
Spring and Fall
Dates Vary AnnuallyWatch for the city's scheduled free drive-through E-Waste and Household Hazardous Waste Collection events at the City Hall parking lot. These events provide a highly convenient way to safely dispose of toxic household chemicals without leaving town.
Local Tips & Community Info
Waste Management Franchise Agreement
In the master-planned community of Mission Viejo, residential refuse and recycling operations are exclusively handled by Waste Management (WM). As the city’s franchised sanitation provider, WM ensures that all neighborhoods from Lake Mission Viejo to the southern municipal borders receive reliable weekly service. Homeowners who need to initiate a new collection account, swap out a damaged cart, or upgrade their bin capacity can reach out to Waste Management’s dedicated South Orange County customer care team at (949) 642-1191.
Organics and Recycling Mandates
Mission Viejo is fully compliant with California's SB 1383 legislation, requiring a comprehensive three-cart separation program to lower greenhouse gas emissions. The standard trash container with the black lid is reserved for non-recoverable garbage. Your blue-lidded cart handles clean recyclables, encompassing flattened cardboard, junk mail, glass jars, and rigid plastics. Crucially, the green-lidded organics cart is designed for all yard trimmings and kitchen food waste. Properly discarding your fruit peels, coffee grounds, and meat bones into the green bin diverts significant methane-generating matter away from Orange County landfills.
Timing and Cart Maneuvering
To facilitate seamless neighborhood pickups, residents must have their carts staged at the gutter by 6:00 a.m. on their designated morning. Since Waste Management deploys fully automated collection vehicles, proper spacing is mandatory. Leave a minimum gap of three feet between each individual bin, and ensure they are placed far away from parked vehicles, fire hydrants, and low-hanging tree branches. To maintain the aesthetic standards of Mission Viejo, carts must not be left on the street for more than 24 hours and should be stored out of public view between service days.
Scheduling Heavy Item Removal
Getting rid of cumbersome household goods is highly convenient for Mission Viejo locals. Single-family residential accounts include three complimentary bulky item collections per calendar year. Each scheduled pickup allows you to dispose of up to five oversized items, such as old mattresses, broken couches, or large household appliances. This service must be reserved in advance by calling WM customer service or logging into your online portal. Placing large items on the curb without a confirmed appointment violates local municipal codes.
Diverting Dangerous Chemicals
Volatile substances like motor oil, pool chemicals, pesticides, and wet paint cannot be processed through the standard curbside program. These items present immense fire hazards inside the collection trucks. Mission Viejo residents are encouraged to utilize the Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers to responsibly discard these materials. The closest permanent drop-off facility for South County residents is located in nearby San Juan Capistrano, which accepts HHW and electronic waste completely free of charge for local residents.
Impact of National Holidays
Waste Management's operating schedule pauses for exactly six major national holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. When one of these recognized dates lands on a standard weekday, all subsequent collections for that particular week will be pushed back by exactly 24 hours. Consequently, homes that normally receive Thursday service will be visited on Friday, and Friday neighborhoods will be serviced on Saturday.
Drop-off Facilities
San Juan Capistrano Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center
32250 La Pata Avenue, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup in Mission Viejo?
Mission Viejo single-family residents are entitled to three free bulky item collections (up to 5 items each) per calendar year. You must contact Waste Management at (949) 642-1191 at least 48 hours in advance of your regular trash day to schedule the service.
Can I put food waste in the green organics cart?
Yes. To comply with California's SB 1383 mandate, all food scraps—including vegetable trimmings, plate scrapings, and spoiled food—must be placed in your green-lidded organics cart alongside your yard clippings.
Where can I dispose of old paint and pool chemicals?
Household hazardous waste cannot go in your curbside bins. You can safely drop off these items for free at the Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center located at 32250 La Pata Avenue in San Juan Capistrano, open Tuesday through Saturday.
Does Waste Management recycle flocked Christmas trees?
Waste Management collects both natural and flocked Christmas trees for the first three weeks following Christmas. However, flocked trees (trees covered in artificial snow) cannot be recycled into compost and will be disposed of as regular trash in the landfill.