Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Mission Viejo
Collections in California municipal routes run weekly (Mon-Fri). Your specific collection day is determined by your local neighborhood route.
State Mandate
Follow SB 1383 guidelines for food waste.
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
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Green Cart
Never use plastic grocery bags or standard trash bags to collect your food scraps. Plastic contaminates the commercial composting process. If you want to contain food waste, utilize a compostable paper bag, or simply freeze your scraps and toss them into the cart loose on collection day.
Batteries Do Not Belong in the Trash
Household batteries, especially lithium-ion varieties, are considered hazardous waste. Throwing them into your black-lidded trash or blue-lidded recycling cart can spark dangerous fires inside the collection trucks. Take them to an HHW collection center instead.
Bulky Waste Excludes Construction Debris
While Mission Viejo offers free bulky item pickups, this service is meant for furniture and appliances. It strictly excludes construction and demolition (C&D) waste like drywall, concrete, tiles, or car bodies. C&D waste requires a separate dumpster rental.
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.
About Mission Viejo Waste Management
California's SB 1383 Organics Mandate in Mission Viejo
To comply with California’s state-mandated organic waste recycling laws (SB 1383), Mission Viejo residents use a three-cart system with specific, state-standardized lid colors. The black-lidded cart is strictly for landfill trash, the blue-lidded cart is for mixed recyclables, and the green-lidded cart is exclusively for organic material. This green cart is no longer just for yard clippings—you must now use it to divert all food scraps, including vegetable peels, plate scrapings, and spoiled food, away from the landfill to reduce methane emissions.
Three Free Bulky Item Pickups Annually
Mission Viejo's franchise agreement with Waste Management offers an exceptional perk for single-family residences: three free bulky item collections per calendar year at no extra charge. Residents can schedule a pickup of up to five large household items—such as sofas, refrigerators, or electronic waste—by contacting WM at least 48 hours prior to their regular trash collection day. These items are conveniently picked up right from the curb alongside your regular bins.
Free Drive-Through E-Waste & HHW Collection Events
Throughout the year, the City partners with Waste Management to host free drive-through Electronic Waste (E-Waste) and Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection events in the City Hall parking lot. These highly convenient drop-off events allow residents to safely dispose of toxic items like pool chemicals, fluorescent light bulbs, paint thinners, and smoke detectors. Strict safety rules apply: residents must remain in their vehicles, and loads are limited to 125 pounds or 15 gallons per vehicle.
Permanent Orange County HHW Drop-Off Centers
If you miss one of the city-hosted events, you don't have to hold onto hazardous chemicals in your garage. Mission Viejo residents have free access to permanent Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers. The closest facility is located nearby in San Juan Capistrano on La Pata Avenue. These facilities are open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., ensuring toxic materials like car batteries and motor oil never end up contaminating the local groundwater.
Encouraging Backyard and Worm Composting
The City of Mission Viejo strongly supports residents who want to take their sustainability efforts a step further by composting at home. 'Nature's way of recycling' breaks down organic waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer for your gardens. To help beginners, the city provides online resources and video tutorials developed by Waste Management specifically focusing on easy backyard and worm composting techniques.
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.