Black Lid Bin (Trash)
Containers must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on your collection day, but no earlier than the evening prior. Keep at least one foot of clearance between containers.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Styrofoam (EPS)
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Treated wood (small pieces)
Blue Lid Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be clean, dry, and placed loosely in the cart without plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Empty plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and metal food cans
- ✓Clean paper and magazines
- ✓Flattened cardboard and junk mail
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses)
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags. Food scraps must be placed directly into the green-lidded container along with yard trimmings to be composted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Tree branches (less than 4 inches diameter & 4 feet long)
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and bread
- ✓Meat, fish, poultry, and bones
- ✓Dairy products and eggshells
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
4 times per calendar year
Placement
Items will only be picked up on your regularly scheduled collection day. Requests for the next business day must be submitted before 3:00 PM.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household appliances (white goods)
- ✓ Electronics and e-waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Bags or boxes of loose trash
- ✕ Car parts or tires
- ✕ Construction and demolition materials
- ✕ Hazardous waste
If a household exceeds their four free bulky item collections, they must pay a $57.00 fee for each additional collection of up to 5 items.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, refuse and recycling collections will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Green waste and organics collection run on the exact same holiday delay schedule as trash and recycling.
Normal collection schedules resume on the Monday of the following week. If a holiday falls on a weekend, schedules generally remain unaffected unless specified otherwise by the Integrated Waste Department.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
Never bag your recyclables. Plastic bags create severe issues by wrapping around the gears of the sorting machinery at Ontario’s recycling facilities. Keep items loose.
Styrofoam Belongs in the Trash
Expanded polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam (such as packing peanuts and takeout cups), is not accepted in the blue recycling bin. It must always go into your black-lidded refuse cart.
Scrape Your Plates into the Green Bin
To comply with California's organics recycling mandate, ensure all plate scrapings, including meats, dairy, and bones, go directly into your green-lidded yard waste cart rather than the regular trash.
Seasonal Information
Post-Holiday Cleanup
JanuaryThe City collects Christmas trees curbside during the first two weeks of January. Natural trees are chipped and mixed with leaves to create rich compost. Be sure to remove all lights, ornaments, stands, and tinsel. Flocked trees are not collected in this program.
Street Sweeping Enforcement
Year-RoundOntario enforces citywide street sweeping parking restrictions to keep debris out of storm drains. Avoid parking on the street during your scheduled sweeping times, or you may receive a citation.
About Ontario Waste Management
Municipal Waste Management in Ontario, CA
Unlike many neighboring Southern California cities that outsource to private haulers, the City of Ontario’s Integrated Waste Department directly manages residential refuse collection. Servicing roughly 30,000 single-family homes, the city employs a three-container automated system. Residents are required to set out their black, blue, and green-lidded carts by 6:00 AM on their assigned collection day, ensuring there is at least one foot of clearance between each container to accommodate the automated trucks.
SB 1383 Organics Mandate Rollout
In compliance with California’s SB 1383 aimed at reducing short-lived climate pollutants, Ontario has transformed how residents handle food waste. Your green-lidded container is no longer just for grass clippings and weeds. All residents must now deposit food scraps—including meat, bones, dairy products, eggshells, and coffee grounds—directly into the green organics bin so they can be processed at local anaerobic digestion and composting facilities.
Four Free Bulky Item Pickups Per Year
Ontario residents benefit from a generous municipal bulky item collection program. Each household is entitled to four free bulky item pickups every calendar year. You can set out up to five eligible items per appointment, including large appliances, mattresses, and old furniture. Bagged trash, automotive parts, and construction debris are strictly prohibited. These pickups must be scheduled in advance through the online portal or by calling customer service.
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Disposal
Keeping toxic chemicals out of local landfills is crucial for San Bernardino County's environmental health. The City of Ontario operates a dedicated Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility located at 1430 S. Cucamonga Avenue. Open exclusively on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, this facility offers a safe, free drop-off location for residents to dispose of paint, batteries, solvents, electronic waste, and fluorescent bulbs.
Drop-off Facilities
Ontario Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility
1430 S. Cucamonga Avenue, Ontario, CA 91761
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a free bulky item pickup in Ontario?
Ontario residents get four free bulky item pickups per year (up to 5 items per pickup). You can schedule by calling the Integrated Waste Customer Service at (909) 395-2050 or by filling out the online Bulky Item Pick Up Request form on the city's website.
Where do I dispose of leftover paint and household chemicals?
You can safely dispose of toxic household chemicals, paints, batteries, and e-waste at the Ontario HHW Facility located at 1430 S. Cucamonga Avenue. It is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Am I required to recycle my food scraps in Ontario?
Yes. Per California State Law SB 1383, all residents must separate food waste from regular trash. You must place all food scraps, including meats, dairy, bones, and coffee grounds, directly into your green-lidded organics container along with your yard waste.
Which holidays cause a delay in trash pickup in Ontario?
Trash collection is delayed by one day if your service day falls on or after New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas Day.