Blue lid (Black or dark body) Bin (Trash)
Place your cart with the handles and wheels facing towards your home, at least 3 feet from obstructions.
Accepted Items
- ✓Pet waste
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Treated wood
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Regular household garbage
Gray lid Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be empty, clean, dry, and placed loosely inside the cart without being bagged.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard
- ✓Paper
- ✓Glass bottles
- ✓Aluminum cans
- ✓Plastic containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Batteries
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
No pet waste, dirt, rocks, or palm fronds are allowed in the organics cart. Food scraps should be placed directly in the cart or in certified compostable bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Weeds
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Flowers
- ✓Wood scraps
- ✓Fruit and vegetables
- ✓Meat (no bones)
- ✓Dairy
- ✓Bread
- ✓FOG (Fats, oils, grease in compostable bags)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
4 complimentary pickups per year
Placement
Place approved items at the curbside by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled bulky item pickup day. Ensure they are out of the way of traffic and pedestrians.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches
- ✓ Desks
- ✓ Chairs
- ✓ Tables
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Refrigerators and white goods
- ✓ E-waste (TVs, computers)
- ✓ Excess green waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Chemicals and hazardous waste
- ✕ Car bodies and auto parts
- ✕ Concrete
- ✕ Asphalt
- ✕ Soil and dirt
- ✕ Sand or sandbags
- ✕ Building materials
There is an additional fee to collect excess material once your four annual free pick-ups have been exhausted.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday (Monday–Friday), curbside collection is delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and yard waste are collected on the same delayed schedule as regular trash and recycling.
If a holiday delay pushes your trash day onto your street sweeping day, you must place your carts on top of the curb/parkway rather than in the street.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Palm Fronds Out of the Green Cart
Palm fronds are highly fibrous and do not break down efficiently in the commercial composting process. They are considered a strict contaminant in the organics cart and must always be thrown in your blue-lid trash cart.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Keep your aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastics loose in your gray-lid recycling cart. Thin film plastic bags easily get tangled in the sorting machinery at the CR&R Material Recovery Facility, causing system shutdowns.
Properly Manage Pet Waste
Even though it is organic material, pet waste contains harmful pathogens and cannot go into your green-lid organics cart. Always bag pet waste securely and dispose of it in the blue-lid regular trash cart.
Seasonal Information
Autumn/Fall
October to DecemberDuring peak leaf-drop season, never rake or blow leaves into the street gutter. Doing so violates the Orange Municipal Code and blocks storm drains. All leaves must be placed inside your green-lid organics cart.
Winter
December to MarchDuring periods of heavy rain or high winds, street sweeping operations may be temporarily suspended. However, trash collection typically continues as scheduled, so be sure your carts are secured at the curb by 6:00 a.m.
About Orange Waste Management
The Innovative 'Recycle From Home' Program in Orange
The City of Orange has introduced a groundbreaking pilot program known as Recycle From Home™, inspired by a young local recycling advocate, Ryan Hickman. This service pays residents for their California Redemption Value (CRV) aluminum cans, plastic, and glass bottles right from their doorstep. Residents receive collection bags and QR code tracking labels, making it incredibly simple to schedule a pickup and receive redemption funds via PayPal, Venmo, or a mailed check within 24 hours of collection.
Mandatory Organics Recycling and SB 1383 Compliance
In compliance with California's SB 1383 mandate, Orange residents must now place food scraps and food-soiled paper into their green-lidded organics cart alongside traditional yard trimmings. CR&R Environmental Services collects these materials and processes them at their Regional Organics Anaerobic Recovery (ROAR) facility. This state-of-the-art facility converts the city's organic waste into renewable natural gas and nutrient-rich compost, drastically reducing the volume of waste sent to local landfills.
Street Sweeping and Cart Placement Coordination
To protect local waterways from pollution, the City of Orange operates a comprehensive street sweeping program. On your regular trash collection day, carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m., side-by-side, and at least three feet away from vehicles or hydrants. If a holiday delay causes your trash collection and street sweeping to land on the exact same day, residents must place their carts on top of the curb or parkway—never in the street—so the street sweepers have an unobstructed path to clean the gutters.
Household Hazardous Waste and E-Waste Disposal
It is strictly prohibited to place items like lithium batteries, motor oil, paint, or pool chemicals in any of your CR&R curbside carts. Orange residents can safely dispose of household hazardous waste (HHW) and electronic waste free of charge at any of the four Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers. The closest facility for most Orange residents is the Anaheim center, ensuring dangerous chemicals and electronics are kept out of the municipal waste stream.
Drop-off Facilities
Anaheim Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center
1071 N. Blue Gum Street, Anaheim, CA 92806
Materials Accepted
Waste Management Facility (Recyclables Drop-Off)
2050 N. Glassell St., Orange, CA 92865
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my street sweeping and trash collection fall on the same day in Orange?
If a holiday delay or schedule change causes your trash collection day and street sweeping day to overlap, you must place your CR&R automated carts on top of the curb or parkway. Do not place them in the street, as this will block the sweepers from effectively cleaning the gutters.
How does the Recycle From Home™ program work for City of Orange residents?
Recycle From Home™ is an innovative pilot program that allows residents to have their CRV aluminum cans, plastic, and glass bottles picked up directly from their driveway. The program provides collection bags and QR labels. Once picked up, your items are weighed, and you are paid the redemption value via PayPal, Venmo, or a mailed check.
Are palm fronds allowed in my green organics cart?
No. Palm fronds are extremely fibrous and cannot break down correctly at the anaerobic recovery facility. They are considered a contaminant and must be placed in your blue-lid regular trash cart.
How do I dispose of an old mattress or refrigerator in Orange, CA?
Orange residents receive four complimentary bulky item pickups per year through CR&R Environmental Services. You can schedule a pickup for large items, including mattresses, couches, and appliances like refrigerators, by calling CR&R customer care at (714) 372-8272.